Environmental Science
Environmental scientists apply mathematics and scientific principles to solve environmental problems. They develop ways to reduce, correct, or prevent damage to the environment.

Following the completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree at a four-year institution of the student's choice, several avenues of employment or advancement are open. A few of these are:
  • Environmental engineering

  • Environmental law

  • State and federal wildlife agencies

  • Environmental science teaching at the elementary or secondary level

  • Environmental research scientist

  • Environmental planning/policy analyst

  • Nonprofit environmental organizations
Environmental Science is a highly interdisciplinary field; students interested in careers in the Environmental Sciences will need a fundamental understanding of a variety of sciences and social sciences. Depending on specific career objectives, students pursuing a four-year degree in Environmental Science may want to emphasize additional coursework in such fields as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Oceanography, or the Atmospheric Sciences. Students planning careers in Environmental Studies, Environmental Regulation and Policy, or Regional Planning may want to emphasize additional coursework in the Social Sciences, Business, or Economics.
Environmental Science (AST1)
This is a suggested program for the first two years of major study in Environmental Science. Lower-division course requirements will vary depending on the transfer institution. Contact an advisor at the transfer institution to determine required coursework as early as possible.
General Education Requirements
Communication Skills (5 credits required)
ENGL&101
ENGLISH COMPOSITION I
5 cr.
Quantitative Skills (10 credits required)
MATH&151
CALCULUS I
5 cr.
MATH&152
CALCULUS II
5 cr.
Health & Physical Education (3 credits required)
 
Humanities & Social Sciences (15 credits required)
 
ENVS 231
ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
5 cr.
or POLS 231
ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
5 cr.
Humanities List A
5 cr.
Humanities or Social Sciences
5 cr.
Pre-Major Program Requirements
BIOL&221
MAJORS ECOLOGY/EVOLUTION
5 cr.
BIOL&222
MAJORS CELL/MOLECULAR
5 cr.
BIOL&223
MAJORS ORGANISMAL PHYS
5 cr.
CHEM&141
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
4 cr.
CHEM&142
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
4 cr.
CHEM&143
GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
4 cr.
CHEM&151
GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
1 cr.
CHEM&152
GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
1 cr.
CHEM&153
GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III
2 cr.
MATH 203
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
3 cr.
MATH 204
INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
3 cr.
Program Requirements
ENGL&102
ENGLISH COMPOSITION II
5 cr.
or ENGL 109
WRITING ABOUT THE SCIENCES
5 cr.
ENVS 211
INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
5 cr.
ENVS 221
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: PROBLEM SOLVING
5 cr.
GEOL 102
INTRO TO GEOL II: EARTH'S SURFACE PROCESSES
5 cr.
PHYS&121
GENERAL PHYSICS I
5 cr.
or PHYS&221
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
5 cr.
Suggested Electives
GEOL&101
INTRO PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
5 cr.
PHYS&122
GENERAL PHYSICS II
5 cr.
or PHYS&222
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
5 cr.
PHYS&123
GENERAL PHYSICS III
5 cr.
or PHYS&223
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
5 cr.
SURV 125
INTRODUCTION TO GIS
3 cr.
Total Required Credits: 90 minimum
General Education Outcomes
  • Information Literacy: Obtain, evaluate, and ethically use information.
  • Communications: Communicate with various audiences using a variety of methods.
  • Health & Physical Education: Demonstrate progress toward healthier behaviors.
  • Humanities: Analyze, interpret, and evaluate works and ideas in the Humanities within appropriate global and historical contexts.
  • Social Science: Evaluate, analyze and explain events, behaviors, and institutions using perspectives and methods in the Social Sciences.
  • Power, Privilege, and Inequality: Analyze patterns of power, privilege and inequality.