2025-2026 Adrian College Academic Catalog

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science (120 Hours)

Essential Liberal Arts Courses (31 hours)

Required

CCC100Introduction to College Writing

3
CCC102Public Speaking

3
 
MATH100Mathematics for the Liberal Arts

4
Or
MATH101Intermediate Algebra

4
 
XXXX
Scientific Inquiry

4
ESS310Environmental Geology

4

Great Conversation Series

Required

GCON110Great Conversation: The Meaning of Life

3
GCON120Great Conversation: Western Civilization

3
GCON130GCON130 - Great Conversation: Global Civilization

3
GCON140GCON140 - Great Conversation: Art

3
GCON150GCON150 - Great Conversation: What It Means to Be A U.S. Citizen

3

Environmental Science Core (18 hours)

Required

ESS110Introduction to Environmental Science

3
ESS201Weather and Climate

3
ESS310Environmental Geology

4
ESS305Paleoclimatology

2
ESS375Geographic Information & Positioning Systems

4
ESS403Capstone: Senior Research

2

Environmental Science Cognates (28 hours)

Required

BIOL131General Biology I - Molecules and Cells

4
BIOL217Principles of Ecology

3
BIOL218Ecology Laboratory

1
CHEM105General Chemistry I

3
CHEM117Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I

1
CHEM106General Chemistry II

3
CHEM118Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II

1
 
GEOL101Physical Geology

4
Or
GEOL107Geology of National Parks

4
 
GEOL321

4
MATH115Pre-Calculus Mathematics

4

Note: Statistics (MATH204) is also recommended.

All Students must choose a track from one of the following

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Geology
  • Physics

Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in a second major will satisfy the Environmental Science track requirement in the corresponding major field of study (e.g., completion of a B.A. or B.S. in Biology will satisfy the requirements of the Environmental Science Biology Track).

Biology Track (18 hours)

BIOL132General Biology II - Organismal Biology

4
BIOL221Principles of Genetics

3
BIOL326Microbiology

4
BIOL353Plant Morphology & System

4
BIOL
Electives

4

Chemistry Track (28 hours)

CHEM224Organic Chemistry I

3
And
CHEM226Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

1
 
CHEM225Organic Chemistry II

3
And
CHEM227Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

1
 
CHEM304Quantitative Chemical Analysis

3
And
CHEM306Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory

1
 
CHEM321Thermodynamics

3
CHEM325Physical Chemistry Laboratory

1
CHEM401

1
CHEM404Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

3
MATH135Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

4
 
PHYS101Introductory Physics I

3
And
PHYS103Introductory Physics I Lab

1
Or
PHYS201General Physics: Mechanics

3
And
PHYS203Mechanics Lab

1

Computer Science Track (22 hours)

CS101Introduction to Computer Science

3
CS103Programming for Everyone I

3
CS104Programming for Everyone II

3
CS110Web Development

3
CIS201Introduction to Data Science

3
CIS201LIntroduction to Data Science Lab

1
CS380Database Design

3
CS477Clustering and Classification

3

CS477: Prerequisite (MATH303) will be waived by the instructor for ESS students.

Geology Track (20 hours)

GEOL102Historical Geology

4
GEOL303Earth Materials

4
GEOL307Structural Geology

4
GEOL314Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4
GEOL318Field and Laboratory Methods

4

Physics Track (26-28 hours)

MATH135Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

4
MATH205Calculus and Analytic Geometry II

4
PHYS201General Physics: Mechanics

3
PHYS203Mechanics Lab

1
PHYS202General Physics: Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism

3
PHYS204Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism Laboratory

1
 
And
 
Choose 10-12 hours of 300-level PHYS courses

Note:

  • General elective credit hours will vary dependent upon the following degree requirements:
    • Must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
    • Must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework at the 300 or 400-level
  • Courses requiring prerequisites and corequisites are noted on the course which can be found in the course description section of the catalog.