This page provides information about registration, advising, and course offerings specific to the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, whether you’re pursuing an ENS major, ENS minor, or the Sustainable Food Systems Certificate.  

Course offerings for upcoming semesters are now accessible for viewing in Banner, and registration for classes offered in Spring/Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Winter 2024 begins the 3rd week of March. Refer to the registration calendar to know when you are eligible to enroll. Many courses fill up quickly, so don’t wait too long to register!

While course registration still takes place in Banner, the Registrar's course search index is available for quick queries of any course without needing to log in.

We hope to see you at one of our drop-in advising events. Alternatively, students may reach out directly to their assigned advisor or to an advisor in the Brooks College Advising Center to arrange a virtual or in-person meeting. If you're not sure who your advisor is, this info can be located within Banner under Student, Student Records, View Major and Advisor Information. Be proactive in connecting with your advisor regularly throughout your time at Grand Valley.

Advisors:

• Amanda Buday: [email protected]; (616) 331-3137; Schedule an appointment
• Jen Jameslyn: [email protected]; (616) 331-8200; Schedule an appointment
• Amy McFarland: [email protected]; (616) 331-8156; Schedule an appointment
• Kelly Parker: [email protected]; (616) 331-3257; Schedule an appointment
• Brian Trager: [email protected]; (616) 331-8222; Schedule an appointment

Although students who declare minors are not assigned advisors within the program of their minor, they may reach out to an ENS advisor or the Brooks College Advising Center ([email protected], 616-331-8200) for guidance. The Brooks College Advising Center is located in 260 Lake Michigan Hall on Allendale Campus.

To learn more about the faculty and staff in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, refer to the ENS Faculty/Staff Directory.

Below are Core and Synthesis courses, as well as ENS-prefix electives, offered by the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program for the 2023-2024 academic year. Given the vast number of courses available that satisfy elective requirements for the ENS major and minor, we're unable to include a complete listing here. Please refer to Banner to view all elective course offerings.

In the meantime:

• Did you know we're offering a section of ENS 311 Honey Bees and Social Impact this summer? 
• Are you familiar with these two new classes: ENS 238/280 History of Michigan Waterways and ENS 242/280 Climate Science in Culture?
• Have you considered the Semester in Detroit program for fall?

Happy course planning!  :)
Reach out to the ENS Office ([email protected], 616-331-8016) or the Brooks College Advising Center ([email protected], 616-331-8200) with any questions.

The curriculum guides for the ENS major, minor, and Sustainable Food Systems Certificate will be helpful as you're planning out your schedules. If you're looking for course descriptions, head to the online catalog.

In addition to courses referenced on the curriculum guides, there are many classes approved as substitutes that satisfy requirements for the ENS major or minor. Check out this chart and list for a summary of approved ENS substitutions. Consult with an advisor to confirm substitution requests and for assistance in reflecting the approval on your record in MyPath.

Don't forget about the Advising Resources page, which is packed with useful information!

Starting Fall 2022, students pursuing an ENS major should register for ENS 301 Methods for Interdisciplinary Environmental/Sustainability Studies in place of INT 301 Interdisciplinary Research Methods. The ENS Major Overview indicates this revised Core Course requirement.

What does this mean for you?

"I took INT 301 before Fall 2022 and received a passing grade."

• You have satisfied the Core Course methods requirement for the ENS major through INT 301. You do not need to take ENS 301 too. However, you're welcome to enroll in ENS 301, whether for the additional knowledge or to fulfill the B.S. degree's additional methods/research course requirement, which is usually satisfied by AHS 301, GPY 307, GPY 370, HST 290, PLS 300, or PSY 300. If you'd like to use ENS 301 for this purpose, connect with an ENS advisor or the Brooks College Advising Center, and they'll assist in communicating this substitution to the Records Office.

"I haven't taken INT 301."

• Plan to register for ENS 301 (not INT 301), even if MyPath is directing you to take INT 301. This will get corrected and your record updated to reflect ENS 301 as satisfying the Core Course methods requirement for the ENS major. You do not need to take INT 301 for the ENS major. However, if you're interested in using INT 301 to fulfill the B.S. degree's additional methods/research course requirement, which is usually satisfied by AHS 301, GPY 307, GPY 370, HST 290, PLS 300, or PSY 300, connect with an ENS advisor or the Brooks College Advising Center, and they'll assist in communicating this substitution to the Records Office.

"I'm pursuing an ENS minor, not a major."

• You're not required to take INT 301 or ENS 301 to earn a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. However, as noted on the ENS minor curriculum guide, ENS 301 is an option for you to satisfy an additional upper-level elective requirement. Even if ENS 301 is not showing up in your MyPath as an option, we can assist in communicating this approval to the Records Office. Connect with an ENS advisor or the Brooks College Advising Center.

If you'd like further clarification on the new ENS 301 class replacing INT 301 as a Core Course for the ENS major, reach out to your ENS advisor or the Brooks College Advising Center ([email protected]).

ENS majors are required to complete two credits of either ENS 490 Internship or ENS 491 Practicum. While it’s not required for students earning the ENS minor, ENS 490 and ENS 491 are still available to minors and fulfill an upper-level elective requirement. 

Completing an internship or practicum experience NOT for credit is an option. However, if ENS students intend to earn credit for their participation, they must complete the Internship Agreement or Practicum Proposal form and enroll in either ENS 490 or ENS 491 prior to starting the experience. For information about the requirements and opportunities related to internships and practicums, refer to the Internship Guide and Practicum Guide.

The ENS Internship Coordinator is Prof. Crystal Scott-Tunstall. Students may reach out to Prof. Scott-Tunstall at [email protected] or (616) 331-8234. Practicums, on the other hand, may be supervised by any ENS-affiliated faculty member. For guidance or general questions related to practicums, contact ENS Director, Dr. Amy McFarland, at [email protected] or (616) 331-8156.