Full-time faculty: Sara R. Morris, Coordinator; Paula F. Dehn, Robert J. Grebenok, Barbara A. Hanson, Peter M. Schaber, Steven H. Szczepankiewicz.
The Environmental Science major provides both theoretical and applied knowledge for students interested in professional careers in the environmental sciences, e.g., environmental consulting, environmental regulation and monitoring, environmental conservation, environmental health sciences (toxicology, occupational health, health physics, industrial hygiene, water quality industry) and the ecological sciences. In addition, the curriculum will facilitate entry into graduate programs in the ecological, environmental health (health physics, microbiology, occupational health, toxicology) and environmental sciences.1
The Environmental Science program is designed to have an interdisciplinary focus with required and recommended courses coming from biology, chemistry, geology, philosophy, and political sciences. In addition, it is designed to provide needed job experiences through the completion of two required internships. For students interested in graduate study in the environmental sciences, one internship may be replaced with independent research in the environmental sciences.
All Environmental Science majors are assigned advisors within the program. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their internships. The advisor may be changed at the student’s request. Students must maintain an overall 2.0 G.P.A. in their major and support courses to graduate with a degree in environmental science.
Environmental Science Curriculum
| 1. | ENG 101, ENG 102, PHI 101, RST 101 (4 courses) | (12) | |
| 2. | Area Studies: Two courses from each of these areas:II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII (12 courses) | (36) | |
| 3. | Major course requirements (19 courses) | ||
| BIO 101/101L | Introduction to Cellular/Subcellular Biology | (5) | |
| BIO 102/102L | Organismal Biology and Laboratory | (5) | |
| BIO 201/201L | Evolution, Ecology, and Population Biology | (5) | |
| BIO 203 | Cellular Biochemistry | (3) | |
| CHM 111-112 | General Chemistry | (10) | |
| CHM 227/227L | Organic Chemistry and lab | (5) | |
| PSY 201 | Basic Statistics for Behavioral Science | (4/3) | |
| OR | |||
| MAT 141 | Inferential Statistics and Computers | ||
| MAT 111 | Calculus | (4/8) | |
| OR | |||
| MAT 109-110 | Calculus with Review | ||
| BIO 320 | Field Ecology | (4) | |
| BIO 305/305L | Microbial Ecology | (4) | |
| BIO 360 | Environmental Health | (3/4) | |
| OR | |||
| BIO 460 | Environmental Toxicology | ||
| CHM 232 | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | (4) | |
| ENV 100 | Introduction to Environmental Science Seminar | (1) | |
| ENV 200 | Introduction to Environmental Hydrology (lab required) | (4) | |
| ENV 352 | Environmental Science Junior Seminar | (1) | |
| ENV 499 | Environmental Science Internship | (6) | |
| GEOL 120 | Introductory Geology (lab required) | (4) | |
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| BIO 330 | Marine Biology and Ecology | (4) | |
| BIO 335 | Plant Biology | (3/4) | |
| BIO 360 | Environmental Health | (3) | |
| BIO 365 | Vertebrate Zoology | (4) | |
| BIO 366 | Ornithology | (4) | |
| BIO 430 | Medicinal Botany | (3) | |
| BIO 455 | Environmental Physiology | (3/4) | |
| BIO 460 | Environmental Toxicology | (3/4) | |
| CHM 301 | Classical Physical Chemistry | (5) | |
| SCI 360 | Scientific Modeling | (3) | |
| Total |
(11-12) | ||
| 4. | Electives: (one course) | (3) | |
| TOTAL | (36 courses) | (126 or 127) | |
Note: Those considering graduate school are strongly encouraged to take CHM 228 and PHY 201-202 as electives in the junior year. Environmental Ethics (PHI 348) is highly recommended as one of the Area V classes.
Recommended Schedule:
| Fall | Spring | ||
| Freshman Year | |||
| ENG 101 | 3 | ENG 102 | 3 |
| BIO 101/101L | 5 | BIO 102/102L | 5 |
| CHM 111/111L | 5 | CHM 112/112L | 5 |
| MAT 111 or AS | 4 or 3 | MAT 141 or AS | 4 or 3 |
| ENV 100 | 1 | ||
| Total | 17 or 16 | Total | 18 or 17 |
| Sophomore Year | |||
| RST 101 | 3 | PHI 101 | 3 |
| CHM 227 | 5 | ENV 200 | 4 |
| BIO 201/201L | 5 | BIO 203 | 3 |
| AS or PSY 201 | 3 | AS | 3 |
| GEOL 120 | 4 | AS | 3 |
| Total | 20 | Total | 16 |
| Junior Year | |||
| ENV 352 | 1 | Environ. Sci. elective w/lab or BIO 460 |
4 or 3 |
| BIO 320 | 4 | CHM 232 | 4 |
| BIO 305/305L or Environ. Sci. elective |
4 or 3 | BIO 360 or Environ. Sci. elective |
3 |
| AS or BIO 360 | 3 or 4 | AS | 3 |
| AS | 3 | AS | 3 |
| AS | 3 | ||
| Total | 17 or 18 | Total | 17 or 16 |
| Senior Year | |||
| Environ. Sci. elective or BIO 305/305L |
3 or 4 | ENV 499 | 3 |
| ENV 499 | 3 | AS or Environ. Sci. elective or BIO 460 |
3 |
| BIO 360 or AS | 3 | AS | 3 |
| AS | 3 | AS | 3 |
| Total | 12 or 13 | Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 | ||
| TOTAL |
126 or 127 |
COURSES: 2005 - 2007
ENV 100 Introduction to Environmental Science Seminar 1
Introduction to the field. Career information included. Required for all first-year students. 2006-2007 only.
GEOL 120 Introduction to Geology 4
Basic concepts, including uniformitarianism, the rock cycle, the hydrologic cycle, tectonics and surface processes. Also covers how humans affect and are affected by their environment. Lab required. Prerequisite: Students may not receive credit for both GEOL 120 and PHY 130. 2005-2006 only.
ENV 200 Introduction to Hydrology 4
Introduction to hydrologic processes, methods for quantifying hydrologic parameters and processes, and practical exposure to conducting and reporting hydrological studies. Lab required. Prerequisites: GEOL 120 and lab. 2005-2006 only.
ENV 352 Environmental Science Junior Seminar 1
Students attend scientific talks and present information relevant to their internship experiences. Career preparations also included.
ENV 401 Independent Research 3
Independent laboratory research in environmental science conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Arrangements made prior to registration. Prerequisite: Written permission of faculty member.
ENV 499 Environmental Science Internship 3
Practical experiences in the environmental sciences. Students must complete two internships in different areas of environmental sciences. Prerequisites: Junior with a G.P.A. of at least 2.0 in the major, a positive recommendation from a faculty member and a completed and approved internship application (applications are available from the program coordinator and must meet the deadlines in the advisement guide).
1 There is also an Environmental Biology minor.