Environmental Sciences Major
College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) – Department of Environment, Society, and Sustainability
The General Education Requirement
All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain II-B (Natural Science) requirement is satisfied through the completion of the Environmental Science major.
Course Prerequisites
Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.
Requirements for the Major in Environmental Sciences (U_ET)
Required Department Core Courses (5):
- EASC 201 Principles of Earth System Science
- ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy
- ENVS 272 Global Environmental Issues
- GEOG 216 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
Capstone:
- EVSS 460 Thesis in Environment, Society, and Sustainability
CONCENTRATIONS
Environmental Science and Policy (UETE)
Required Concentration Core courses (13):
- BIOL 130/130L Principles of Biology with Lab
- BIOL 248/248L Principles of Ecology with Lab
- BIOL 251/251L Vascular Plant Taxonomy with Lab
- CHEM 103/103L Introductory Chemistry with Lab or
- CHEM 107/107L Principles of Chemistry and
- CHEM 108/108L Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
- ECON 102 Principles of Microeconomics
- ECON 333 Environmental Economics
- ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists
- GEOG 235 Environmental Law and Policy
- GEOG 375 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
- GEOL 208/208L Principles of Physical Geology with Lab
- MATH 123 Introduction to Functions
Required Restricted Electives (Six (6) courses):
Communication -
Choose one (1) course:
- COMM 107 Effective Speaking
- COMM 115 Human Communication
- COMM 328 Argumentation and Advocacy
- ENGL 225 Introduction to Journalism
- ENGL 311 Writing about Science
- ENGL 372 Technical Writing
Geospatial Technology -
Choose one (1) course:
- GEOG 214 Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG 300 Geospatial Applications Using Python
- GEOG 316 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG 328 Introduction to Remote Sensing
Policy and Planning -
Choose two (2) courses:
- ENVS 218 Energy Science and Policy: The Pursuit of Sustainability
- ENVS 246 Sustainability and Social Justice
- GEOG 225 Population, Food, and Global Development
- GEOG 240 Community Land Use Policy
- GEOG 260 Introduction to Urban Studies and Planning in the U.S.
- GEOG 375 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
- GEOG 380 Making Places Sustainable
- PHIL 234 Environmental Ethics
- POSC 250 American Legal Systems
- POSC 329 Public Policy Analysis
Science -
Choose two (2) courses:
- BIOL 212/212L Wildlife Specimen Preparation Techniques with Lab
- BIOL 224/224L Animal Physiological Ecology with Lab
- BIOL 232/232L Invertebrate Zoology with Lab
- BIOL 236/236L Ornithology with Lab
- BIOL 251/251L Vascular Plant Taxonomy with Lab
- BIOL 255/255L Plant Physiology with Lab
- BIOL 291 Principles of Tropical Ecology and Conservation: Field Study
- BIOL 321/321L Limnology with Lab
- BIOL 323 Biology and Conservation of Crocodiles
- BIOL 335/335L Wildlife Biology with Lab
- BIOL 341/341L Marine Biology with Lab
- EASC 108 Understanding the Weather: Introduction to Meteorology or
- EASC 208 Principles of Meteorology
- EASC 118 Our Blue Planet: An Introduction to Oceanography or
- EASC 228 Principles of Oceanography
- ENVS 300 Environmental Science Field Methods with Lab
- ENVS 333 Digital Field Methods: Drones, Data, and Artificial Intelligence
- GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
- PHYS 201/201L Physics for Earth and Life Scientists with Lab
Earth and Planetary Systems (UETP)
Required Concentration Core courses (9):
- ASTR 218 Principles of Solar System Astronomy OR
- ASTR 230 Stars and Galaxies
- CHEM 107/107L Principles of Chemistry with Lab
- CHEM 108/108L Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis with Lab
- EASC 208 Principles of Meteorology
- EASC 228 Principles of Oceanography
- ENVS 300 Environmental Fields Methods with Lab
- GEOL 208 Principles of Physical Geology with Lab
- GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
- MATH 180 Precalculus
- PHYS 201/201L Physics for Earth and Life Scientists
Choose Two (2) Required Restricted Electives:
- ASTR 218 Principles of Solar System Astronomy OR
- ASTR 230 Stars and Galaxies (whichever one was not taken in the concentration core)
- BIOL 232/232L Invertebrate Zoology with Lab
- BIOL 248/248L Principles of Ecology with Lab
- BIOL 321/321L Limnology with Lab
- BIOL 341/341L Marine Biology with Lab
- CHEM 201/201L Introductory Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry with Lab
- EASC 308 Climatology and the Future of Human Society
- ENGL 311 Writing About Science
- EVSS 490 Independent Study in Environment, Society, and Sustainability
- EVSS 495 Internship in Environment, Society, and Sustainability
Earth and Planetary Systems with Secondary Education Minor (UETT)
Students seeking licensure at the High School level must complete the major and following concentration requirements along with the courses required for the Secondary Education minor:
Required Concentration Core courses (12):
- ASTR 218 Principles of Solar System Astronomy OR
- ASTR 230 Stars and Galaxies
- BIOL130/130L Principles of Biology with Lab
- CHEM 103/103L Introductory Chemistry with Lab
- EASC 208 Principles of Meteorology
- EASC 228 Principles of Oceanography
- EASC 296 On Thin Ice: Climate Change and the Cryosphere
- ENVS 300/300L Environmental Fields Methods with Lab
- GEOL 208/208L Principles of Physical Geology with Lab
- GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
- MATH 180 Precalculus
- PHYS 201/201L Physics with Applications to Earth and Life Systems with Lab
- PSYC 200 Psychology of Development
Choose Two (2) Required Restricted Electives:
- ASTR 218 Principles of Solar System Astronomy OR
- ASTR 230 Stars and Galaxies (whichever one was not taken in the concentration core)
- BIOL 232/232L Invertebrate Zoology with Lab
- BIOL 248/248L Principles of Ecology with Lab
- BIOL 321/321L Limnology with Lab
- CHEM 201/201L Introductory Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry with Lab
- EASC 308 Climatology and the Future of Human Society
- ENGL 311 Writing About Science
- ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists
- EVSS 490 Independent Study in Environment, Society, and Sustainability
- EVSS 495 Internship in Environment, Society, and Sustainability
- GEOL 233 Environmental Geology
Required Minor in Teacher of Science: Earth& Space Science 8-12 courses:
- EDUC 200 Education in American Society with Field Study I
- EDUC 246 Sheltered English Immersion in Secondary Education
- EDIL 302 Secondary Methods with Field Study II: Special Needs and Educational Technology
- EDIL 325 Secondary Methods with Field Study II: Science Grades 8-12
- EDPS 425A Secondary Professional Practicum A: Science Grades 8-12 (2 course-credits)
- EDPS 425B Secondary Professional Practicum B: Science Grades 8-12 (2 course-credits)