May 14, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Environmental Science, B.S.


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A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. 

Core Requirements (46 to 49 credits)


Electives


23 to 25 credits 

Note


The environmental science major reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the field of environmental science. Solutions to the environmental issues facing our society must be scientifically sound, yet they must also be socially, economically and politically informed to be successful in promoting effective and lasting change. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in the natural sciences, with courses in biology, chemistry, and applied environmental science. Students also take environmentally focused courses in the humanities and social sciences. Students gain hands-on experience in the field of environmental science through a required experiential component, which may be completed through an internship, research project or independent study. Environmental science majors are well prepared to pursue an environmental career or graduate education in the field.

 

Alternate environmental-related humanities or social sciences courses may fulfill this requirement upon approval by the department chair.

 

Students must complete an experiential component consisting of 1-3 credits of BIOL 480 Internship, BIOL 398 Independent Study or BIOL 450 Undergraduate Research Experience.

 

Students planning to apply for graduate school are encouraged to take MATH 247 Calculus I (4) and PHYS 101 College Physics I (4) - PHYS 102 College Physics II (4) or PHYS 201 General Physics I (4) - PHYS 202 General Physics II (4). Students planning to apply to a biology-based graduate program are encouraged to take BIOL 221 Genetics (4).

 

Students planning to pursue a double major with Biology should take BIOL 221 Genetics.

 

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. Students must also earn a major GPA of 2.0, and a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Sample Four Year Sequence


Freshman Year

Fall Semester

FSYM 101 The First Year Symposium (3)  

World Languages I (3)

BIOL 110 Introduction to Biology I (4)  

CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (4)  

14 credits 

Spring Semester

Foundations in Social Science (3)

World Languages II (3)

BIOL 111 Introduction to Biology II (4)  

CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (4)  

14 credits

 

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

MATH 211 Mathematical Thinking (3)  

Interdisciplinary Elective (3) 1 of 2

CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I (4)  

MATH 247 Calculus I (4)  (recommended)

14 credits

Spring Semester

PHIL 103 Foundations of Philosophy (3)  

WCIV 102 Origins of the West (3)  

CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II (4)  

BIOL 225 Environmental Science (4)  

14 credits 

 

Junior Year

Fall Semester

WCIV 201 Atlantic Encounters: 1450-1850 (3)  

PHIL 203 Philosophy in the Modern Age (3)  

Interdisciplinary Elective (3) 2 of 2

CHEM 210 Analytical Chemistry (4)  

PHYS 101 College Physics I (4)  OR  PHYS 201 General Physics I (4)   (recommended)

17 credits 

Spring Semester

THEOL 220 Foundations of Theology: Faith and (3)  

AMER 202 America in the World (3)  

Elective (3)

BIOL 205 Biostatistics (4)  

PHYS 102 College Physics II (4)  OR  PHYS 202 General Physics II (4)  

17 credits 

 

Senior Year

Fall Semester

THEOL 320 Encountering Christ (3)  

XXMO 300 Modernity in Lit. or Art (3)

BIOL 325 Ecology (4)    

CHEM 210 Analytical Chemistry (4)  

Experiential Component (3)*

Environmental Science Elective (4)

17 credits

Spring Semester

THEOL/PHIL 300 Ethics in the Human Good (3)

XXGE 3XX Global Encounters (3)

BIOL 440 Conservation Biology (4)  

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

 

16 credits

 

*Experiential Component may be 1-3 credits depending on interest and credit needs for graduation. 

  • Students testing into a World Language at the 201 level or higher will take only one semester of language in the fall semester of freshman year. 

 

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