Environment and Science Communication Dual Degree Program

This program is best suited for students early in their undergraduate years and pursuing either Environmental Studies (B.A.) or Environmental Science (B.S.) degrees. Students should apply to this program if they are interested in the most critical environmental issues, want to help people understand how the world works and craft messages to inspire others to take action. 

Throughout the program, students will complete the following curriculum: 

• 120 hours taken while pursuing a B.A. Environmental Studies or B.S. Environmental Science. This includes the required courses for the General College and 12 courses in the major. The major courses will provide a strong foundation in the basic sciences and additional track or concentration requirements.  
  • B.A. in Environmental Studies concentrations: Agriculture and Health, Ecology and Society, Environmental Behavior and Decision-making, and Population, Environment and Development  
  • B.A. in Environmental Studies – Sustainability Track  
  • B.S. in Environmental Science concentrations: Ecology and Natural Resources, Environment and Health, and Water and Climate B.S. in Environmental Science – Quantitative Energy Systems Track 
• One of three options for taking undergraduate courses at UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media in order for students to take graduate-level courses in their fourth year of undergraduate studies: major in media and journalism, minor in media and journalism, or three-course minimum. The three courses students take are based on their chosen program of study (journalism, strategic communication or visual communication) and are as follows:  
  • Journalism:  
    • MEJO 121: Introduction to Digital Storytelling 
    • MEJO 153: Writing and Reporting 
    • Choice among: MEJO 157: News Editing, MEJO 252: Audio Journalism, and MEJO 253: Introduction to Public Affairs Reporting 
  • Strategic Communication (advertising, marketing communication, and public relations)
    • MEJO 137: Principles of Advertising and Public Relations 
    • MEJO 332: Public Relations Writing (requires MEJO 153: Writing and Reporting as a perquisite)  
    • Choice among: MEJO 475: Concepts of Marketing and MEJO 531: Case Studies in Public Relations 
  • Visual Communication (interactive/graphic design, photo/video) 
    • Photo/video specialization 
      • MEJO 121: Introduction to Digital Storytelling 
      • MEJO 180: Foundations of Photojournalism 
      • MEJO 489: Photojournalism, Lighting and Business Techniques 
    • Interactive/graphic specialization 
      • MEJO 121: Introduction to Digital Storytelling 
      • MEJO 182: Foundations of Graphic Design 
      • MEJO 187: Foundations of Interactive Media 
• 36 hours in the M.A. program. Students complete these credit hours based on specialized programs of study. The programs of study are journalism, strategic communication and visual communication. More about these programs of study can be found here: http://hussman.unc.edu/ma/curriculum. Students take 9 graduate-level credit hours in their fourth year of undergraduate studies. Students must take the required MEJO courses (three-course minimum) before starting graduate-level work during their fourth year. These credit hours will be transferred to the M.A. program. 

After completing the required courses, students apply to the program in January of their third year. If accepted, students are considered conditionally admitted, which allows them to take graduate courses during their fourth year of undergraduate school. When students officially graduate, they’ll officially apply to the graduate program at The Graduate School. For more details about admissions please visit https://esc.web.unc.edu/admissions/.  

Early and consistent advising is critical for this program. Students who are interested in this program should contact advisors at E3P and Hussman School of Journalism and Media to schedule advising appointments. Students should meet with their advisors once per semester. 

For more information and advising for the E3P curriculum, contact the following: 

• Amy Cooke: acooke@email.unc.edu 
• Greg Gangi: ggangi@email.unc.edu 
• Geoff Bell: gwbell@email.unc.edu 

For more information and advising for the Hussman School of Journalism and Media curriculum, contact the following: 

• Heidi Hennink-Kaminski: h2kamins@email.unc.edu  
• Tom Linden: linden@unc.edu 

For more information about advising please visit https://esc.web.unc.edu/advising/.