College of Arts & Sciences

Graduates with a B.S. in Environmental Science will be well qualified for a broad range of positions within the highly inter-disciplinary 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 for the Major in Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science (B.S.): A minimum of 64 credits for the combined major and minor including: A Atm 301, A Bio 110, A Chm 120N or 130, A Env 105, 210, A Env/Geo/Gog 201, 250, 327, 490, A Mat 111 or 112 or 118, A Mat 113 or 119, A Phy 105 or 140N, R Pos 396 or R Pub 465 or H Sph 201.

At the time of major declaration, each student must select one of four concentrations: Geology, Atmospheric Science, Biology, or Geography. Each concentration represents an emphasis within the overall program that would best match a student�s interest and desired career path. For example, those most interested in land surface or hydrological processes would opt for the Geology concentration, while those seeking careers in land use planning and geographic information systems might opt for the Geography concentration. Correspondingly, students more interested in air pollution and climate would select the Atmospheric Science track, while those keen on aspects of biological processes and ecology would select the Biology concentration.

Geology Concentration

A minimum of 22 credits including A Env 212, 230, 231, 350, 435, 470 plus any combination of: A Atm 307 or 307Z, A Chm 220, 221, A Env 395Z, 420, 450, 455, 466, 496, 497, 498, A Mat 108, 214, 220, field camp in environmental sciences or geology at another institution (1-3 credits).

Atmospheric Science Concentration

A minimum of 22 credits including A Atm 210/Z plus any combination of: A Atm 211, 301, 304/Z, 305, 307 or 307Z, 311, 335, 414, A Bio 316, Env 420, 450, 455, A Gog 304, A Phy 202.

Biology Concentration

A minimum of 22 credits including A Bio 111, 320 and any combination of : A Bio 199, 212Y, 314, 316, 325, 365, 366, 399, 402, 422, 432, 442/443, 455, 468, A Chm 440, A Env 420, 455.

Geography Concentration

A minimum of 22 credits from any combination of: A Env 435, 455, A Gog 290, 293, 304, 385, 390, 404, 414, 431, 479, 485, A Gog/Pln 496.

Class Key to Environmental Science Major

Environmental Science B.S. core curriculum (42 credits required):

A Atm 301 Surface Hydrology and Hydrometeorology (3);
A Bio 110 General Biology I (4);
A Chm 120 General Chemistry I (3) or A Chm 130 Advanced General Chemistry I (3);
A Env 105 Introduction to Environmental Science (3);
A Env/Geo/Gog 201 Environ. Analysis (3);
A Env 210 Earth Materials (3);
A Env 250 Energy and Resources (3);
A Env 327 Meteorological and Environmental Measurement (3);
A Env 490 Major Topics in Environmental Science (3);
A Mat 111 or 112 or 118 Calculus I (4);
A Mat 113 or 119 Calculus II (4);
A Phy 105 General Physics I (3) or A Phy 140 Physics I: Mechanics (3);
R Pos 396 Energy Policy, Domestic and International (3) or R Pub 465 Hudson River Watershed: Environment, Society, and Policy (3) or H Sph 201 Introduction to Public Health (3)

Geology Concentration (at least 22 credits)

Required:

A Env 212 Earth Materials Lab (1);
A Env 230, 231 Stratigraphy and Sedimentology (4);
A Env 350 Environmental Geochemistry (4);
A Env 435 Geohydrology (3);
A Env 470 Tectonics (3)

Electives (any combination):

A Atm 307 or 307Z Atmospheric Chemistry (3);
A Chm 220 Organic Chemistry I (3);
A Chm 221 Organic Chemistry II (3);
A Env 395Z Writing in Environmental Science (1);
A Env 420 Instrumental Analysis in Environmental Science (3);
A Env 450 Climate Change (4);
A Env 455 Special Topics (2-3);
A Env 466 Marine/Estuary Systems (3);
A Env 496 Environmental Internships (3-6);
A Env 497 Independent Study (1-3);
A Env 498 Undergraduate Honors Research (3);
A Mat 108 Statistics (3);
A Mat 214 Calculus of several variables (4);
A Mat 220 Linear Algebra (4);
Field camp in either environmental sciences or geology at another institution (1-3)

Atmospheric Science Concentration (at least 22 credits)

Required:

A Atm 210 or 210Z Atmospheric Structure (3)

Electives (any combination):

A Atm 211 Weather Analysis and Forecasting (4);
A Atm 301 Surface Hydrology and Hydrometeorology (3);
A Atm 304 or 304Z Air Quality (3);
A Atm 305 Global Physical Climatology (3);
A Atm 307 or 307Z Atmospheric Chemistry (3);
A Atm 311 Severe and Unusual Weather and Forecasting (3);
A Atm 335 Meteorological Remote Sensing (3);
A Atm 414 Air Pollution (3);
A Bio 316 Biogeography (3);
A Env 420 Instrumental Analysis in Environmental Science (3);
A Env 450 Climate Change (4);
A Env 455 Special Topics (2-3);
A Gog 304 Climatology (3);
A Phy 202 Environmental Physics (3)

Biology Concentration (at least 22 credits)

Required:

A Bio 111 General Biology II (4);
A Bio 320 Ecology (3)

Electives (any combination):

A Bio 199 Contemporary Issues in Bio Sciences (1-3);
A Bio 212Y Introductory Genetics (4);
A Bio 314 General Bacteriology (3);
A Bio 316 Biogeography (3);
A Bio 365 Biological Chemistry (3);
A Bio 366 Biological Chemistry II (3);
A Bio 399 Supervised Research (1-3);
A Bio 402 Evolution (3);
A Bio 422 Biological Architecture (3);
A Bio 432 Animal Behavior (3);
A Bio 442/443 Restoration Ecology (3+1);
A Bio 455 Plant Ecology (4);
A Bio 499 Supervised Research (1-3);
A Chm 442 Comprehensive Biochemistry I (3);
A Chm 440 Comprehensive Biochemistry II (3);
A Env 420 Instrumental Analysis in Environmental Science (3);
A Env 455 Special Topics (2-3)

Geography Concentration (at least 22 credits)

Electives (any combination):

A Env 435 Geohydrology (3);
A Env 455 Special Topics (2-3);
A Gog 290 Introduction to Cartography (4);
A Gog 293 Use and Interpretation of Aerial Photographs (3);
A Gog 304 Climatology (3);
A Gog 385 Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment (4);
A Gog 390 Intermed. Cartography (3);
A Gog 404 Topics in Physical Geography (1-4);
A Gog 414 Computer Mapping (3);
A Gog 431 Climatic Change (3);
A Gog 479 Fundamentals of Applied GIS (3);
A Gog 485 Advanced Remote Sensing of the Environment (3);
A Gog/Pln 496 Geographic Information Systems (3)

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