School of Earth, Environment and Society

Program Details | Environmental Science Bachelor’s

The Environmental Science degree is focused on natural science and is offered with two track options, a focus on the scientific and field study of the environment (Science track) or a focus on environmental management and policy (Management track).

In addition to satisfying general University requirements (45 credits), the Environmental Science degree requires a minimum of 74 core credits plus 30-31 credits in either the Science or Management track.

All courses used to satisfy the Environmental Science major requirements, whether taken in the School or in other departments, must be graded C- or above. The School major requirements are listed below.

The Honors Track in Environmental Science allows outstanding undergraduate students to obtain recognition for exceptional performance in coursework and research. 

Core Requirements

Environmental Science and Management Core

  • ESM 150 Orientation to Environmental Sciences and Management
  • ESM 220 Introduction to Environmental Systems
  • ESM 221 Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving
  • ESM 222 Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration
  • ESM 335 Introduction to Environmental Management
  • ESM 340 Research Methods in Environmental Science
  • ESM 407 Environmental Seminar
  • Wr 327 Technical Report Writing
  • 12 credits in 400-level topical area
  • 16 credits of 400-level ESM courses (excluding ESM 407). Up to 8 credits may be taken in other SEES areas, including Anth, SySc, Geog, and G.

Note: Up to 4 credits of approved research (ESM 401) or internship (ESM 404) can replace 4 credits of ESM 410+ courses.

Biology Core (Option 1)

8 credits selected from the following:

  • Sci 341U Biology Concepts and Applications I (4 credits)
  • Sci 342U Biology Concepts and Applications II (4 credits)
  • ESM 343 Environmental Problem Solving: Restoring Ecosystem Damage from Human Impacts (4 credits)

Biology Core (Option 2)

15 credits of the following:

  • Bi 221Z Principles of Biology: Cells (5 credits)
  • Bi 222Z Principles of Biology: Organisms (5 credits)
  • Bi 223Z Principles of Biology: Ecology and Evolution (5 credits)

Chemistry Core (Option 1)

  • ESM 230 Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • ESM 231 Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry II (4 credits)

Chemistry Core (Option 2)

  • Ch 221Z General Chemistry I and Ch 227Z General Chemistry Laboratory (5 credits)
    Ch 222Z General Chemistry II and Ch 228Z General Chemistry Laboratory (5 credits)

GIS Core

4 credits selected from the following:

  • G 424 Geographical Information Systems for the Natural Sciences (4 credits)
  • G 425 Field GIS (4 credits)
  • Geog 488 Geographic Information Systems I: Introduction (4 credits)

Science Track

  • ESM 320 Environmental Systems I and ESM 323 Environmental Systems Laboratory I (6 credits)
  • ESM 321 Environmental Systems II and ESM 324 Environmental Systems Laboratory II (6 credits)
  • ESM 322 Environmental Risk Assessment and ESM 325 Environmental Risk Assessment Lab (6 credits)
  • ESM 315 Environmental Sampling and Contaminant Analysis (4 credits) or Ch 223 General Chemistry III and Ch 229 General Chemistry Laboratory (5 credits)
  • 4 credits Geology or Physics, 200-level or above.  
  • Mth 112Z Precalculus II: Trigonometry or Mth 251Z Differential Calculus (4 credits)

Total Credit Hours: 104-118

Management Track

  • ESM 330 Environmental and Ecological Literacy (4 credits)
  • ESM 333 Methods of Data Collection, Analysis, Representation, and Modeling for Environmental Managers and ESM 334 Lab for ESM 333 (6 credits)
  • ESM 487 Environmental Justice (4 credits)
  • Ec 332U Economics of Environmental Issues (4 credits)
  • ESM 435 Natural Resource Policy and Management (4 credits)
  • Mth 112Z Precalculus II: Trigonometry (4 credits)
  • Geog 210 Physical Geography (4 credits)