Environmental and Resource Science B.S.

Mission Statement

Environmental and Resource Science is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interaction of processes that shape our natural environment. Environmental science studies the interplay among humankind and other species and the physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate the function of both natural and engineered environments. Environmental science seeks to model and describe environmental processes to understand their effects upon humankind and consider the reciprocal effects of human activities on these processes.

The degree program in Environmental and Resource Science allows students to develop the skills and interdisciplinary understanding needed to deal with environmental issues by building on a foundation in mathematics, natural sciences, and social policy. The Environmental and Resource Science program is designed to provide the broad general and scientific knowledge appropriate to a variety of careers in resource management. The program prepares students for advanced professional degrees in environmental science. The program also serves students who would like to teach natural science in secondary schools and prefer an interdisciplinary approach.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to identify and describe the dynamic physical and chemical processes acting at the Earth’s surface.
  • Students will identify and explain biological characteristics of ecosystems and explain the dynamics of the relationship of ecosystem to their physical environment.
  • Students will be able to appraise the effects that human needs have had on ecosystems and to formulate ideas that will insure sustainability of human-influenced ecosystems
  • Students will be able to perform practical applications of data collection and interpretation for scientific study and management.

Curriculum

Recommended Schedule

A recommended course sequence for Environmental and Resource Science B.S. is provided for students as guidance to complete their major in four years.

College Core Curriculum (33-44)

English (3-8 credits)

Refer to the English section of the Core Curriculum

Study and Technology Skills (0-3 credits)

Refer to the Study and Technology Skills section of the Core Curriculum

Mathematics (4 credits)

MATH 181Calculus I

4.00

Natural Sciences (8 credits)

CHEM 121General Chemistry I

4.00

CHEM 121AGeneral Chemistry I

3.00

CHEM 121LGeneral Chemistry Laboratory I

1.00

CHEM 122General Chemistry II

4.00

CHEM 122AGeneral Chemistry II

3.00

CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry Laboratory II

1.00

Notes: Students must complete CHEM 121 or CHEM 121A with CHEM 121L.

Students must complete CHEM 122 or CHEM 122A with CHEM 122L.

Social Sciences (3 credits)

Refer to the Social Science section of the Core Curriculum

Fine Arts (3 credits)

Refer to the Fine Arts section of the Core Curriculum

Humanities (6 credits)

Refer to the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum

Constitution (3-6 credits)

Refer to the Constitution section of the Core Curriculum

Cultural Diversity (3 credits)

Refer to the Cultural Diversity section of the Core Curriculum

Major Requirements

Environmental and Resource Science Courses (32 Credits)

BIOL 190Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology

4.00

BIOL 191Introduction to Organismal Biology

4.00

ENV 101Introduction to Environmental Science

3.00

ENV 220Introduction to Ecological Principles

3.00

ENV 480Geographic Information System for Environmental Management

4.00

GEOG 117Meteorology/Climatology.

3.00

GEOL 101Exploring Planet Earth

4.00

PHYS 151General Physics I

4.00

PHYS 151AGeneral Physics I - Lecture

3.00

PHYS 151LGeneral Physics I Laboratory

1.00

STAT 391Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences

3.00

Note: Students may take either PHYS 151 or PHYS 151A with PHYS 151L.

Major Electives List A (9-11 credits)

Choose 3 from the following 6 classes (9-11 credits). One course must be a 4-credit lab class.

BIOL 441Field Ecology

4.00

ENV 345Environmental Regulations: History, Law, and Methods

3.00

NRES 210Environmental Pollution

3.00

NRES 304Principles of Hydrology

3.00

NRES 322Soils

3.00

or

BIOL 472Limnology

3.00

BIOL 472LLimnology Lab

1.00

Major Electives List B (12 credits)

12 additional credit hours from the following list or those not taken in the major elective list in 'List A' above
BIOL 300Principles of Genetics

4.00

BIOL 300APrinciples of Genetics

3.00

BIOL 300LPrinciples of Genetics Laboratory

1.00

BIOL 305Introduction to Conservation Biology

3.00

BIOL 321Marine Biology

3.00

BIOL 340Urban Agriculture

4.00

BIOL 351Microbiology

4.00

BIOL 351AMicrobiology Lecture

3.00

BIOL 351LMicrobiology Lab

1.00

BIOL 408Bioremediation

3.00

BIOL 415Evolution

3.00

BIOL 416Bioinformatics

3.00

BIOL 419Tropical Ecology

3.00

BIOL 433Ornithology

4.00

BIOL 462Microbial Ecology

3.00

ENV 201Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment

3.00

ENV 492Undergraduate Research

1.00-3.00

ENV 493Independent Study

1.00 - 3.00

ENV 494Environmental Science Colloquium

1.00

NRES 416Internship

1.00

NRES 432Advanced Environmental Toxicology

3.00

NRES 467Regional and Global Issues in Environmental Sciences

3.00

NRES 480Independent Study

1.00 - 3.00

NRES 485Special Topics in Environmental Science

1.00-4.00

NRES 485LSpecial Topics in Environmental Science Lab

1.00

Note: Students may take either BIOL 300 or BIOL 300A with BIOL 300L.

Students may take either BIOL 351 or BIOL 351A with BIOL 351L.

Electives (21-34 Credits)

21-34 credit hours from any department, 16 of which should be upper division.

Summary of credit requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental & Resource Science

 College Core Curriculum
 33-44
 Major Core Requirements
 54-55
 Electives (at least 16 credits must be Upper Division)
21-34
 Total Credits
120