Environmental Science Major

Requirements for a major in Environmental Science: 30 credits

Required Foundation Courses(6-7 credits)
EV-150Environmental Science3
GS-140Physical Geology3-4
or GS-101 Physical Geography
Intermediate Courses (9 credits)
GE-258Global Environmental Change3
Select two of the following:6
Oceanography
Hydrology
Introduction to Soil Science
Advanced Courses(12 credits)
Environmental science electives approved by the student’s advisor. 112
Capstone(3 credits)
EV-400Environmental Science Seminar (Ancillary Courses)3
Ancillary Courses(31 credits)
BI-140Introduction to Organismal Biology4
BI-202Principles of Ecology4
CH-120General Chemistry I4
CH-121General Chemistry II4
GS-165Geographic Information Systems I4
MA-150Statistics I3
or MA-302 Probability and Statistics
MA-190Pre-calculus4
or MA-200 Calculus I
PY-221General Physics I4
or PY-241 Physics I (Mechanics)
Total Credits61-62
1

Must include at least two 300- or 400-level courses and at least one lab course. No more than 5 credits may be from internship, independent study, and/or independent research courses. Students may count one environmental course with a prefix other than BI, CH, EV, or GS towards their environmental science electives. A list of courses counting as electives will be made available prior to pre-registration each semester. 

 

Students in the Environmental Science major are not required to take LASC NSP or QR courses outside of the major. Students are required to meet with their department advisor to review their upcoming semester academic choices.

Department of Earth, Environment and Physics - Environmental Science Major  

Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
EV-150 Environmental Science 3
GS-140
Physical Geology
or Physical Geography
3-4
MA-150
Statistics I
or Probability and Statistics
3
EN-101 College Writing I 3
LASCFirst-Year Seminar (FYS) 3
 Credits15-16
Semester Two
BI-140 Introduction to Organismal Biology 4
MA-190
Pre-calculus 1
or Calculus I
4
EN-102 College Writing II 3
LASCLASC Elective (CON) 2 3
LASCLASC Elective (DIV) 2 3
 Credits17
Year Two
Semester Three
CH-120 General Chemistry I 4
GS-165 Geographic Information Systems I 4
GS-250 Hydrology 3
LASCLASC Elective (USW) 2 3
LASCLASC Elective (HBS) 2 3
 Credits17
Semester Four
CH-121 General Chemistry II 4
GS-225
Oceanography
or Introduction to Soil Science
3
BI-202 Principles of Ecology 4
LASCLASC Elective (ICW) 2 3
LASCLASC Elective (GP) 2 3
 Credits17
Year Three
Semester Five
CS-135 Programming for Non-CS Majors 3
PY-221 General Physics I 4
SELECTBI-2XX, CH2XX, EV-2XX, or GS-2XX Major Elective 3 3-4
LASCLASC Elective (CA) 2 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits16-17
Semester Six
GE-258 Global Environmental Change 3
SELECTBI-2XX, CH2XX, EV-2XX, or GS-2XX Major Elective 3 3-4
LASCLASC Elective (TLC) 2 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15-16
Year Four
Semester Seven
SELECTBI-3XX, CH-3XX, EV-3XX, or GS-3XX Major Elective 3 3-4
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits9-10
Semester Eight
EV-400 Environmental Science Seminar 3
SELECTBI-3XX, CH-3XX, EV-3XX, or GS-3XX Major Elective 3 3-4
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits12-13
 Total Credits118-123
 
1

May also be any MA course above 200.

2

The sequence of LASC courses marked with 2 is a suggestion but serves as a reminder that LASC designated courses must be taken to satisfy the LASC requirements. 

3

Students may count one environmental course with a prefix other than BI, CH, EV, or GS towards their environmental science electives.  A list of courses counting as electives will be made available prior to pre-registration each semester. 

Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to review their courses for the upcoming semester. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.  First-year and transfer students with 45 or fewer credits at the time of admission shall complete two academic programs (a major/major or major/minor) to qualify for graduation.  For more information, please view the MajorPlus section of this catalog.