Program Outcomes
Develop a practical understanding of interconnectedness of life, ecosystems, and physical Earth processes with respect to the environment.
Develop a practical understanding of the nature of environmental contamination and how contaminated sites are characterized and cleaned in order to protect human health and the environment.
Provide students with the ability to judiciously evaluate environmental geoscience issues from the scientific, environmental, and political perspective.
Develop an understanding of climate processes (e.g., cause and effect) and how those processes are used to assess the climate history of Earth and how they relate to the concept of Anthropogenic Climate Change.
Develop a well-rounded students with a diverse background through an interdisciplinary field of study in biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, and mathematics.
Essential Liberal Arts Courses (31 hours)
Required
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| | |
| MATH100 | Mathematics for the Liberal Arts | 4 |
| Or | |
| MATH101 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
| | |
XXXX
| Scientific Inquiry | 4 |
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
Great Conversation Series
Required
| GCON110 | Great Conversation: The Meaning of Life | 3 |
| GCON120 | Great Conversation: Western Civilization | 3 |
| GCON130 | GCON130 - Great Conversation: Global Civilization | 3 |
| GCON140 | GCON140 - Great Conversation: Art | 3 |
| GCON150 | GCON150 - Great Conversation: What It Means to Be A U.S. Citizen | 3 |
Environmental Science Core (18 hours)
Required
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| ESS201 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
| ESS375 | Geographic Information & Positioning Systems | 4 |
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
Environmental Science Cognates (28 hours)
Required
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)
| BIOL132 | General Biology II - Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIOL221 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL326 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL353 | Plant Morphology & System | 4 |
BIOL
| Electives | 4 |
Chemistry Track (28 hours)
| CHEM224 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| And | |
| CHEM226 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| | |
| CHEM225 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| And | |
| CHEM227 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| | |
| CHEM304 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis | 3 |
| And | |
| CHEM306 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
| | |
| CHEM321 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHEM325 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM404 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| MATH135 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| | |
| PHYS101 | Introductory Physics I | 3 |
| And | |
| PHYS103 | Introductory Physics I Lab | 1 |
| Or | |
| PHYS201 | General Physics: Mechanics | 3 |
| And | |
| PHYS203 | Mechanics Lab | 1 |
Computer Science Track (22 hours)
| CS101 | Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| CS103 | Programming for Everyone I | 3 |
| CS104 | Programming for Everyone II | 3 |
| CS110 | Web Development | 3 |
| CIS201 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| CIS201L | Introduction to Data Science Lab | 1 |
| CS380 | Database Design | 3 |
| CS477 | Clustering and Classification | 3 |
CS477: Prerequisite (MATH303) will be waived by the instructor for ESS students.
Geology Track (20 hours)
Physics Track (26-28 hours)
| MATH135 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH205 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS201 | General Physics: Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS203 | Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| PHYS202 | General Physics: Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism | 3 |
| PHYS204 | Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism Laboratory | 1 |
| | |
| And | |
| | |
| Choose 10-12 hours of 300-level PHYS courses | |
Four Year Plan - Biology Track
Fall - First Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MATH101 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - First Year
| BIOL132 | General Biology II - Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIOL132L | General Biology II Lab | 0 |
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH115 | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Second Year
| BIOL217 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL218 | Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM117 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Second Year
| CHEM106 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM118 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| | |
| GEOL101 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL101-L | Physical Geology Lab | 0 |
| | |
| Or | |
| | |
| GEOL107 | Geology of National Parks | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL107L | Geology of National Parks Lab | 0 |
| | |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Third Year
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| BIOL221 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL223 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective (300 Level) | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Third Year
Fall - Fourth Year
BIOL/ELEC
| 300 Level Biology Elective | 4 |
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Spring - Fourth Year
| BIOL353 | Plant Morphology & System | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Four Year Plan - Chemistry Track
Fall - First Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CHEM105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM117 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MATH115 | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 4 |
Spring - First Year
| CHEM106 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM118 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH205 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Second Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CHEM224 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM224-R | Organic Chemistry I Recitation | 0 |
| CHEM226 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM226-P | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Prelab | 0 |
| PHYS101 | Introductory Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS103 | Introductory Physics I Lab | 1 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Second Year
Fall - Third Year
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| CHEM304 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM306 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Third Year
| ESS375 | Geographic Information & Positioning Systems | 4 |
| ESS201 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Fall - Fourth Year
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
