Environmental Science - Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
The environmental science major is a multidisciplinary program based on a strong general science curriculum and an environmental curriculum that focuses on environmental problems and solutions. Although administered by the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, a multidisciplinary advisory committee recommends curriculum and other changes to the program. Graduates are very competitive for careers in industry and government and have excellent preparation for graduate programs in a variety of fields. A grade of C- or better must be earned in the Basic Background and Core Requirements.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | 10 | |
English Composition - Level 1 1 | ||
English Composition - Level 2 1 | ||
Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1511G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 2 | 4 |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 11 | |
| General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 | |
Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (3 credits) 1 | ||
| Area V: Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective 3 | ||
| GEOL 1110G | Physical Geology | 4 |
| Viewing A Wider World 4 | 6 | |
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| Basic Science and Math Requirements (42-43 credits including Area III and General Education Elective above) | ||
| BIOL 2110G | Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 2610G | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution (note: BIOL 2610L is NOT required for ES major) | 3 |
| BIOL 311 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| A ST 311 | Statistical Applications | 3 |
| MATH 1521G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| or MATH 1430G | Applications of Calculus I | |
| PHYS 1310G | Calculus -Based Physics I (note: the lab is NOT required for ES major) | 3 |
| SOIL 2110 & 2110L | Introduction to Soil Science and Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Animal Metabolism | 3 | |
| Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM 2120 must be taken with associated 1-cr CHEM lab) | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| Environmental Science Core Requirements | ||
| ENVS 1110G | Environmental Science I | 4 |
| ENVS 2111 & 2111L | Environmental Engineering and Science and Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENVS 301 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| ENVS 312 | Emergency Response to Hazardous Material Incidents | 2 |
| ENVS 361 | Basic Toxicology | 3 |
| ENVS 370 | Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
| ENVS 391 | Internship | 3 |
| ENVS 447 | Seminar | 1 |
| ENVS 452 | Geohydrology | 4 |
| ENVS 460 | Introduction to Air Pollution | 3 |
| ENVS 462 | Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Contaminants | 3 |
| ENVS 470 | Environmental Impacts of Land Use and Contaminant Remediation | 3 |
| Select from one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Water Measurement | 3 | |
| Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology | 4 | |
| Aquatic Ecology | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Chemistry | 3 | |
| General Geochemistry | 3 | |
| Soil Chemistry | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Cartography and GIS | 4 | |
| Fundamentals of GIS (any GIS course) | 4 | |
| GIS and Water Resources | 3 | |
| GIS for Geology | 3 | |
| Second Language: (not required) | ||
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 5 | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
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See the General Education Section of the catalog for a full list of courses
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MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I is required for the degree but students may need to take prerequisites first.
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MATH 1511G, ENVS 1110G, and GEOL 1110G are all required for this major and will satisfy this category depending on which course is completed first.
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See the Viewing a Wider World Section of the catalog for a full list of courses; one course may be in the College of ACES but cannot be taught or cross-listed with AGRO, HORT, ENVS, SOIL, or GENE.
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Elective credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.
A Suggested Plan of Study for Students
This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1220G College Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I . The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change. Students should meet with their advisor every semester.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| ENVS 1110G | Environmental Science I | 4 |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course 2 | ||
Area V: Humanities Course 2 | ||
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 | ||
| Elective Course 3 | 3 | |
| Students who must be enrolled in 15 credits a semester for Financial Aid purposes will need to enroll in additional elective credits 3 | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Elective Course 3 | 3 | |
| BIOL 2610G | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution (Lab not required) | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | ||
| GEOL 1110G | Physical Geology | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
Area IV: Social Behavioral Course 2 | ||
Area V: Humanities Course 2 | ||
Area V: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MATH 1511G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1215G | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 |
| BIOL 2110G | Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (Lab not required) | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Professional and Technical Communication Honors | ||
| Advanced Technical and Professional Communication | ||
| Choose one from the following: | 4 | |
| Water Measurement | ||
| Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Ecology | ||
| Students who must be enrolled in 15 credits a semester for Financial Aid purposes will need to enroll in additional elective credits 3 | ||
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MATH 1521G or MATH 1430G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 1 or Applications of Calculus I | 4 |
| CHEM 1225G | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors 1 | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course 2 | ||
Area V: Humanities Course 2 | ||
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 2 | ||
| Students who must be enrolled in 15 credits a semester for Financial Aid purposes will need to enroll in additional elective credits 3 | ||
| Credits | 11 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| A ST 311 | Statistical Applications 1 | 3 |
| SOIL 2110 & 2110L | Introduction to Soil Science and Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 2120 or CHEM 313 | Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM 2120 must be taken with associated 1-cr CHEM lab) or Organic Chemistry I | 3-4 |
| GEOG 481 | Fundamentals of GIS | 4 |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 4 | 3 | |
| Credits | 17-18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENVS 312 | Emergency Response to Hazardous Material Incidents (Spring Only) | 2 |
| ENVS 2111 & 2111L | Environmental Engineering and Science and Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENVS 370 | Environmental Soil Science (Spring Only) | 3 |
| PHYS 1310G | Calculus -Based Physics I (lab not required) | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| ENVS 462 | Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Contaminants (Fall Only) | 3 |
| ENVS 452 | Geohydrology (Fall Only) | 4 |
| ENVS 460 | Introduction to Air Pollution (Fall Only) | 3 |
| ENVS 361 | Basic Toxicology (Fall Only) | 3 |
| ENVS 422 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENVS 470 | Environmental Impacts of Land Use and Contaminant Remediation (Spring Only) | 3 |
| ENVS 301 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| ENVS 391 | Internship | 3 |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 4 | 3 | |
| BIOL 311 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| ENVS 447 | Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 120-121 | |
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These courses have prerequisites and it is the students responsibility to check and fulfill all course prerequisites listed for these courses.
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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The department recommends utilizing the following courses to fulfill the additional elective credits needed for Financial Aid requirements.
First Year - Semester 1:
- MATH 1220G College Algebra
- ACES 1120 Freshman Orientation
First Year - Semester 2:
- MATH 1250G Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus
Second Year - Semester 1:
- CHEM 1121 General Supplemental Instruction I
Second Year - Semester 2:
- CHEM 1122 General Supplemental Instruction II
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.