Environmental Science Program

FACULTY COORDINATING COMMITTEE  Campbell (Chemistry and Biochemistry); Morris (Biology); Wang (Physics).

The interdepartmental major in environmental science is sponsored jointly by the departments of biology, chemistry, and physics. The objectives of the program are to provide the student with the necessary background for a professional career in the area of environmental science or entrance into a graduate program.

Core Requirements

A student must choose one of two concentrations: environmental science-biology or environmental science-chemistry. Each student will be assigned an advisor from the department of the chosen concentration. For all concentrations the student must take the following core courses:

• ENS 150 Introduction to Environmental Science – 2 hrs.
• BIO 151, 152 Molecules to Cells - 4 hrs.⁺
• BIO 251, 252 Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity - 4 hrs. ⁺
• BIO 300 Populations, Resources, and Environment - 3 hrs.
• BIO 420 Ecosystems Ecology - 4 hrs.
• ENS 470 Environmental Science Capstone - 1 hr.
• CHM 110, 111, 116, 117 General Chemistry - 8 hrs.
• CHM 252, 253 Organic Chemistry I with lab - 5 hrs.
• CHM 416 Environmental Chemistry - 3 hrs.
• GES 101, 102 Principles of Earth Science - 4 hrs. OR
  GES 110, 111 Principles of Historical Geology - 4 hrs.
• Calculus - 8 hrs.*
• PHY 107, 108^† General Physics - 8 hrs.
• ECO 100 Intro. to Economics, ECO 221, OR ECO 222 – 3 hrs^‡

Total 58 hours

All students must have a concentration in Biology or Chemistry

^*The Biology concentration requires only one semester of calculus (4 hours).

^‡ Both Micro and Macro Economics (221 and 222) are highly recommended.

The student must have on average a grade of C or better in all ENS core courses.

Analytical Chemistry (CHM 326) is required for ENS-C and is highly recommended for ENS-B.

Concentrations

Each concentration has the following additional requirements:

Biology Concentration

• BIO 250 Organismic Biology - 4 hrs.
• BIO 260, 261 – Biological Statistics I and II – 3 hrs.
• BIO 460 Ecology, BIO 463 Plant Ecology, OR BIO 450 Conservation Biology – 3 or 4 hrs.
• One additional biology course approved by the advisor – 3-4 hrs.
• BIO 385/485 research – 3 hrs.

Two of the following organismal courses: 7–8 hrs.

• BIO 323 Comparative Anatomy
• BIO 324 Plant Diversity
• BIO 334 Reproduction and Identification of Flowering Plants
• BIO 381 Comparative Animal Physiology
• BIO 406 General Microbiology
• BIO 419 Ethology

Total: 19-22* hours

*The biology concentration requires only one semester of calculus (4 hours).

The student must have a grade of C or better in all biology courses.

Chemistry Concentration

• CHM 256, 257 Organic Chemistry II with lab - 4 hrs.
• CHM 320 Quantitative Analysis - 3 hrs.
• CHM 321 Quantitative Analysis - 1 hr.
• CHM 360 Biochemistry -3 hrs.
• CHM 420 Instrumental Analysis - 4 hrs.
• CHM 470 Physical Chemistry - 3 hrs.
• MTH 111 Elementary Statistics or BIO 260, 261 – Biological Statistics I and II – 3 hrs.

Total: 21 hours