Environmental Science and Policy

Environmental Science and Policy

Professors: Catherine O. Koning, Frederick S. Rogers, Rhine Singleton, Jacques Veilleux, Robert Goodby
Associate Professor: Verna DeLauer
Affiliated Faculty:  James Donelan (Philosophy), John Harris (Sustainability)

A Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree is offered in Environmental Science and Policy to traditional students.

A minor is offered in Environmental Studies.  

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The mission of the Environmental Science and Policy program is to develop the values, knowledge and skills needed to solve environmental problems. We emphasize an experiential, interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. 

Class  projects, independent and  group  research, and/or  community engagement  are  a part  of  all  of  our  courses.  We  expect  our  graduates  to  understand  relevant content  areas  and  demonstrate   proficiency   in critical  thinking,  problem  solving,  inquiry  and analysis, information  literacy, quantitative  skills, communication,  technological  literacy, teamwork, and civic engagement, as well as specific career and professional skills needed in the environmental field. The (B.S.) serves as preparation for careers in more heavily science-oriented   fields.  

The B.A. emphasizes the  human dimensions  of  environmental   issues,  including  the  ethical,  psychological,   social,  political,  and economic factors involved in creating sustainable solutions. Successful completion of either of the Environmental Science and Policy majors provides students with a solid foundation for specialized graduate study, and the depth and breadth needed to find employment in the diverse fields addressing environmental problems.

The Environmental Science and Policy B.S. program is teacher certifiable in Secondary School Biology. Students who intend to teach Biology in high school should refer to the School of Education for information on the Secondary Teacher Certification program.

B.S. and B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy Core Requirements Core Requirements

In addition to all degree requirements, the following courses must be completed successfully:

BI218 Ecology (laboratory)
CIT222 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems: ArcView 
ES103 Introduction to Ecosystem and Wildlife Conservation 
ES104 Introduction to Natural Resource Conservation
ES108 Nature and Culture
ES210 Evolution of Environmental Thought 
ES307 Natural Resource Law and Policy
ES480 Junior Seminar in Environmental Science
ES490 Environmental Issues: Senior Capstone Project 
Math MT151 or higher

B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy: Major Electives Requirements
In addition to the Environmental Science and Policy Core Requirements, choose at least 3 from the Human Society Electives list, and at least 1 from the Natural Science Electives list. (Minimum of 12 credits). Note: No course can count for two requirements in the major.  

B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy Major Requirements and Major Electives
In addition to the Environmental Science and Policy Core Requirements, choose 2 from the Human Society Electives list, 3 from the Natural Sciences Electives list, and take all the Major Requirements required courses listed below. Note: No course can count for two requirements in the major.  

B.S. Environmental Science and Policy Major Requirements 
Choose any 3 of the following:  CH101, CH103, GL101 GL102, GL205, PH101, PH102 
(In addition to earlier math course):
MT221  Calculus I or 
MT222  Calculus II or 
MT260  Statistics 

Choose one of the following:
BI430  Forest Ecology (laboratory) or
ES320  Wetland Ecology and Protection (laboratory) or 
ES367  Water Resources (laboratory) 

Human Society Electives 
AN220 Global Problems 
CIT230 Intermediate Geographic Information Systems: Arc/Info 
ES210  Evolution of Environmental Thought 
ES236 Environmental Education and Citizen Engagement 
ES240  Creating Sustainable Communities 
ES245  Alternate Energy 
ES301  Place, Community, and Regional Studies 
ES305  Health, Human Rights, and Environmental Justice
ES307  Natural Resources Law and Policy 
HS240  American Environmental History 
HS329 The National Parks
PA306 Philosophy of Science and Nature 
PUBH310 Foundations of Environmental Health
SR346 Park and Natural Resource Management 
 
Natural Science Electives 
BI101  Biology (laboratory) 
BI214  Coastal Ecology 
BI217  Tropical Forest Ecology 
BI218  Ecology (laboratory) 
BI231  Animal Behavior 
BI241  Evolutionary Biology 
BI250  Introduction to Plant Biology (laboratory) 
BI312  Vertebrate Biology (laboratory) 
BI375  Mammalogy (laboratory) 
BI430  Forest Ecology (laboratory) 
CH221  Environmental Chemistry 
CIT230  Intermediate Geographic Information Systems: Arc/Info 
ES245  Alternative Energy 
ES320  Wetland Ecology and Protection (laboratory) 
ES342  Wildlife Conservation 
ES367  Water Resources (laboratory)
ES460-2 Internship in Environmental Science 
GL101  General Geology I (laboratory) 
GL102  General Geology II (laboratory) 
GL115  Global Change: The Oceans 
GL120  Global Change: The Atmosphere (laboratory) 
GL205  Environmental Geology (laboratory) 
HCA315 Epidemiology
PH101  General Physics I (laboratory) 
PH102  General Physics II (laboratory)
PUBH310 Foundations of Environmental Health 

Recommended Curriculum Guide for B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy

Recommended Curriculum Guide for B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy

*One or more additional electives may be needed to fulfill general education requirements. See General and Liberal Education (GLE).

Minor in Environmental Studies
The minor in Environmental Studies is intended to provide students not majoring in Environmental Science with an interdisciplinary concentration that emphasizes the many interactions between humans and the local and global environments. It is designed to build understanding of these relationships by examining areas of anthropology, biology, conservation, policy, law and sociology as they relate to the natural world.

The minor requires completion of six courses:
ES103 Introduction to Ecosystem and Wildlife Conservation 
ES104 Introduction to Natural Resource Conservation
Two courses from the Human Society Electives listed above.
Two courses from the Natural Science Electives listed above.

 

Program Courses