| CHEM321 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Spring - Fourth Year
| CHEM325 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM404 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective (300 Level) | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Four Year Plan - Computer Science Track
Fall - First Year
| CS101 | Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MATH101 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - First Year
| CS103 | Programming for Everyone I | 3 |
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH115 | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Second Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CS104 | Programming for Everyone II | 3 |
| CS110 | Web Development | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Second Year
| GEOL101 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL101-L | Physical Geology Lab | 0 |
| | |
| Or | |
| | |
| GEOL107 | Geology of National Parks | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL107L | Geology of National Parks Lab | 0 |
| | |
| CIS201 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| CIS201L | Introduction to Data Science Lab | 1 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective (300 Level) | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Third Year
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| BIOL217 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL218 | Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM117 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Third Year
| CHEM106 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM118 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CS380 | Database Design | 3 |
| ESS201 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective (300 Level) | 3 |
Fall - Fourth Year
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
| CS477 | Clustering and Classification | 3 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Spring - Fourth Year
| ESS375 | Geographic Information & Positioning Systems | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective (300 Level) | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 4 |
Four Year Plan - Geology Track - Starting in an Even Year
Fall - First Year
| GEOL101 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL101-L | Physical Geology Lab | 0 |
| | |
| Or | |
| | |
| GEOL107 | Geology of National Parks | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL107L | Geology of National Parks Lab | 0 |
| | |
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MATH101 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - First Year
| GEOL102 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH115 | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Second Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CHEM105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM117 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Second Year
| CHEM106 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM118 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| ESS201 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Third Year
| BIOL217 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL218 | Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| GEOL318 | Field and Laboratory Methods | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Third Year
| GEOL303 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEOL314 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Fall - Fourth Year
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Spring - Fourth Year
| ESS375 | Geographic Information & Positioning Systems | 4 |
| GEOL307 | Structural Geology | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Four Year Plan - Geology Track - Starting in an Even Year
Fall - First Year
| GEOL101 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL101-L | Physical Geology Lab | 0 |
| | |
| Or | |
| | |
| GEOL107 | Geology of National Parks | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL107L | Geology of National Parks Lab | 0 |
| | |
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MATH101 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - First Year
| GEOL102 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH115 | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Second Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CHEM105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM117 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Second Year
Fall - Third Year
| BIOL217 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL218 | Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Third Year
| GEOL307 | Structural Geology | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Fourth Year
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
| GEOL318 | Field and Laboratory Methods | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Spring - Fourth Year
| ESS375 | Geographic Information & Positioning Systems | 4 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Four Year Plan - Physics Track
Fall - First Year
| BIOL131 | General Biology I - Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| BIOL131L | General Biology Lab I | 0 |
| CCC100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| MATH135 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - First Year
| PHYS201 | General Physics: Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS203 | Mechanics Lab | 1 |
| CCC102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH205 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Second Year
| PHYS202 | General Physics: Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism | 3 |
| PHYS204 | Thermodynamics & Electromagnetism Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL217 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL218 | Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| | |
| GEOL101 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| And | |
| GEOL101-L | Physical Geology Lab | 0 |
| | |
| Or | |
| | |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Second Year
PHYS/ELEC
| Physics Elective (300 Level) | 4 |
| ESS110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Fall - Third Year
| ESS310 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| CHEM105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM117 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
PHYS/ELEC
| Physics Elective (300+ Level) | 4 |
GCON
| Great Conversation | 3 |
Spring - Third Year
| ESS375 | Geographic Information & Positioning Systems | 4 |
| CHEM106 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM118 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| ESS201 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
PHYS/ELEC
| Physics Elective (300+ Level) | 4 |
Fall - Fourth Year
| ESS403 | Capstone: Senior Research | 2 |
| ESS305 | Paleoclimatology | 2 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective (300+ Level) | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
Spring - Fourth Year
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |
ELE/ELEC
| General Elective | 3 |