Environmental Science, B.S.

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Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science

The Environmental Science major prepares students having career interests in environmental regulations, environmental management, environmental policy, wildlife or fisheries management, ecology, pollution abatement, and soil or plant science, or as a preparation for entering graduate school in a related field such as environmental law, agronomy, or ecotoxicology. Environmental science is a holistic and multidisciplinary field that integrates biology, physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Students majoring in this field will study in all of these areas as part of the major. Because Environmental Science is closely tied to environmental challenges in the natural world, several of the courses required for this major will have field or laboratory components. Students planning to pursue graduate studies in Environmental Science should consult with their advisor early in their undergraduate career, considering additional coursework in the biological, chemical, or physical sciences to prepare for graduate studies.

General Requirements for Admission into the Environmental Science Major:

Students applying to the environmental science major must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and earn no grade of D+ or lower in the following required courses:

BI 101 - Introductory Biology I Semester Hour(s): 3 AND
BI 101L - Introductory Biology I Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
BI 102 - Introductory Biology II Semester Hour(s): 3 AND
BI 102L - Introductory Biology II Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
CH 101 - Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry I Semester Hour(s): 3 AND
CH 101L - Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry I Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
CH 103 - General Chemistry I Semester Hour(s): 3 AND
CH 103L - General Chemistry I Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
CH 102 - Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry II Semester Hour(s): 3 AND
CH 102L - Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry II Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
CH 104 - General Chemistry II Semester Hour(s): 3 AND
CH 104L - General Chemistry II Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
MT 109 - Pre-Calculus I Semester Hour(s): 4 (or higher as placed)
SC 101 - Methods of Science I Semester Hour(s): 1
SC 102 - Methods of Science II Semester Hour(s): 1

Additional Information

The student’s overall GPA must be 3.0 or higher at the end of their third semester on the LEC campus. The details of the process for admission to the environmental science major will be provided during extended orientation and accessible via LEO. Transfer students must meet with a department advisor to request admission to the program. For graduation, all chemistry majors must achieve a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and a minimum 2.7 cumulative major GPA. Students who are determined to be not making good progress in the major may be dismissed from the major.

Requirements for the Major:

68 semester credits including:

BI 101 - Introductory Biology I Semester Hour(s): 3
BI 101L - Introductory Biology I Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
BI 102 - Introductory Biology II Semester Hour(s): 3
BI 102L - Introductory Biology II Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
BI 201 - Botany Semester Hour(s): 3
BI 201L - Botany Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
BI 212 - Zoology Semester Hour(s): 3
BI 212L - Zoology Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
BI 231 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Semester Hour(s): 3
BI 330 - Evolutionary Biology Semester Hour(s): 3
ES 210L - Field Biology Semester Hour(s): 2
ES 215 - Environmental Policy and Regulation Semester Hour(s): 3
ES 220 - Environmental Management Semester Hour(s): 2
ES 220L - Environmental Management Lab/Field Semester Hour(s): 1
ES 240 - Ecotoxicology Semester Hour(s): 3
ES 317 - Soil Science Semester Hour(s): 3
ES 317L - Soil Science Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
ES 318 - Aquatic Ecology Semester Hour(s): 3
ES 318L - Aquatic Ecology Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
ES 319 - Ecology & Conservation Biology Semester Hour(s): 3
ES 350 - Internship in Environmental Science Semester Hour(s): 1-5
ES 490 - Environmental Science Senior Capstone Semester Hour(s): 2
CH 103 - General Chemistry I Semester Hour(s): 3
CH 103L - General Chemistry I Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
CH 104 - General Chemistry II Semester Hour(s): 3
CH 104L - General Chemistry II Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
MT 207 - Probability and Statistics Semester Hour(s): 3
PC 220 - Physical Geology Semester Hour(s): 3
PC 220L - Physical Geology Lab Semester Hour(s): 1
PR 301 - Environmental Philosophy and Ethics Semester Hour(s): 3
SC 101 - Methods of Science I Semester Hour(s): 1
SC 102 - Methods of Science II Semester Hour(s): 1