Environmental Science
Department of Earth, Environment, and Physics
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary science major for students interested in the exploration of human interactions with the natural world. Course work includes fundamental concepts in biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics and emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental science. The major provides a broad foundation, introducing students to scientific techniques, analyses, and tools for assessing human impacts on environmental systems and for mitigating or remediating environmental harm. Hands-on field and laboratory investigations of environmental systems are emphasized in course work and through opportunities for guided research with faculty mentors.
The Environmental Science major provides a pathway into a variety of careers and graduate programs. The major is appropriate for students interested in careers in education, environmental conservation, natural resource management, environmental consulting, planning, and a wide variety of specialized scientific disciplines. Environmental science majors are well prepared for graduate studies in the earth and environmental sciences as well as diverse fields such as business, law, environmental management, or sustainability studies. Students are encouraged to participate in study abroad opportunities to develop a global awareness of environmental issues and approaches to solving these issues.
Undergraduate Environmental Science majors who have demonstrated academic excellence and an interest in Environmental Science research may participate in the Honors in Environmental Science program
Faculty
Anne Armstrong, Assistant Professor (2022), B.A., Hamilton College; M.P.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; M.S., Ph.D., Cornell University
Andrew Burkhardt, Assistant Professor (2022), B.S., University of Michigan; M.S., Ph.D., University of Virginia
Meghna Dilip, Department Chair, Professor (2008), B.S., University of Madras, India; M.S., Anna University India; M.S., Ph.D., University of Alabama
Allison Dunn, Department Chair, Professor (2007), B.A., Oberlin College; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University
William Hansen, Professor (2005), B.A., State University of New York Albany; M.A., Hunter College; Ph.D., City University of New York Graduate Center
Matthew Kaufman, Assistant Professor (2023), B.S.E.S., Keene State College; Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin's Jackson School of Geosciences
Margaret E. Kerr, Professor (2000), B.S., University of Maine; Ph.D., Wesleyan University
Nabin K. Malakar, Associate Professor (2017), M.S., Ph.D., University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY)
Kathleen Murphy, Associate Professor (2014), B.S., College of William and Mary; M.S., Ph.D., University Of Massachusetts, Amherst
Steven J. Oliver, Professor (2003), B.A., University of Montana; Ph.D., Boston University
Laura C. Reynolds, Assistant Professor (2020), B.A., Dartmouth College; Ph.D., University of California
Randall Tracy, Professor (2003), B.S., M.S., University of Connecticut; Ph.D., Arizona State University
Sebastian Velez, Professor (2012), B.S., University of Puerto Rico; M.S., University of Notre Dame; Ph.D., Harvard University
Courses
EV-110 Meteorology
LASC Categories: NSP
Understanding the atmosphere and worldwide weather, Earth-Sun relationships, atmospheric humidity and precipitation, air pressure and winds, circulation of the atmosphere, climate change, air pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, and extreme weather.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
EV-120 Integrated Environmental Science for Educators
LASC Categories: NSP, LAB
Introduction to the scientific method. Physical, biological and earth sciences as applied to problems in environmental science. Three lecture hours and Two laboratory hours per week.
Fall and Spring and every year. 4 Credits
EV-130 Environmental Problems and Solutions
LASC Categories: NSP, WAC
Prerequisites: Writing II
The course is an introduction to human impacts on the earth and ecosystem processes. The complexity of these issues is examined through a series of case studies examining global, regional and local issues.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
EV-150 Environmental Science
LASC Categories: NSP
Interdisciplinary scientific study of human impacts on natural systems. Introduction to fundamental concepts and tools of environmental impact analysis.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
EV-193 Special Topics in Environmental Science For First Year Students
LASC Categories: FYS
Introductory level course covering topics of special interest to first year students. Offered only as a First Year Seminar.
Other or on demand. 3 Credits
EV-199 Special Topics in Environmental Science
Lecture or laboratory course in selected areas of Environmental Science presented by departmental instructor. Topics will be announced in advance.
1-6 Credits
EV-210 Chemical Analysis: an Introduction to Modern Methods
LASC Categories: NLL, WAC
Prerequisites: CH-120, CH-121 (minimum grade C-), and EN-102.
Introduction to modern methods of chemical analysis including gravimetry, acid-base and redox titrations, potentiometry, UV-visible and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and gas and HPLC chromatography. Three lecture hours and four laboratory hours per week. [Cross-listed with CH-210.]
Every year. 5 Credits
EV-218 Introduction to Remote Sensing
LASC Categories: NSP
Prerequisites: GS-101 or GS-140 or EV-150 or BI-101 or BI-140
Introduction to the use and analysis of remotely sensed images such as aerial photographs and satellite imagery. [Cross-listed with GS-218.]
Every year. 3 Credits
EV-220 Energy and the Environment
LASC Categories: NSP
Prerequisites: A college level math course or a math placement code 3.
Explore the important questions surrounding energy, environment, and climate.
Fall only and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits
EV-230 Biogeography
Prerequisites: GS-101 or GS-110 or BI-101 or BI-140
The distribution patterns of plants and animals, processes affecting this distribution, and how these patterns change in space and time. [Cross-listed with GS-230.]
Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits
EV-235 Contemporary Climate Change
Prerequisites: GS-101 or GS-110 or EV-150 or CH-106.
The global climate system, factors influencing climate, recent climate change and the role of human activity. [Cross-listed with GS-235.]
Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits
EV-301 Topics in Invertebrate Zoology
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140 and BI-202 with a grade of C- or above.
