The environmental studies programs (honours with specialization; major; and minor) are interdisciplinary; as such they include courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The programs offer a unique, multi-facetted perspective on the relationship between society and the physical environment. During the last few decades, humanity's impact on the natural world has become a leading topic of international debate and discussion. At stake are matters of primary importance to our society, such as the economic and political consequences of major climate change, problems facing modern agricultural production and possible threats to human health.