Environmental Science - Geosciences Emphasis Requirements (BA/BS)

Major Requirements - 57 units
ENVSCI 100EXPLORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR1
ENVSCI 200INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE3
ENVSCI 300FIELD AND RESEARCH METHODS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 3
ENVSCI 400ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAPSTONE3
CHEM 102GENERAL CHEMISTRY I 5
GEOGRPY 120GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS4
GEOGRPY 210PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY4
GEOGRPY 270GIS I: MAPPING OUR WORLD3
or HISTRY 190 NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
GEOLGY 301ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY3
Select 15 units (at least 9 units from 300-400 level) approved Geosciences courses:15
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IN NATIONAL PARKS
INTERNSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
SOIL SCIENCE
GEOMORPHOLOGY (LANDFORMS)
WEATHER ANALYSIS
WATER RESOURCES
BIOGEOGRAPHY
GEOHAZARDS
GEOHAZARDS
REMOTE SENSING OF THE ENVIRONMENT
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE SCIENCE AND IMPACTS
RIVERS AND FLOODS
GIS IN WATER RESOURCES
APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE GIS
FIELD COURSE
EARTH AND LIFE HISTORY
EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
PRINCIPLES OF OCEANOGRAPHY
ROCKS AND MINERALS
PALEONTOLOGY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES AND FIELD METHODS
STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTATION
FIELD STUDIES IN GEOLOGY
PHYSICS FOUNDATIONS
Select a minimum of 6 units of approved Natural Sciences courses:6
BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II
INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS
INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY
ECOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS
BIOSTATISTICS
THE PLANT KINGDOM
PLANT TAXONOMY
FIELD BOTANY
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
AQUATIC PLANT BIOLOGY
AQUATIC BIOLOGY
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
INTRODUCTORY ENTOMOLOGY
WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
TRAVEL STUDY
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - I
SOIL SCIENCE
BIOGEOGRAPHY
PHYSICS FOUNDATIONS
Select a minimum of 6 units of approved Sustainability and Environmental Management courses:6
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY
LANDSCAPES OF NORTH AMERICA: PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION
CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT GEOGRAPHY
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
US ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY
GRANT/PROPOSAL WRITING
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
FUNDAMENTALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
SOCIOLOGY OF NATURAL DISASTERS
ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY
GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Select 1-3 units Experiential Learning (undergraduate research, Internship, travel study):1-3
Total Units57-59
University Writing Requirement:
PWP 371WRITING IN THE SCIENCES3
Unique Requirements:
Select 8-10 units from one of the following techniques option areas:8-10
Area A - Geographic Information Systems:
GEOGRPY 370GIS II: APPLICATIONS AND DATA4
and two of the following:
REMOTE SENSING OF THE ENVIRONMENT
GIS IN WATER RESOURCES
APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE GIS
ADVANCED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
Area B - Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 104GENERAL CHEMISTRY II5
CHEM 352QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS5
Area C - Ecological Field and Lab Methods:
BIOLOGY 258ECOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS2
and two of the following:
THE PLANT KINGDOM
PLANT TAXONOMY
FIELD BOTANY
AQUATIC PLANT BIOLOGY
AQUATIC BIOLOGY
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
INTRODUCTORY ENTOMOLOGY
WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
Area D - Environmental Writing and Communication:
ENGLISH 260AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE3
and two of the following:
SOCIAL MEDIA OPTIMIZATION & THE NEW WEB
CORPORATE COMMUNICATION FOUNDATIONS
NATURE WRITING
WRITING FOR NEWS MEDIA
WRITING FOR THE WEB
TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING
GRANT/PROPOSAL WRITING
First Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
ENGLISH 1013ENGLISH 1023
MATH 1424ENVSCI 2003
ENVSCI 1001GEOGRPY 2104
CORE 1403CORE 1303
General Education Elective3PEGNRL 1921
INTRAUNV 1041 
 15 14
Second Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
GEOGRPY 270 or HISTORY 1903GEOLGY 3013
CHEM 1025Natural Science Or SEM Approved Course3-4
CORE 1103GEOGRPY 1204
U.S. Racial/Ethnic Diversity Course3BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course3
 COMM 1103
 14 16-17
Third Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
ENVSCI 3003Geosciences Approved Course3
Geosciences Approved Course3Geosciences Approved Course3
Natural Science Or SEM Approved Course3-5Natural Science Or SEM Approved Course3-5
Unique Requirement Course3Unique Requirement Course3
BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course3CORE 3903
 15-17 15-17
Fourth Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Geosciences Approved Course 300/400 Level3ENVSCI 4003
Geosciences Approved Course 300/400 Level3Unique Requirement Course3
Natural Science Or SEM Approved Course3-5Electives To Total 120 (If Needed)6-9
Experiential Learning Course1-3 
PWP 3713 
 13-17 12-15
Total Units: 114-126

The curriculum in the environmental science major is somewhat flexible in that there are some required sequences and it allows students to move through other coursework in many ways. This four-year plan illustrates one possible path a new freshman could take to complete a degree in four years. This is not an official document and is not the only way that an environmental science degree can be completed in four years. Current students should refer to their individual Academic Advising Report for specific graduation requirements. Courses in bold indicate major-based coursework that is completed in the first year.

Notes: The math and English courses you will take during your first year will depend on placement exam scores. This four-year plan reflects the math and English courses most common for students in this major. All students are encouraged to submit test scores prior to attending Warhawks SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration). Opportunities: Joining a university-sponsored club and actively participating is strongly encouraged. Involvement in a club or activity will help you develop interpersonal skills, give you the opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills, and adds to your resume. Some clubs that may be of particular interest to students with an environmental science major include Gardening Club and Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE).

Notes: The list of approved Geosciences courses is available in the online course catalog https://www.uww.edu/registrar/course-catalogs and includes courses from many subject areas. Environmental Science majors choose from four unique requirement options: Geographic Information Systems, Analytical Chemistry, Ecological Field and Lab Methods, and Environmental Writing and Communication. Some courses in the unique requirements have prerequisites that are not listed on this plan and some also count as general education electives. Work with your advisor to select the option that best meets your career goals. Opportunities: Undergraduate research is highly recommended for students who have an interest in attending graduate school in the future. Completing a directed research project with a faculty mentor has many benefits: it develops a student’s critical thinking and writing abilities, signals to graduate school programs that a student is prepared for independent research of their own, and it can provide a student with financial support since many undergraduate research opportunities are paid.

Notes: Students in this emphasis complete at least 6 units of approved Natural Science and 6 units of approved Sustainability and Environmental Management (SEM) courses. Opportunities: An internship is not required for the environmental science major but is one option to fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement and can be a great opportunity for practical experience. An internship is an opportunity that provides students with hands-on experience in a potential career field, supervision and coaching from prospective employers, and the ability to learn professional norms and behaviors. In addition, completing an internship allows students to differentiate themselves in a competitive job market. Students should begin planning for an internship by the beginning of the junior year and can complete the internship in the junior or senior year. 

Notes: All students must earn 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree and all requirements in this program can be completed in fewer than 120 credits. Most students have the opportunity to choose additional courses in the fourth year to expand skills, explore interests, or try something new. Opportunities: LSINDP 399: Career Information in Letters and Sciences is a 1-credit course that focuses on career and graduate school opportunities; identifying skills, strengths, and work values; creating effective job search materials; developing a networking strategy; and planning for a successful post-graduation transition. Planning for Graduation: Students are encouraged to apply for graduation one full semester prior to their intended graduation date. Information about commencement is on the Registrar’s Office website (http://www.uww.edu/registrar/graduation) and the application for graduation is available to students in the WINS Student Information System.