2021-2022

Environmental Communication, Minor

Communication Studies

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This minor is designed to provide students with: knowledge and skills related to environmental journalism; environmental advocacy; environmental decision-making, collaboration and conflict resolution; rhetorics of environmentalism; and representations of nature.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 21

Purpose Statement

The minor in Environmental Communication is designed to introduce students to the range of subfields in environmental communication and provide them with the necessary background in environmental history, ideologies, issues, and ethics for engaging in the production, analysis, and evaluation of environmental messages. One emphasis is developing capacities to think critically about environmental messages pertaining to human relationships with the natural world that are communicated through artistic, advocacy, and journalistic venues both verbal and audio-visual. Equally important, a second emphasis is on the production of messages in a variety of media, genres, and contexts, actively engaging in multiple forms of environmental communication. The minor in Environmental Communication is a useful supplement for those majoring and/or preparing for careers in environmental journalism, documentary production, environmental art, public relations, environmental advocacy, community organizing, environmental education, environmental law, politics, parks and recreation, and public agency service.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the minor in Environmental Communication will be able to:

  1. relate a broad understanding of Western environmental history, ideologies, issues, and ethics
  2. describe how environmental information and advocacy is articulated in various communication genres and media
  3. analyze how environmental information and advocacy is articulated in various communication genres and media
  4. evaluate how environmental information and advocacy is articulated in various communication genres and media
  5. demonstrate research and communication skills in the area of environmental communication, including the production of environmental messages in a variety of media, genres, and contexts
  6. demonstrate a working knowledge of environmental activism and how advocacy, nonprofit, and governmental organizations function in relation to environmental campaigns and causes
  7. demonstrate an understanding of the inherently interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues

Minor Requirements
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.