Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
The Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Science provides excellent preparation for
careers in federal, state, and local government, public utilities, and nonprofit sectors
and industries. Additionally, this program will prepare students for graduate study
in a variety of related fields such as ecology, and environmental science. Students
completing this degree will gain practical skills in animal and plant taxonomy and
geographic information systems, as well as, chemical and biological assessment of
water resources. They will apply their skills in advanced courses in environmental
assessment including studies of federal and state policies and regulations.
Students majoring in environmental science are required to complete sixty-one semester
hours in core environmental science curriculum, two additional math courses (Group
A: 6-7 semester hours), an additional physical science course with a lab (Group B:
4-5 semester hours), an additional physical science without a lab (Group C: 3 semester
hours), two classes from GIS or research choices (Group D: 7-8 semester hours), two
classes from life science choices (Group E: 7-8 semester hours), a capstone field
biology course (Group F: 4 semester hours), and two courses in social or anthropogenic
choices (Group G: 6 hours). Students have the option of tailoring the remaining semester
hours to best meet their future education or career goals and meet the 120 total semester
hour and 40 upper division institutional requirements.
Curriculum
The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.
| Fall |
Credits |
| Life Science 2 |
3-4 |
| Human Dimensions 7, 8 |
3 |
| Physical Science Elective with Lab 5,8 or Field Biology 6 |
4-5 |
| Physical Science Elective without Lab 3 or GIS and Research 4,8 |
3-4 |
| Elective 8 |
0-4 |
| Total Hours |
13-16 |
1See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
2Take two Life Science Elective courses from the following: BIOL 4043 Conservation Genetics, BIOL 3004 Plant Taxonomy, BIOL 3034 Genetics, BIOL 3054 Microbiology, BIOL 3064 Parasitology, BIOL 3084 Ichthyology/FW 3084 Ichthyology, BIOL 3104 Introduction to Entomology/AGPM 3104 Introduction to Entomology, BIOL 3134 Invertebrate Zoology, BIOL 3144 Ornithology/FW 3144 Ornithology, BIOL 3174 Physiological Ecology, BIOL 3224 Herpetology/FW 3224 Herpetology, BIOL 4043 Conservation Genetics, BIOL 4064 Evolutionary Biology, BIOL 4163 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology/FW 4163 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology.
3Take one Physical Science without Laboratory Elective course from the following: BIOL 3353 Fundamentals of Toxicology/CHEM 3353 Fundamentals of Toxicology, CHEM 3313 Environmental Chemistry, GEOL 3083 Hydrogeology, GEOL 3153 Environmental Geology, PHSC 3033 Meteorology.
4Take two GIS and Research courses from the following: BIOL 3033 Bioinformatics, ENVS 4114 Environmental Science Internship, ENVS 4884 Advanced Topics in Environmental Science, ENVS 4954 Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science, FW 2833 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems/GEOG 2833 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, FW 3074 Habitat Evaluation, FW 4034 Advanced Geographic Information Systems Applications.
5Take one Physical SCIL 1XXX SCIENCE WITH LABORATORY Elective course from the following: CHEM 3245 Quantitative Analysis, CHEM 4414 Instrumental Analysis, PHYS 2024 Algebra-Based Physics II.
6Take one Field Biology course from the following: BIOL 4024 Limnology/FW 4024 Limnology, BIOL 4094 Coastal Ecology, ENVS 4124 Biological Assessment of Water Quality, FW 4014 Forest Ecology and Management, FW 4064 Wetland Ecology and Management.
7Take two Human Dimension courses from the following: ANTH 2003 Cultural Anthropology, ANTH 2103 Ozark-Ouachita Studies, ANTH 2303 Globalization, SOC 3033 Environment and Society, SOC 3113 Social Movements and Social Change, or FW 4103 Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife Management.
8At least 40 upper level hours are required for the 120 hours degree.
