The Environmental Science major provides students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary educational experience that prepares them for careers in natural and physical science. This program equips students with the interdisciplinary skills to examine, analyze, and understand the complex dynamic interaction of physical, chemical, biological, and social systems, and collaborate to resolve complex interdisciplinary environmental problems. By emphasizing professional skills training, including field, laboratory, and computer-based methods, students gain applied science knowledge through experiential learning that prepares them for environmental career opportunities by practicing hands-on techniques such as in natural resource management, environmental assessment, pollution remediation, and environmental technologies, and other environmental science careers.

As a requirement for graduation, all Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department majors must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25 for all courses constituting the major curriculum. Exceptions must be requested via petition to the department's appeal committee. 

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences department page.

For related information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientis…

Total Credits Required 120
General Education
30-40
Required Courses in Major 46
Students must complete the core, other required courses and one of four areas of concentration. GC 100 or GC 101 should be taken during the first year of the program.

Core 30
GC 100 Physical Geography [SCII] or 4
     GC 101 Introduction to Environmental Science (4 cr.) [INTT]  
GC 202 Soils or 4
     GC 255 Physical Geology (4 cr.) [SCII]  
GC 205 Introduction to Geographic Research 4
GC 225 Introduction to Maps 2
GC 235 Quantitative Methods 4
GC 320 Environmental Policy and Regulation 4
GC 335 Geographic Information Systems 4
GC 488 Earth and Environmental Science Capstone Research or 4
     GC 489 Human-Environment Capstone (4 cr.)  

Concentration 16
Choose 16 credits from one of the following concentrations, with no more than 12 credits from one prefix without prior approval.

Natural Resources Concentration 16
BI 210 Principles of Ecology [SCII] 4
 
At least two courses, from two different prefixes, must be 300 level or higher. 12
BI 240 Conservation Biology (4 cr.)  
BI 310 Ecology Theory and Methods (4 cr.)  
BI 330 Applied Plant Science (4 cr.)
BI 412 Biostatistics (4 cr.)  
BI 431 Plant Physiology (4 cr.)
BI 441 Fisheries Management (4 cr.)  
BI 442 Wildlife Management (4 cr.)  
BI 466 Stream Ecology (4 cr.)  
EC 345 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (4 cr.)  
GC 210 Earth Hazards (4 cr.) [SCII]  
GC 285 Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, and Future (4 cr.)  
GC 362 Wetlands (4 cr.)  
GC 370 Geomorphology (4 cr.)  
GC 390 Oceanography (2 cr.)  
GC 401 Biogeography (4 cr.)  
GC 425 Remote Sensing (4 cr.)  
GC 428 Spatial Analysis (4 cr.)  
GC 431 Landscape Dynamics and Analysis (4 cr.)
GC 465 Hydrology (4 cr.)  
GC 475 Environmental Impact Assessment (4 cr.)  
GC 482 Earth Systems Interactions (2 - 4 cr.)  
GC 491 Internship (2 - 6 cr.)  
RE 172 Introduction to Wildland Firefighting (3 cr.)  
RE 271 Protected Area Management (4 cr.)  
SP 432 Environmental Communication (4 cr.)  

Pollution Control and Remediation Concentration 16
CH 220 Introduction to Organic Chemistry or 5-8
     CH 315 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.) and  
     CH 317 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 cr.) and  
     CH 325 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.) and  
     CH 327 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 cr.)  
 
At least two courses, from two different prefixes, must be 300 level or higher. 8-11
BI 460 Ichthyology (4 cr.)  
BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology (4 cr.)  
CH 241 Chemical Equilibrium (3 cr.)
CH 242 Quantitative Analysis (2 cr.)
CH 435 Gas and Liquid Chromatography (2 cr.)
CH 450 Biochemistry I (4 cr.)
CH 452 Biochemistry II (4 cr.)
CH 454 Biochemical Techniques (4 cr.)
GC 362 Wetlands (4 cr.)  
GC 385 Weather and Climate (4 cr.)  
GC 425 Remote Sensing (4 cr.)  
GC 428 Spatial Analysis (4 cr.)  
GC 431 Landscape Dynamics and Analysis (4 cr.)
GC 465 Hydrology (4 cr.)  
GC 475 Environmental Impact Assessment (4 cr.)  
GC 482 Earth Systems Interactions (2 - 4 cr.)  
GC 491 Internship (2 - 6 cr.)  

Water Resources Concentration 16
GC 465 Hydrology 4
 
At least two courses, from two different prefixes, must be 300 level or higher. 12
BI 210 Principles of Ecology (4 cr.) [SCII]  
BI 314 Introduction to Marine Biology (4 cr.)  
BI 410 Ecology of the Great Lakes (4 cr.)  
BI 411 Limnology (4 cr.)  
BI 412 Biostatistics (4 cr.)  
BI 441 Fisheries Management (4 cr.)  
BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology (4 cr.)  
BI 466 Stream Ecology (4 cr.)  
CH 220 Introduction to Organic Chemistry (5 cr.) or  
     CH 315 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.) and  
     CH 317 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 cr.) and  
     CH 325 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.) and  
     CH 327 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 cr.)  
GC 285 Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, and Future (4 cr.)  
GC 362 Wetlands (4 cr.)  
GC 370 Geomorphology (4 cr.)  
GC 385 Weather and Climate (4 cr.)  
GC 390 Oceanography (2 cr.)  
GC 425 Remote Sensing (4 cr.)  
GC 428 Spatial Analysis (4 cr.)  
GC 431 Landscape Dynamics and Analysis (4 cr.)
GC 475 Environmental Impact Assessment (4 cr.)  
GC 482 Earth Systems Interactions (2 - 4 cr.)  
GC 491 Internship (2 - 6 cr.)  

Renewable Energy Technologies Concentration 16
GC 342 Energy and the Environment 4
 
Choose 12 credits from the following: 12
GC 269 Introduction to Sustainability (4 cr.)  
GC 285 Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, and Future (4 cr.)  
GC 385 Weather and Climate (4 cr.)  
GC 425 Remote Sensing (4 cr.)  
GC 428 Spatial Analysis (4 cr.)  
GC 491 Internship (2 - 6 cr.)  
PH 393 Experimental Instrumentation and Analysis (4 cr.)  
REN 200 Introduction to Renewable Energies (3 cr.)  
REN 221 Solar Power (3 cr.)  
REN 222 Wind Power (3 cr.)  
REN 230 Bioenergy (3 cr.)  

Other Required Courses 27
BI 111 Introductory Biology: Principles [SCII] 4
BI 112 Introductory Biology: Diversity 4
CH 111 General Chemistry I [SCII] 5
CH 112 General Chemistry II 5
MA 161 Calculus I [QUAR] 4
PH 201 College Physics I [SCII] or 5
     PH 220 Introductory Physics I (5 cr.) [SCII]  

This major does not require a minor.

Recommended Electives
It is recommended that students consult with their advisor and consider taking an internship and courses in foreign language and cultures, business, economics and policy-related courses. 

Prerequisite Notes:
Mathematics placement at MA 103 or higher is a prerequisite to GC 235. DATA 109 is recommended.

MA 115 is a prerequisite to MA 161.

MA 161 is a prerequisite to PH 220.

DATA 109 is a prerequisite to BI 310.