Careers
Graduates in the major in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Environmental Science will be well qualified for a broad range of positions within the highly interdisciplinary field of environmental science. Consulting firms, industry, federal and state government agencies all require employees with this type of training. The demand for individuals with such a degree is anticipated to remain strong as our society attempts to cope with and address myriad environmental impacts that are occurring on local, regional, national and global scales. Additionally, graduates with this degree are well prepared to consider advanced degrees in the sciences, or other fields such as business administration (M.B.A.) or law (J.D.).
Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Environmental Science
General Program B.S.: A minimum of 70-71 credits (depending upon the specialization selected) for the combined major and minor including: A ATM 210, A ATM/A ENV 315, 327, A BIO 130 or 121, A BIO 131 or 120, 201, 202, 330, A CHM 115 or 120/124 (or T CHM 130/124 or T CHM 135), A CHM 116 or 121/125 (or T CHM 131/124 or T CHM 136), A ENV 105, 106, 221, 302, 490, A MAT 111 or 112 or 118 or T MAT 118, A PHY 140 or 141 or T PHY 141; the completion of one of four specializations totaling 21-22 credits.
At the time of major declaration, each student must select one of four specializations: Climate Change, Ecosystems, Geography, or Sustainability Science and Policy. No course may satisfy requirements simultaneously in both the core curriculum (above) and any specialization. Only one specialization can be declared.
Ecosystems Specialization:
22 credits overall. Required courses (7 credits): A BIO 212, 401. Elective courses (15 credits): A ANT 418, A ATM 301, A BIO 329, 402, A ENV 250, 404, 480, 496, A GOG 407, 424, 433/A USP433, 496/A USP 456, R PAD 366, H SPH 321, H SPH 332. A maximum of 6 credits may be taken from R PAD 366, H SPH 321.
Climate Change Specialization:
21 credits overall. Required courses (12 credits): A ATM 306, 405, A ENV 415, 450. Elective courses (9 credits): A ATM 301, 304, 307, 335, 413, 414, A ENV 404, A ENV 496, A MAT 113, R PAD 366, R POS 399, H SPH 321. A maximum of 6 credits may be taken from R PAD 366, R POS399, H SPH 321.
Geography Specialization:
22 credits overall. Required courses (10 credits): A GOG/A USP 220, A GOG 290, A GOG 496/A USP 456. Elective courses (12 credits): at least 6 credits from A GOG 304, A GOG/A LCS 354, A GOG/A USP 375, A GOG 414, A GOG/A USP 430, 460, A GOG 484, 485; A ATM 301, 405; A ENV 250, 404, 496. (Selecting A GOG 414, 484, and 485 as electives completes the GIS Certificate.)
Sustainability Science and Policy Specialization:
21 credits overall. Required courses (9 credits): A ATM 304, A ENV 250, R POS 399. Elective courses (12 credits): A ANT 418, A ATM 405, 413, A ENV 404, 480, 496, A GOG/A USP 220, A GOG/A USP 430, 460, A GOG 496 or A USP 456, R PAD 366, H SPH 321, H SPH 332.
Departmental Honors Program
Students who have by the end of their fourth semester attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in courses required of the major in environmental science may apply to the department chair for the program leading to a B.S. degree with honors in environmental science. Applications must be submitted before the end of the first semester of the student’s junior year and must be accompanied by letters of recommendation from at least two faculty members.
To be admitted to the program, a student must have completed A ATM 210, A BIO 120 or 130, A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130, A CHM 121 or 131 or T CHM 131, A ENV 221, A PHY 140 or 141 or T PHY 141, and A MAT 111 or 112 or 118 or T MAT 118. These requirements may be altered, upon request, for qualified transfer students. At the end of the junior year, the student’s program will be reviewed by the Honors Committee to see if satisfactory progress is being made.
To be eligible for a degree with honors, students must complete a minimum of 83-84 credits specified as follows: (1) the general program B.S. with one of four specializations; (2) A MAT 113 or 119 or T MAT 119 and an additional elective in the selected specialization at the 300-level or higher; and (3) 6 credits of A ENV 498 taken over at least two semesters culminating in a significant undergraduate thesis and an honors seminar in the student’s final semester. Students in the program must maintain both a minimum grade point average of 3.25 overall and 3.50 in the major coursework during the junior and senior years.
Upon completion of the requirements, the honors committee will make its recommendation to the faculty to grant the degree with honors in environmental science based upon the candidate’s (1) academic record, (2) research project report, (3) honors seminar, and (4) faculty recommendations.