How does literature affect environmental values and practices? Can a novel or poem make a more sustainable world? Environment literary criticism focuses on the ways in which literature shapes and responds to a variety of environmental concerns, from animal welfare to pollution to global warming. UC Santa Barbara's English Department offers a variety of ways for undergraduates to explore the intersection of literature and the environment. Students casually interested in the subject can simply take one or more of the many courses offered. See both the current courses page and the list of all courses. It is also possible to do an Undergraduate Specialization in Literature and the Environment (USLE) by taking four or more of these courses. Students who are especially dedicated can complete the USLE with Honors. See our FAQ page for the answers to such frequently asked questions as "What is environmental criticism?" The English Department also sponsors a variety of events having to do with literature and the environment.