Major in Environmental Science and Studies - Environmental Science Concentration

The Environmental Science Concentration prepares students to become environmental problem-solvers in a world confronting climate change, population expansion, pollution and depletion of natural resources. Students in this concentration select from several tracks depending on student interest in Biology, Chemistry, Geology or the more general, Environmental Science.

Environmental Science Concentration

The Environmental Science Concentration requires 43–45 units. Students then choose a track that provides advanced study in one of three different fields: biology, chemistry or geology, or for students who choose not to specialize, a more general Environmental Science Track is also available. Each track has its own required courses and electives. The Environmental Science Concentration requires a total of 71–86 units (depending upon the track selected).

Common Required Courses 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Natural Sciences
BIOL 206 & 206L	BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION [LECTURE] and BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION [LAB]	4
CHEM 131 & 131L	GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LECTURE and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY	4
CHEM 132 & 132L	GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LECTURE and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY	4
GEOL 121	PHYSICAL GEOLOGY	4
Mathematics and Statistics
MATH 119	PRE-CALCULUS 1	3-4
or MATH 211	CALCULUS FOR APPLICATIONS
Select one of the following:		3-4
MATH 231	BASIC STATISTICS
MATH 237	ELEMENTARY BIOSTATISTICS
GEOG 375	QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN GEOGRAPHY
ECON 205	STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I
Social Sciences/Humanities
ENGL 318	TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WRITING	3
or GEOG 383	NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOCIETY: A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE
PHIL 255	ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS	3
or HLTH 451	INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Select two of the following sequences, which include both an upper-level and a lower-level course:		12
Sequence 1
GEOG 101 & GEOG 410	PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY and ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY
Sequence 2
ECON 201	MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES
ECON 375	ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
or ECON 376	NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
Sequence 3
POSC 103	AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
or POSC 207	STATE GOVERNMENT
Select one of the following:
ENVS 411	WATER POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVS 420	ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
ENVS 425	SCIENCE AND POLICY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION
Applications
Select one of the following:		3
ENVS 482	ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
ENVS 485	ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP
ENVS 491	SENIOR SEMINAR
Total Units		43-45

Environmental Biology Track 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Required Courses
BIOL 200 & 200L	BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LECTURE] and BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LAB]	4
BIOL 205	GENERAL BOTANY	4
or BIOL 207	GENERAL ZOOLOGY
Select one of the following:		4
BIOL 310	CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
BIOL 402	GENERAL ECOLOGY
BIOL 435	PLANT ECOLOGY
Select one of the following:
CHEM 333 & 333L	ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEM [LECTURE] and ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY	5-10
or CHEM 334 & CHEM 336 & CHEM 337 & CHEM 339	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I [LECTURE] and INTRODUCTORY ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II [LECTURE] and INTERMEDIATE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Electives
Select three of the following:		9-12
BIOL 304	NATURAL HISTORY INTERPRETATION AND PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
BIOL 306	HUMAN ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
BIOL 309	GENETICS
BIOL 310	CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (if not taken as required)
BIOL 318	MICROBIOLOGY
BIOL 325	ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
BIOL 334	HUMANS, SCIENCE AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
BIOL 347	MARINE BIOLOGY
BIOL 353	INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
BIOL 382	ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND SERVICE LEARNING IN THE TROPICS
BIOL 389	CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BIOLOGY 2
BIOL 402	GENERAL ECOLOGY (if not taken as required)
BIOL 405	MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND CONSERVATION
BIOL 406	LIMNOLOGY
BIOL 413	EVOLUTION
BIOL 419	ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
BIOL 432	VASCULAR PLANT TAXONOMY
BIOL 435	PLANT ECOLOGY (if not taken as required)
BIOL 436	PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
or BIOL 447	TROPICAL FIELD ECOLOGY
BIOL 444	WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
BIOL 446	TROPICAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
BIOL 447	TROPICAL FIELD ECOLOGY
BIOL 452	WETLAND ECOLOGY
BIOL 455	FISH BIOLOGY
BIOL 456	ORNITHOLOGY
BIOL 458	MAMMALOGY
BIOL 461	ENTOMOLOGY
BIOL 467	HERPETOLOGY
BIOL 473	ECOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS LABORATORY
BIOL 474	MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES IN ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND CONSERVATION
CHEM 480	CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
Select one additional course from among any of the Environmental Science and Studies tracks.		2-4
Total Units		28-38

