The Earth, Society & Environment (ESE) minor is designed for students who want to add an interdisciplinary environmental perspective to their primary field of study. Students explore Earth systems, environmental change, and the ways societies understand and respond to environmental challenges. The flexible minor is open to students across the University of Illinois.
Minor requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| One introductory course in Earth’s Physical Systems, Resources, and Hazards | 3–4 |
| One introductory course in either Environment and the Human Response or Sustainability, Policy, and Global Change | 3–4 |
| ESE 200: Earth Systems | 3 |
| Three approved advanced courses; at least two must be listed or cross-listed as ESE or ENSU | 9–12 |
| Total | 18–23 |
Choose your courses
1. Earth’s Physical Systems, Resources, and Hazards
Choose one introductory course (3–4 credit hours):
- ATMS 100: Introduction to Meteorology
- ATMS 120: Severe and Hazardous Weather
- ATMS 201: General Physical Meteorology
- GEOL 100: Planet Earth
- GEOL 107: Physical Geology
- GEOL 117: The Oceans
- GEOL 118: Natural Disasters
- GGIS 103: Earth’s Physical Systems
- GGIS 222: Big Rivers of the World
2. Society and sustainability
Choose one introductory course (3–4 credit hours) from either of the following areas.
Environment and the Human Response
- ACE 210: Environmental Economics & Policy
- ACE 251: The World Food Economy
- GGIS 106: Geographies of Globalization
- HIST 202: American Environmental History
- REL 270: Religion, Ethics, Environment
- RST 242: Nature and American Culture
- SOC 160: Global Inequality and Social Change
Sustainability, Policy, and Global Change
- ANTH 278: Climate Change & Civilization
- ATMS 140: Climate and Global Change
- CPSC 215: The Prairie and Bioenergy
- GEOL 208: History of the Earth System
- LA 250: Environmental Site Analysis
- NPRE 101: Introduction to Energy Sources
- NPRE 201: Energy Systems
- PS 224: Politics of the National Parks
- PS 225: Environmental Politics & Policy
- SOC 270: Global Demography
3. Earth Systems
Complete ESE 200: Earth Systems (3 credit hours), an interdisciplinary introduction to Earth systems using approaches from the natural and social sciences.
4. Advanced coursework
Complete three courses (9–12 credit hours) from the ES advanced course list.
At least two of the three advanced courses must be listed or cross-listed as ESE or ENSU courses.
Questions?
Meet with an Environmental Sustainability advisor for help choosing courses and planning the minor.
The University of Illinois Academic Catalog is the authoritative source for current degree requirements. Requirements shown here reflect the 2026–2027 catalog.