Environmental Science, B.S.

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

Major Requirements

52 to 53 credits:

BIOL 110 - Introduction to Biology I Credits: (4)
BIOL 111 - Introduction to Biology II Credits: (4)
BIOL 205 - Biostatistics Credits: (4)
BIOL 225 - Environmental Science Credits: (4)
BIOL 325 - Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOL 440 - Conservation Biology Credits: (4)
CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I Credits: (4)
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II Credits: (4)
CHEM 201 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: (4)
CHEM 202 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: (4)
BIOL 206 - Nutritional Ecology Credits: (4)
CHEM 210 - Analytical Chemistry Credits: (4)

Environmental Science Elective (4 Credits)

Complete one of the following courses (and associated lab where necessary):

BIOL 200 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: (4)
BIOL 221 - Genetics Credits: (4)
BIOL 250 - Animal Behavior Credits: (4)
BIOL 300 - Microbiology Credits: (4)
BIOL 312 - Plant Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOL 400 - Toxicology Credits: (4)
BIOL 406 - Evolution Credits: (4)
BIOL 415 - Watershed Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOCH 405 - Biochemistry I Credits: (4)
CHEM 404 - Instrumental Analysis Credits: (4)
CHEM 420 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (4)

Environmental Interdisciplinary Elective (6 Credits)

Students must complete two of the following interdisciplinary electives:

ECON 390 - The Economy of Francesco Credits: (3)
ENGL 388 - Environmental Literature Credits: (3)
FAAR 220 - Environmental Art Credits: (3)
GEOG 200 - Global Geography Credits: (3)
HINW 322 - Food, Water, Power, Dignity Credits: (3)
HINW 326 - Environmental Challenges of Develop Credits: (3)
PHIL 333 - Environmental Philosophy Credits: (3)
PSCI 210 - Public Policy Credits: (3)
PSCI 337 - Environmental Law and Politics Credits: (3)
PSCI 348 - Human Rights Credits: (3)
PSGE 325 - The Politics of Developing Nations Credits: (3)
PSYCH 360 - Environmental Psychology Credits: (3)
SOC 217 - Population and Society Credits: (3)
THEOL 341 - Theology/The Environment Credits: (3)

Experiential Component (1 Credit)

Students must complete an experiential component consisting of 1-3 credits of:

BIOL 398 - Independent Study Credits: (1)
BIOL 450 - Undergraduate Research Experience Credits: (1-4)
BIOL 451 - Bio. Senior UG Research Credits: (1-4)
BIOL 480 - Biology Internship Credits: (1-12)
CHEM 450 - Undergraduate Research Experience Credits: (1-4)
CHEM 451 - Chemistry UG Senior Research Credits: (1-3)
CHEM 480 - Chemistry Internship Credits: (1-12)

Core Requirements (46 to 49 credits)

The First Year Symposium (3 credits)

Complete the First Year Symposium

FSYM 101 - The First Year Symposium Credits: (3)
Students who cannot complete First Year Symposium must pass one of the following composition courses:
COMM 200 - Foundations of Writing Credits: (3)
COMM 125 - Essentials of Speaking and Writing Credits: (3)
GENED 104 - Work and Education Credits: (3)

World Language Requirement (3-6 Credits)

Complete either 6 credits at the 101 and 102 level or 3 credits at the 200 level or above

Introductory Language (For students beginning at the 101 level)
- XXXX 101 (3)
- XXXX 102 (3)
Advanced Language (For students who begin at the 201 level or above)
- XXXX 201/301 (or higher).

Foundations of Social Science (3 Credits)

Choose 3 credits from among the following:

CJUST 110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: (3)
ECON 101 - Foundations of Economics: Macroecon Credits: (3)
ECON 102 - Foundations of Economics: Microecon Credits: (3)
EDUC 100 - Foundations of American Education Credits: (4)
PSCI 100 - Foundations of American Government Credits: (3)
PSYCH 100 - Foundations of Psychology Credits: (3)
SOC 100 - Foundations of Sociology Credits: (3)

Modernity in Literature or the Arts (3 Credits)

Choose from among one of the following:

ARMO 300 - Modernity in Visual Art Credits: (3)
ENMO 300 - Modernity in Literature Credits: (3)
MUMO 300 - Modernity in Music Credits: (3)
THMO 300 - Modernity in Theatre Credits: (3)

Laboratory Science (3-4 Credits)

Choose one laboratory science course:

BIOL 110 - Introduction to Biology I Credits: (4)
BIOL 111 - Introduction to Biology II Credits: (4)
BIOL 298 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: (4)
CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I Credits: (4)
PHYS 101 - College Physics I Credits: (4)
PHYS 201 - General Physics I Credits: (4)
GNSCI XXX: General Science Course: Credits (3)

Global Encounters (3 Credits)

Choose one Global Encounters course:

XXGE Global Encounters
- Global Encounters courses are offered in many departments, including Business, Communication, English, Education, Foreign Language, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Theology.

Ethics and the Human Good (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PHIL 300 - Ethics and the Human Good Credits: (3)
THEOL 300 - Ethics and the Human Good Credits: (3)

Ethical Leaders (0 Credits)

The Ethical Leadership Experiential Learning Core Requirement invites students to integrate their own personal call to leadership with a mature reflection on one or more of the core virtues of Justice, Courage, Integrity, and Humility. Students will accomplish this by engaging in and reflecting upon the practice of virtue ethics within the context of one or more experiential learning activities.

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.