Environmental Chemistry Track

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Required Courses
CHEM 220 & 220L	ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LECTURE] and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LAB]	5
CHEM 333 & 333L	ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEM [LECTURE] and ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY	5-10
or CHEM 334 & CHEM 336 & CHEM 337 & CHEM 339	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I [LECTURE] and INTRODUCTORY ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II [LECTURE] and INTERMEDIATE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
PHYS 211 & PHYS 212	GENERAL PHYSICS I; NON CALCULUS-BASED and GENERAL PHYSICS II; NON CALCULUS-BASED 3	8
Select one of the following:
BIOL 402	GENERAL ECOLOGY	4
or BIOL 406	LIMNOLOGY
Select one of the following:
GEOL 415	HYDROGEOLOGY	4
or GEOL 305	ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
Electives
Select six units from the following:		6
CHEM 310	INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS
CHEM 323	INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
CHEM 345	PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
CHEM 351	BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEM 356	BIOCHEMISTRY LAB
CHEM 372	PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
CHEM 461	ADVANCED LECTURE TOPICS
CHEM 462	ADVANCED LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
CHEM 480	CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
Select one additional course from among any of the Environmental Science and Studies tracks		3-4
Total Units		35-41

Environmental Geology Track 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Required Courses
CHEM 220 & 220L	ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LECTURE] and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LAB]	4-5
or GEOL 410	METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
PHYS 211	GENERAL PHYSICS I; NON CALCULUS-BASED 5	4
GEOL 305	ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY	4
GEOL 331	MINERALOGY	4
GEOL 415	HYDROGEOLOGY	4
Select one of the following:		4
GEOL 321	STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
GEOL 443	SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY
Electives
Select one of the following:		3-4
GEOL 301	SUSTAINABILITY AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
GEOL 321	STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY (if not taken as required)
GEOL 333	PETROLOGY OF IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS
GEOL 357	OCEANOGRAPHY
GEOL 443	SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY (if not taken as required)
Select one additional course from among any of the Environmental Science and Studies tracks.		2-4
Total Units		29-33

Environmental Science Track 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Required Courses
BIOL 200 & 200L	BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LECTURE] and BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LAB]	4
CHEM 220 & 220L	ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LECTURE] and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LAB]	5
or CHEM 330	ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
PHYS 211 & PHYS 212	GENERAL PHYSICS I; NON CALCULUS-BASED and GENERAL PHYSICS II; NON CALCULUS-BASED 3	8
Electives
Select one of the following: (additional prerequisites may be required)		4
BIOL 402	GENERAL ECOLOGY
BIOL 310	CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
BIOL 406	LIMNOLOGY
GEOL 415	HYDROGEOLOGY
GEOL 305	ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
Two additional environmental electives in the same discipline from biology, chemistry, geology or geography AND one additional course selected from among any of the Environmental Science and Studies tracks		9-12
Total Units		30-33

¹

The requirement of MATH 119 or MATH 211 may also be satisfied by successful completion of MATH 273 or MATH 274.

²

Acceptable topics related to environmental science and studies. Please contact the Environmental Science and Studies program director for approval. 

³

The requirement of PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 may also be satisfied by successful completion of PHYS 241and PHYS 242. 

⁴

GEOL 410 preferred. 

⁵

The requirement of PHYS 211 may also be satisfied by successful completion of PHYS 241. 

Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course availability, student needs, and student choice, individual schedules will vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
CHEM 131 & 131L (Core 8)	4	BIOL 206 & 206L (Core 7)	4
MATH 119 or 211 (Core 3)	4	CHEM 132 & 132L	4
Select one of the following:1	4	ECON/GEOG/POSC lower level (Core 6)	3
BIOL 200 & 200L		Core 2 (or Core 1)	3
GEOL 121
Core 1 (or Core 2)	3
	15		14
Sophomore
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
ECON 205, GEOG 375, MATH 231, or MATH 237	3	ECON/GEOG/POSC upper level	3
ECON/GEOG/POSC lower level	3	Track Requirement	4
GEOL 121 (or Track Requirement)	4	Track Requirement	4
Core 4	3	Core 10	3
Core 5	3
	16		14
Junior
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
ECON/GEOG/POSC upper level	3	ENGL 318 (Core 9)	3
HLTH 451 or PHIL 255	3	Track Requirement	4
Track Requirement	4	Track Requirement	5
Core 11	3	Core 13	3
Core 12	3
	16		15
Senior
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
ENVS 482, 485, or 491	3	Track Requirement or elective	3
Track Requirement	3	Track Requirement or elective	3
Track Requirement	4	Elective	3
Core 14	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	2
	16		14
Total Units 120

¹

BIOL 200 / BIOL 200L is required for Environmental Biology and Environmental science track and is a prerequisite for BIOL 206. However, students in other environmental science tracks that elect not to take BIOL 200/200L could consider GEOL 121 in this semester.

1. Apply their knowledge of the sciences and the scientific method to collect, analyze and interpret data that they have collected or to critique the methods used by others to collect, analyze and interpret data.
2. Identify the cultural, economic, geographic and/or political facets of environmental problems/situations and relate their understanding of these components to particular situations.
3. Relate the theoretical background materials presented in natural science, social science or humanities courses to specific current environmental problems/dilemmas.
4. Students will display competency in essential skills required of a college graduate by reading, interpreting, analyzing and evaluating written discourse.
5. Students will display competency in essential skills required of a college graduate by researching a topic, develop an argument and organize supporting details (ILTC).