Environmental Science Major, B.S.

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Environmental Science is a discipline that will prepare students to understand - and help solve-some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. From sustainable growth and pollution control to learning about water problems and ecosystem degradation, students learn to analyze environmental challenges and find possible solutions. The Environmental Science degree explores ecological resiliency through a wide range of field, laboratory, and classroom courses on topics including, but not limited to, soil science, water resources and management, mountain environments, waste remediation, and geospatial sciences. Students tackle these environmental problems from the perspective of timely global challenges such as climate change and human population growth. This interdisciplinary major allows students to choose from a variety of courses to tailor a degree plan to their interests and keep them diversified in a constantly growing and changing field.

General Studies Course Requirements (33-36 credits)

Written Communication (6 credits)

Select any courses that satisfy the Written Communication requirement.

Oral Communication (3 credits)

Select any course that satisfies the Oral Communication requirement.

Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)

Students may use the Additional Requirements courses in the degree plan that satisfy Quantitative Literacy towards this requirement.

Arts and Humanities (6 credits)

Select any courses that satisfy the Arts and Humanities requirement.

Historical (3 credits)

Select any course that satisfies the Historical requirement.

Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)

Students may use the Additional Requirements courses in the degree plan that satisfy Natural and Physical Sciences towards the requirement.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)

Select any courses that satisfy the Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirement

Global Diversity (3 credits)

Students may satisfy the Global Diversity requirement by selecting any course designated as Global Diversity within one of the following General Studies categories: Arts and Humanities; Historical; Natural and Physical Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students may also use an unrestricted elective to satisfy this requirement. (See General Studies requirements .)

Multicultural Graduation Requirement (3 credits)

In addition to completing the General Studies requirements, a student must complete a three-credit Multicultural course. The department recommends that students select courses in their major, minor, or general studies courses that also meet this requirement.

Additional Requirements (22 credits)

These additional requirements for the Environmental Science degree must be passed with at least a C- to count towards degree completion. These courses may count towards general studies or a minor.

BIO 1080 - General Biology I Credits: 3
BIO 1081 - General Biology II Credits: 3
BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I Credits: 1
BIO 1091 - General Biology Laboratory II Credits: 1
CHE 1800 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHE 1810 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHE 1801 - General Chemistry I Laboratory Credits: 1
CHE 1811 - General Chemistry II Laboratory Credits: 1
MTH 1410 - Calculus I Credits: 4
Total for Additional Requirements: 22 credits

Environmental Science Core Requirements (27 credits)

This list of courses is designed to expose students to each of the various aspects of Environmental Science. All courses must be passed with at least a C- to count towards degree completion.

ENV 1200 - Introduction to Environmental Science Credits: 3
ENV 2100 - Environmental Sampling and Analysis Credits: 3
ENV 3420 - Soil Resources Credits: 3
ENV 3422 - Methods of Soil Analysis and Sampling Credits: 1
ENV 4200 - Environmental Policy and Planning Credits: 3
MTH 1210 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 4
GIS 2250 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4
Students are required to take one ecosystem/ecology course from the following list:
ENV 2200 - Principles of Ecological Restoration Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 3700 - Mountain Environments Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 4420 - Wetlands Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 4440 - Limnology Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 4450 - Stream Ecology Credits: 3
Students are required to take one waste/remediation course from the following list:
ENV 2000 - Applied Pollution Science Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 3710 - Environmental Remediation Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 3720 - Waste Management Credits: 3
Total for Core Requirements: 27 credits

Environmental Science Electives (15 credits)

Students are required to take 15 credits of Environmental Science Electives and can choose any ENV course to satisfy this requirement; however, a maximum of 3 lower division credit hours is allowed. Before choosing electives, students should see an advisor to discuss particular courses and associated career paths. All courses must be passed with at least a C- to count towards degree completion. Directed Study and Internship credits may only be used towards 6 credits combined of elective credits.

ENV 2000-4999 Any ENV Course
ENV 200X-499X Any ENV Variable Topic or Omnibus Course

Total for Environmental Science Electives: 15 credits

Environmental Science Senior Experience (3 credits)

Students may choose one of the two following senior experiences courses in Environmental Science. This course must be passed with at least a C- to count towards degree completion.

ENV 4960 - Global Environmental Challenges Credits: 3
-or-
ENV 4970 - Environmental Field Studies Credits: 3
Total for Senior Experience: 3 credits

Environmental Science Degree Requirements

General Studies Requirement	33-36 credits
Multicultural Requirement*	0-3 credits
Additional Requirements**	22 credits
Environmental Science Core	27 credits
Environmental Science Electives***	15 credits
Environmental Science Senior Experience	3 credits
Optional Minor and/or Unrestricted Electives****	0-20
Total for Environmental Science Degree	120 credits

*In addition to completing the General Studies requirements, a student must complete a three-credit Multicultural course. The department recommends that students select a course in their major, minor, or general studies courses that also meet this requirement.

**Courses in the Additional Requirements block may count towards general studies or a minor. If a student uses these courses towards general studies or a minor, the number of unrestricted electives will increase to meet the 120 credit hour requirement for graduation.

***Note: Directed Study and Internship courses may only count towards 6 credits combined in the electives block.

****While not required, a minor may be recommended for certain career and graduate school paths. Students should see an advisor to discuss options pertaining to their goals. Students may use courses in the Additional Requirements areas to satisfy minor requirements.