Environmental Science - Natural Science Emphasis Requirements (BA/BS)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements - 56 units | ||
| ENVSCI 100 | EXPLORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR | 1 |
| ENVSCI 200 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| ENVSCI 300 | FIELD AND RESEARCH METHODS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| ENVSCI 400 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAPSTONE | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 141 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 5 |
| BIOLOGY 142 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | 5 |
| CHEM 102 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 5 |
| GEOGRPY 270 | GIS I: MAPPING OUR WORLD | 3 |
| or HISTRY 190 | NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY | |
| Select 15 units (at least 9 units from 300-400 level) approved Natural Sciences courses: | 15 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY | ||
| ECOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS | ||
| BIOSTATISTICS | ||
| THE PLANT KINGDOM | ||
| PLANT TAXONOMY | ||
| FIELD BOTANY | ||
| 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 | ||
| CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | ||
or BIOLOGY 357 | CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | |
| INTERNSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | ||
| SOIL SCIENCE | ||
| BIOGEOGRAPHY | ||
| Select a minimum of 6 units of approved Geoscience courses: | 6 | |
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | ||
| ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IN NATIONAL PARKS | ||
| GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS | ||
| PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | ||
| SOIL SCIENCE | ||
| GEOMORPHOLOGY (LANDFORMS) | ||
| WEATHER ANALYSIS | ||
| WATER RESOURCES | ||
| BIOGEOGRAPHY | ||
| GEOHAZARDS | ||
or GEOLGY 352 | 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 | ||
or GEOLGY 214 | EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY | |
| PRINCIPLES OF OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY | ||
| 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 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 | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF NATURAL DISASTERS | ||
| GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| Select 1-3 units of Experiential Learning (undergraduate research, Internship, travel study): | 1-3 | |
| Total Units | 56-58 | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| University Writing Requirement: | ||
| PWP 371 | WRITING IN THE SCIENCES | 3 |
| Unique Requirements: | ||
| Select 8-10 units from one of the following techniques option areas: | 8-10 | |
| Area A - Geographic Information Systems: | ||
| GEOGRPY 370 | GIS II: APPLICATIONS AND DATA | 4 |
| 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 104 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 5 |
| CHEM 352 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS | 5 |
| Area C - Ecological Field and Lab Methods: | ||
| BIOLOGY 258 | ECOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS | 2 |
| 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 260 | AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE | 3 |
| 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| ENGLISH 101 | 3 | ENGLISH 102 | 3 |
| MATH 142 | 4 | ENVSCI 200 | 3 |
| ENVSCI 100 | 1 | CHEM 102 | 5 |
| CORE 140 | 3 | CORE 130 | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 | PEGNRL 192 | 1 |
| INTRAUNV 104 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOLOGY 141 | 5 | BIOLOGY 142 | 5 |
| GEOGRPY 270 or HISTORY 190 | 3 | Geosciences Or SEM Approved Course | 3-5 |
| CORE 110 | 3 | Unique Requirement Course | 3 |
| U.S. Racial/Ethnic Diversity Course | 3 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| 14 | 14-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| ENVSCI 300 | 3 | Natural Science Approved Course 300/400 Level | 3 |
| Natural Science Approved Course | 3 | Natural Science Approved Course 300/400 Level | 3 |
| Natural Science Approved Course | 3 | Geosciences Or SEM Approved Course | 3 |
| Geosciences Or SEM Approved Course | 3-5 | BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course | 3 |
| Unique Requirement Course | 3 | CORE 390 | 3 |
| 15-17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| Natural Science Approved Course 300/400 Level | 3 | ENVSCI 400 | 3 |
| Geosciences Or SEM Approved Course | 3 | Unique Requirement Course | 3 |
| PWP 371 | 3 | Electives To Total 120 (If Needed) | 6-9 |
| Experiential Learning Course | 1-3 | ||
| BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course | 3 | ||
| 13-15 | 12-15 | ||
| Total Units: 113-122 | |||
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 Natural Science 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 Sustainability and Environmental Management (SEM) and 6 units of approved Geosciences 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.