Undergraduate Programme in Environmental Studies

The minor programme at Ashoka trains future scholars and professionals to be rigorous analysts and effective communicators who can understand and address the complexity of environmental issues and interventions.

Requirements: Students must take at least six courses in EVS. Of the 6 required courses, at least 2 have to be in a different stream from what the student intends to focus on. That is, a student must take either 4 social sciences and humanities courses and 2 biophysical sciences courses, or 2 social sciences and humanities courses and 4 biophysical sciences courses. These may include courses offered by other departments that are cross-listed with EVS. Please refer to the handbook for the courses offered in each category.

For a Concentration in EVS, students are required to take at least 4 courses offered by the Environmental Studies department or cross-listed with it.

Any Ashoka 4th year undergraduate student is eligible to write a thesis in Environmental Studies. There are two possibilities of a thesis in a minor:

Student writing an interdisciplinary thesis within both Major & Minor: In this case, approvals will be required from both Department Heads, as well as both advisors—one from the Major and one from the Minor. The credits of the interdisciplinary thesis will count towards their research credits and they will graduate with a 4-Year Honors with Research degree.

Student writing the thesis in their Minor: The student may write their thesis only in their Minor, EVS in this case; however, they will not be eligible for a 4-Year Honors with Research degree. Instead, they will graduate with a 4-Year Honors (without Research) degree. The thesis completed in the Minor department will still be reflected on the transcript but will not count towards any credits.

Requirements

• Agreement from an eligible advisor to advise the thesis
• Student should have completed their Minor in Environmental Studies
• Enrollment in ES-CP-4997: Capstone Research (Monsoon) and ES-CP-4998: Capstone Thesis (Spring)
• Completion of course requirements in ES-CP-4997 and ES-CP-4998
• A passing grade (D- or above) in ES-CP-4997
  • Students who do not receive a D- or above in 4997 will not be allowed to continue the thesis process
• Annotated bibliography and preliminary thesis proposal due at the end of Monsoon semester
• Thesis and thesis defense presentation due at the end of Spring semester
• The student is expected to be in contact with their thesis advisor throughout both semesters and to work closely with their advisor

Timeline

• Spring semester, 3rd year (or later)

1. The student secures agreement from an advisor to advise the thesis
2. The student fills out the capstone thesis registration form on the AMS

• Summer between 3rd and 4th year

1. The student engages in preliminary work on the thesis, if they wish to do so, under supervision of advisor.
2. The preliminary proposal (1000 words) should be submitted by 31 July.

• Monsoon semester, 4th year

1. The student enrolls in ES-CP-4997
2. The final proposal to be presented at the start of Monsoon term and cover 4 credits.

• Spring semester, 4th year

1. The student enrolls in ES-CP-4998
2. The final thesis should be no more than 15,000 words and cover 8 credits.

Advisor Eligibility

• A student’s thesis advisor must be a permanent faculty member in the Environmental Studies department at Ashoka
• A thesis may have a secondary advisor who is a faculty member (visiting or permanent) in any department at Ashoka University.
• It is recommended that secondary advisors be permanent (rather than visiting) faculty.
• Any secondary advisor must be approved by the primary advisor.