Full-time Faculty: Sara R. Morris, Coordinator; Robert J. Grebenok, Barbara A. Hanson, Helen Hull-Sanders, 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 facilitates 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 social 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.
Student Learning Goals
Goal 1: Environmental Science majors will have a firm grasp of the basic concepts in environmental science. Students will:
A. Describe energy or chemical movement through systems;Goal 2: Environmental Science majors will solve environmentally-related problems. Students will:
B. Describe hierarchical organization of systems;
C. Describe separation theory;
D. Describe structure-function relationships.
A. Critically analyze an article from the original scientific literature or a professional report;Goal 3: Environmental Science majors will be technically skilled. Students will:
B. Design an experiment to address a specific hypothesis;
C. Read and interpret data;
D. Read and understand a word problem.
A. Demonstrate an ability to prepare dilutions;Qualifications for the major
B. Draw a graph and design a table;
C. Effectively communicate scientific material in written form;
D. Effectively communicate scientific material orally;
E. Understand the general principles and know how and when to use GC, GC-MS, ICP, AA, HPLC, QAQC, GPS, and GIS.
Students must maintain an overall 2.0 G.P.A. in their major and support courses to graduate with a degree in environmental science.
Advisement
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.
Environmental Science Curriculum
1. Core Curriculum Requirements:
See pages 38-40 of this catalog or go to /academics/core.asp for the Core Curriculum requirements. All students complete these requirements as part of their overall Canisius education.
2. Major course requirements (21 courses)
| BIO 101/101L Introduction to Cellular/Subcellular Biology | 5 credits | |
| BIO 102/102L Organismal Biology and Laboratory | 5 credits | |
| BIO 201/201L Evolution, Ecology, and Population Biology | 5 credits | |
| BIO 203 Cellular Biochemistry | 3 credits | |
| CHM 111-112 General Chemistry | 10 credits | |
| CHM 227/227L Organic Chemistry and lab | 5 credits | |
| PSY 201 Basic Statistics for Behavioral Science | 4/3 credits | |
| OR | ||
| MAT 141 Inferential Statistics and Computers | ||
| MAT 111 Calculus | 4/8 credits | |
| Or substitute with | ||
| MAT 109-110 Calculus with Review | ||
| BIO 320 Field Ecology | 4 credits | |
| BIO 305/305L Microbial Ecology | 4 credits | |
| BIO 360 Environmental Health | 3/4 credits | |
| OR | ||
| BIO 460 Environmental Toxicology | ||
| CHM 232 Environmental Analytical Chemistry | 4 credits | |
| ENV 100 Introduction to Environmental Science Seminar | 1 credits | |
| ENV 200 Introduction to Environmental Hydrology (lab required) | 4 credits | |
| ENV 352 Environmental Science Junior Seminar | 1 credits | |
| ENV 499 Environmental Science Internship (2 at 3 credits each) | 6 credits | |
| GEOL 120 Introductory Geology (lab required) | 4 credits | |
| B. Major Electives (2 Courses) Of the upper level biology classes (300 and 400 level), three of the five must include laboratories (BIO 320 and BIO 305 are two of the three laboratories). | ||
| BIO 335 Plant Biology | 3/4 credits | |
| BIO 343 Entomology | 4 credits | |
| BIO 360 Environmental Health | 3 credits | |
| BIO 365 Vertebrate Zoology | 4 credits | |
| BIO 366 Ornithology | 4 credits | |
| BIO 371 Behavioral Ecology | 3 credits | |
| BIO 430 Medicinal Botany | 3 credits | |
| BIO 455 Environmental Physiology | 3/4 credits | |
| BIO 460 Environmental Toxicology | 3/4 credits | |
| CHM 301 Classical Physical Chemistry | 5 credits | |
| SCI 360 Scientific Modeling | 3 credits | |
| Total |
11-12 credits | |
3. Free electives:
Free electives are courses in addition to the Core Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students may graduate with more but not less than 120 credit hours. 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.
COURSES: 2009 - 2011
ENV 100 Introduction to Environmental Science Seminar 1 credits
Introduction to the field. Career information included. Required in freshman or sophomore year. Spring 2011 only
GEOL 120 Introduction to Geology 4 credits
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. Fall 2009 only
ENV 200 Introduction to Hydrology 4 credits
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. Spring 2010 only
ENV 352 Environmental Science Junior Seminar 1 credit
Students attend scientific talks and present information relevant to their internship experiences. Career preparations also included. Offered every fall
ENV 401 Independent Research 3 credits
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. Offered every semester
ENV 499 Environmental Science Internship 3 credits
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). Offered every semester.
1 There is also an Environmental Biology minor.