Considers anatomy, taxonomy (including selected articles of the international code of zoological nomenclature), natural history, and evolutionary relationships of selected invertebrate phyla. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour laboratory per week. [Cross-listed with BI-301.]
Spring only and every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-320 Environmental Chemistry
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: CH-120 and CH-121 with a grade of C- or above.
Chemistry of the atmosphere, soil, and natural water systems, air and water pollution, water treatment, hazardous wastes and pollution control. Lab techniques including sampling and analysis of environmental media. Lecture 3 hours per week and Lab will meet once a week for 3 hours. [Cross-listed with CH-320.]
Fall only and every year. 4 Credits
EV-330 Environmental Toxicology
Prerequisites: CH-201 or CH-320 with a grade of C- or above.
Topics include the pharmacological and biochemical properties of toxins and the effects of toxins on human health, including assessment of risk(s). [Cross-listed with CH-330.]
Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits
EV-331 Marine Biology
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140 and BI-202 with a grade of C- or above.
Considers the marine environment, its flora and fauna, distribution and production of plankton-nekton-benthos, zoogeography, bioeconomic factors and potential. Three lecture hours and a three-hour laboratory per week. [Cross-listed with BI-331.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-333 Topics in Vertebrate Zoology
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140 and BI-202 with grade of C- or above.
Life histories, adaptations, distribution, systematics, and economic importance of selected vertebrates taxa. Each semester will focus on a particular taxon. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour laboratory per week. [Cross-listed with BI-333.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-334 Wildlife Biology
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140 and BI-202 with grade of C- or above.
Theory and Practice of wildlife management. Considers procedures for collection and analysis of field and laboratory data on vertebrate game populations useful to wildlife biologists. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour laboratory per week. [Cross-listed with BI-334.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-335 Hydrogeology
Prerequisites: GS-140 or GS-250 and a math placement exam score of 3, or a college level math course.
Underground water and its movement. Aquifer identification and test; wells, contamination and remediation, ground water as a geologic agent. [Cross-listed with GS-335.]
Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits
EV-340 Plant Sciences
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140 and BI-202 with a grade of C- or above.
Morphology, anatomy, physiology of flowering plants with studies on life cycles, ecological relationships, biochemical processes and evolution of plant diversity. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. [Cross-listed with BI-340.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-344 Soil Biology
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140, BI-141, BI-204, CH-120, and CH-121 with a grade of C- or above.
Includes study of nutrient cycling, relations between plants, animals, and microbes, ecology of polluted soils and soil biotechnology. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. [Cross-listed with BI-344.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-345 Green Chemistry
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: CH-201 or CH-320 with a grade of C- or above.
This course will provide an understanding of the fundamentals of green chemical design that either eliminates or reduces the use of generation of hazardous substances. Three hours of lecture/lab per week. [Cross-listed with CH-335.]
Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits
EV-348 Fundamentals of Earth Data Analytics
LASC Categories: NSP, QR, QAC, LAB
Prerequisites: GS-101 Take 1 course from Subject GS and level 200.
The theory and practice of data analytics using remote sensing and in-situ earth observations, and communicating the science.
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-360 Animal Behavior
LASC Categories: NLL
Prerequisites: BI-202 or PB-200 with a grade of C- or above.
Survey of ethology and behavioral ecology from an historical and evolutionary perspective. Laboratory involves observation, recording and analysis of animal behavior. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week.[Cross-listed with BI-360.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-370 Lakes & Environmental Change
LASC Categories: WAC, NLL
Prerequisites: GS-140 Take one earth science course at the 200-level or above.
Modern physical, biogeochemical, and sedimentary processes in lakes. Lake sediments as archives of past climate and environmental change. Includes fieldwork. [Cross-listed with GS-370.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-380 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
LASC Categories: LAB, NLL
Prerequisites: BI-140, BI-141, BI-202, and BI-203 with a grade of C- or above.
A theoretical and quantitative approach to species, genetic, ecosystem and community diversity in the context of modern conservation biology principles. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. [Cross-listed with BI-380.]
Every 2-3 years. 4 Credits
EV-400 Environmental Science Seminar
LASC Categories: CAP
Prerequisites: 50 credits in the major. Students with senior standing who have completed the core courses.
Capstone course for Environmental Science majors. Creation and presentation of a review or research paper and career preparation.
Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits
EV-408 Directed Study: Environmental Science
Directed study offers students, who because of unusual circumstances may be unable to register for a course when offered, the opportunity to complete an existing course with an established syllabus under the direction and with agreement from a faculty member.
3-4 Credits
EV-410 Independent Study in Environmental Science
Opportunity for advanced students to pursue a topic of special interest involving extensive reading, experimentation, and research.
1-6 Credits
EV-412 Special Topics in Environmental Science
Intended for the undergraduate who wishes to undertake study of selected topics in Environmental Science of mutual interest to student and faculty.
1-6 Credits
EV-420 Advanced Environmental Research and Fieldwork
Lab and or field-based research on a specific environmental topic under supervision of a faculty member. [Permission of instructor.]
Other or on demand and other or on demand. 1-6 Credits
EV-460 Internship: Environmental Science
Students assigned to various government and private agencies under joint supervision of agency and faculty. Major GPA of 3.0 or above required.
Other or on demand. 1-6 Credits
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a command of fundamental concepts of earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics as applied to environmental problems.
- Demonstrate expertise in an environmental focus area.
- Apply the scientific method to solve environmental problems.
- Locate, evaluate, and utilize various information sources and content.
- Communicate environmental data and concepts.
- Obtain entry level employment and/or gain admission into graduate school.