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Environmental Science (BS)

Environmental Science (BS)
Requirements
Sample 4-Year Degree Plan

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MAJOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Major Credits Required: 67 Credits

The Environmental Science major prepares students for advanced studies or careers in the private and public sectors as environmental scientists. Students selecting this major take a rigorous series of lower-division courses in chemistry, physics, biology, earth system science, and mathematics as a foundation for advanced courses in environmental science. In addition, students take upper-division courses in biology and chemistry, providing breadth of perspective for examining environmental issues. Upper-division coursework in communication and environmental ethics provides additional understanding, skills, and perspective for approaching environmental issues. Environmental Science majors also have opportunities to choose from a range of field-based practicum, internship, and career experiences with environmental science companies or institutions.

To complete the bachelor's degree, students must complete a minimum total of 120 credits with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students majoring in Environmental Science will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the factual base, processes, and relationships that constitute a working foundation in the environmental sciences.

  2. Examine the social, ecological, ethical and economic dimensions of sustainability, use system-based thinking to understand the interaction between humans and nature, evaluate the role of science and technology, and explore potential solutions at individual, local, and global levels.

  3. Develop a working knowledge of techniques used to gather and analyze information in environmental science, including project design, sampling, measurement, geographic image interpretation, hazardous materials concerns, statistical and graphical analysis, and other computational skills.

  4. Access, comprehend, and communicate information to and from the many audiences required by a practitioner in the field of environmental science.

  5. Critically analyze and synthesize information at varying levels of scale, detail, and from multiple data sources, draw inferences and make connections among those various sources, and recognize problems and potential solutions