Program in Environmental Science

Careers
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

General Program B.S.: A minimum of 66 credits for the combined major and minor including: A ATM 210, A ATM/A ENV 327, A BIO 120, A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130, A CHM 121 or 131 or T CHM 131, A ENV/A GEO 105, A ENV/A GEO/A GOG 201, A ENV 250, 490, A GEO 221, A MAT 111 or 112 or 118 or T MAT 118, A MAT 113 or 119 or T MAT 119, A PHY 140 or 141 or T PHY 141, A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151 or A PHY 202; the completion of one of four 21-credit concentrations.

At the time of major declaration, each student must select one of four concentrations: Biology, Climate, Geography, or Geology. No course may satisfy requirements simultaneously in both the core curriculum (above) and any concentration. 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 meteorology and climate would select the Climate track, while those keen on aspects of biological processes and ecology would select the Biology concentration.

Biology Concentration: 21 credits overall. Required courses (8 credits): A BIO 121, 122, 123Z, 230. Elective courses: at least 9 credits from A BIO 308, 320, 321, 327, 402, 432, 442, 443, 455, 456, A GOG 407, A MAT 308. At least 13 elective credits must be taken from the combination of the previous elective list and: A BIO 216, 218, 222, A CHM 220, 221, A ENV/A GEO 466, A ENV 496, A MAT 214, 220, 311.

Climate Concentration: 21 credits overall. Required courses (9 credits): A ATM 306, A ENV/A GEO 450, A GOG 304. Elective courses: at least 3 credits from A ATM 301, 304, 307, 335, 414, A ENV/A GEO 435, A MAT 308. At least 12 elective credits must be taken from the combination of the previous elective list and: A CHM 220, 221, A ENV 496, A MAT 214, A MAT 311, A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151, A PHY 202, 240, I CSI 201; only one of A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151 or A PHY 202 can apply to this concentration.

Geography Concentration: 21 credits overall. Required courses (10 credits): A GOG/A PLN 220, A GOG 290, A GOG/A PLN 330 or 430. Elective courses: at least 6 credits from A GOG 304, A GOG/A PLN 330, A GOG 344Y, 354, 390, 407, 414, A GOG/A PLN 430, A GOG 431, 479, 484, 485, A GOG/A PLN 495, 496, A MAT 308. At least 11 elective credits from the combination of the previous elective list and: A GOG 293, A ENV 496, A MAT 214, 220, 311, I CSI 201. Only one of A GOG 330 or 430 can apply to this concentration.

Geology Concentration: 21 credits overall. Required courses (11 credits): A ENV/A GEO 350, 435, A GEO 223, 470. Elective courses: at least 3 credits from A ENV/A GEO 450, 466, A GEO 330, 331, 332. At least 10 elective credits must be taken from the combination of the previous elective list and: A CHM 220, 221, A ENV 496, A MAT 214, 220, 308, 311, A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151, A PHY 202, 240, I CSI 201; only one of A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151 or A PHY 202 can apply to this concentration.