Environmental Science

The program in environmental science guides students in examination and analysis of the earth and the human-environment interaction, and develops the technical and scientific skills necessary to build a career related to the environment.

Classification: Major, Minor
Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Required courses in the major examine what is the nature of the earth, its ecosystems, and environmental problems, what is the scientific and technical basis for environmental problem-solving and mitigation of the human impact on planet earth, how scientific findings are used in society’s decision-making about environmental resources, and how science and technology can help us be better stewards of earth, its ecosystems, and its natural resources.

The number of courses required for the major is 15 (48–53 semester hours). Off-campus study courses may substitute for some of the requirements below.

The minor in environmental science introduces students to the tenets of a scientific approach to understanding the human-environment interaction, environmental problems and effective environmental problem-solving; it also equips students with career-ready skills that will complement any major.

The number of courses required for the minor is 6 (18-20 semester hours).

Required Courses

Major Required Courses

All of the following (32-34 sem. hrs.)

  • BIOL 119L Ecology and Evolution (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 101L Introduction to Environmental Science (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 102L Conservation of Biodiversity (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 131L Physical Geology (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 196 Tutorial in Geographic Information Systems (1 sem. hr.)
  • ENVR 204 The Climate System (3 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 290/390 Internship in Environmental Science (2-4 sem. hrs)
  • ENVR 303 Environmental Impact Assessment (3 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 340 Sustainable Agriculture (3 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 403 Senior Thesis in Environmental Science (4 sem. hrs.)
  • MATH 151 Elementary Statistics (3 sem. hrs.) -or- MATH 251 Probability and Statistics (3 sem. hrs.)

Area of Specialization
Four courses from Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, or Group 4, as indicated below (13-16 sem. hrs.)

Group 1 (Environmental Biology)

  • BIOL 130L Biology of Organisms (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 205 Terrestrial Field Biology (3 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 324L Animal Behavior (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 325L Limnology (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 363 Advanced Ecology (3 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 285/285L/385/385L Topics in Environmental Science (3 sem. hrs.)

Group 2 (Environmental Chemistry)

  • CHEM 107L General Chemistry (4 sem. hrs.)
  • CHEM 108L Chemical Analysis (4 sem. hrs.)
  • CHEM 213L Organic Chemistry I (4 sem. hrs.)
  • CHEM 214L Organic Chemistry II (4 sem. hrs.)
  • CHEM 215L Inorganic Chemistry I (4 sem. hrs.)
  • CHEM 327L Instrumental Analysis (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 285/285L/385/385L Topics in Environmental Science (3 sem. hrs.)

Group 3 (Environmental Engineering)

  • ENVR 285/285L/385/385L Topics in Environmental Science (3 sem. hrs.)
  • MATH 111 Calculus I: Introduction to Calculus (4 sem. hrs.)
  • MATH 112 Calculus II: Introduction to Calculus (4 sem. hrs.)
  • MATH 211 Calculus III: Multivariable Calculus (3 sem. hrs.)
  • PHYS 111L Fundamentals of Physics I (4 sem. hrs.)
  • PHYS 212L Fundamentals of Physics II (4 sem. hrs.)
  • PHYS 221L Principles of Electronics (4 sem. hrs.)

Group 4 (Earth Science Teacher Certification for Education)

  • BIOL 205 Terrestrial Field Biology (3 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 325L Limnology (4 sem. hrs.)
  • CHEM 107L General Chemistry (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 285/285L/385/385L Topics in Environmental Science (3 sem. hrs.)
  • MATH 111 Calculus I: Introduction to Calculus (4 sem. hrs.)
  • PHYS 106L Introductory Astronomy (4 sem. hrs.)
  • PHYS 111L Fundamentals of Physics I (4 sem. hrs.)
  • SUS 101 Introduction to Sustainability (3 sem. hrs.)

Minor Required Courses

All of the following (12 sem. hrs.)

  • ENVR 101L Introduction to Environmental Science (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 102L Conservation of Biodiversity (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 196 Tutorial in Geographic Information Systems (1 sem. hr.)
  • ENVR 303 Environmental Impact Assessment (3 sem. hrs.)

Two of the following (6-8 sem. hrs.)

  • BIOL 119L Ecology and Evolution (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 130L Biology of Organisms (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 205 Terrestrial Field Biology (3 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 324L Animal Behavior (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 325L Limnology (4 sem. hrs.)
  • BIOL 363L Advanced Ecology (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 131L Physical Geology (4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 204 The Climate System (3 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 285/285L Topics in Environmental Science (3-4 sem. hrs.)
  • ENVR 340 Sustainable Agriculture (3 sem. hrs.)

Other Areas of Study