Requirements for Major (B.A.)
Complete 57-61 semester credits of coursework, including core environmental science courses, cognate courses, foundational and advanced courses focused on an approved theme of study, and a capstone experience. Students select a theme of study in consultation with their advisor.
Available themes include conservation biology, aquatic ecosystems, stream resources, forestry, water resources, and wildlife management. These links are active and will provide thematic information as well as approved courses for each theme of study relative to the requirements for the BA and BS majors.
Required in Environmental Science
Environmental Science 101, 250, and 494.
Required in other Departments
Four semester hours in social science from Economics 350, Geography 230S or 292S, or Political Science 221S or 321. Four semester hours in statistics from Mathematics 127Q or 227Q, Business 110Q, or Psychology 107Q.
At least 24 semester hours of foundational courses from from two or more departments the following list of approved courses, selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on an approved theme of study:
BIOL 170B Concepts of Biology: Biological Information, Reproduction, and Evolution
BIOL 180B Concepts of Biology: Energy and Resources in Biology
BIOL 245 Introductory Wildlife Management
CHEM 121B Models of Chemical Systems
CHEM 162B Chemical Structure and Analysis
GEOG 220N Physical Geography
GEOG 222B Weather and Climate
GEOG 306 Remote Sensing (new course - proposal in process)
GEOG 390 Geographical Information Systems
GEOL 150B Physical Geology
GEOL 160B Environmental Geology
GEOL 170B Geology of the Critical Zone
GEOL 291 Spatial Analysis in the Natural Sciences
PHYS 200B Mechanics and Waves
At least 12 semester hours of advanced courses from the following list of approved courses, selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on an approved theme of study:
BIOL 230 Woody Plants
BIOL 232 Herpetology
BIOL 233 Ornithology
BIOL 235 Morphology of Vascular Plants
BIOL 250 Wildlife Techniques
BIOL 316 Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics
BIOL 341 Limnology
BIOL 342 Stream Ecology
BIOL 346 Ecology
BIOL 347 Evolution
CHEM 201 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
CHEM 281 Analytical Chemistry
GEOG 225 Biogeography. (new course - proposal in process)
GEOG 380 Topics: Forest Ecology (new course - proposal in process)
GEOL 240 Process Geomorphology
GEOL 315 Watershed Hydrology
GEOL 350 Environmental Geochemistry (new course - proposal in process)
Requirements for Major (B.S.)
Complete 66-77 semester credits of coursework, including core environmental science courses, cognate courses, foundational and advanced courses focused on an approved theme of study, and a capstone experience. Students select a theme of study in consultation with their advisor. Available themes include conservation biology, aquatic ecosystems, stream resources, forestry, water resources, and wildlife management.
Required in Environmental Science
Environmental Science 101, 250, and 494 and at least one additional credit from Environmental Science 490, 491, or 492.
Required in other Departments
At least eight semester hours in social science from Economics 350, Geography 230S or 292S, or Political Science 221S or 321. Four semester hours in statistics from Mathematics 127Q or 227Q, Business 110Q, or Psychology 107Q and at least four semester hours from Mathematics 131Q, 201Q and 202Q or Computer Programming 150.
At least 24 semester hours of foundational courses from two or more departments from the following list of approved courses, selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on an approved theme of study:
BIOL 170B Concepts of Biology: Biological Information, Reproduction, and Evolution
BIOL 180B Concepts of Biology: Energy and Resources in Biology
BIOL 245 Introductory Wildlife Management
CHEM 121B Models of Chemical Systems
CHEM 162B Chemical Structure and Analysis
GEOG 220N Physical Geography
GEOG 222B Weather and Climate
GEOG 306 Remote Sensing (new course - proposal in process)
GEOG 390 Geographical Information Systems
GEOL 150B Physical Geology
GEOL 160B Environmental Geology
GEOL 170B Geology of the Critical Zone
GEOL 291 Spatial Analysis in the Natural Sciences
PHYS 200B Mechanics and Waves
At least 12 semester hours of advanced courses from the following list of approved courses, selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on an approved theme of study:
BIOL 230 Woody Plants
BIOL 232 Herpetology
BIOL 233 Ornithology
BIOL 235 Morphology of Vascular Plants
BIOL 250 Wildlife Techniques
BIOL 316 Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics
BIOL 341 Limnology
BIOL 342 Stream Ecology
BIOL 346 Ecology
BIOL 347 Evolution
CHEM 201 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
CHEM 281 Analytical Chemistry
GEOG 225 Biogeography (new course - proposal in process)
GEOG 380 Topics: Forest Ecology (new course - proposal in process)
GEOL 240 Process Geomorphology
GEOL 315 Watershed Hydrology
GEOL 350 Environmental Geochemistry (new course - proposal in process)
Capstone Experience
A significant capstone experience in environmental science is required prior to ESCI 494: Senior Seminar. For students pursuing the B.A. degree, extended field studies, field seminars, or project-based courses provide ample opportunities for students to satisfy this requirement. For students pursuing the B.S. degree, the capstone experience must be from an independent study, directed research, or internship, including summer research or internship opportunities. These students are required to present the results of their work at a campus or professional research symposium (separate from the Senior Seminar poster presentation). Either the experience or its presentation must be credit-bearing (1-4 semester hours). Students will work in consultation with their advisors and the program director to determine appropriate capstone experiences.
