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 

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 121PHYSICAL GEOLOGY4
Mathematics and Statistics
MATH 119PRE-CALCULUS 13-4
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 318TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WRITING3
or GEOG 383 NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOCIETY: A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE
PHIL 255ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS3
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 Units43-45

Environmental Biology Track 

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 205GENERAL BOTANY4
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 330ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY5-10
or CHEM 331
& CHEM 332		 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
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 450
ECOLOGICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
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 Units28-38

Environmental Chemistry Track

Required Courses
CHEM 220
& 220L		ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LECTURE]
and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LAB]		5
CHEM 330ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY5-10
or CHEM 331
& CHEM 332		 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
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 402GENERAL ECOLOGY4
or BIOL 406 LIMNOLOGY
Select one of the following:
GEOL 415HYDROGEOLOGY4
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 tracks3-4
Total Units35-41

Environmental Geology Track 

Required Courses
CHEM 220
& 220L		ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LECTURE]
and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LAB]		4-5
or GEOL 410 METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
PHYS 211GENERAL PHYSICS I; NON CALCULUS-BASED 54
GEOL 305ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY4
GEOL 331MINERALOGY4
GEOL 415HYDROGEOLOGY4
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 Units29-33

Environmental Science Track 

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 tracks9-12
Total Units30-33
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. 

Suggested Four-Year Plan

Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 131
& 131L (Core 8)		4BIOL 206
& 206L (Core 7)		4
MATH 119 or 211 (Core 3)4CHEM 132
& 132L		4
Select one of the following:14ECON/GEOG/POSC lower level (Core 6)3
Core 2 (or Core 1)3
 
Core 1 (or Core 2)3 
 15 14
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ECON 205, GEOG 375, MATH 231, or MATH 2373ECON/GEOG/POSC upper level3
ECON/GEOG/POSC lower level3Track Requirement 4
GEOL 121 (or Track Requirement)4Track Requirement 4
Core 43Core 103
Core 53 
 16 14
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ECON/GEOG/POSC upper level3ENGL 318 (Core 9)3
HLTH 451 or PHIL 2553Track Requirement 4
Track Requirement 4Track Requirement 5
Core 113Core 133
Core 123 
 16 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ENVS 482, 485, or 4913Track Requirement or elective3
Track Requirement 3Track Requirement or elective3
Track Requirement 4Elective3
Core 143Elective3
Elective3Elective2
 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).