A major in environmental science provides students with many opportunities in industry, government, and academia.  For example, graduates are well prepared for careers in environmental consulting, environmental regulation, advocacy, or education.  Students can also pursue graduate studies in a wide range of fields including environmental science, ecology, oceanography, forestry, law, medicine, and toxicology.  A program with the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Duke University is available (see Cooperative Programs for details).

Students are encouraged to obtain internship experience in specialized fields of Environmental Science and/or participate in an environmentally oriented study abroad program during their junior year.  Recently, students have served with local educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, state and federal government, and local industries.  Others have spent time in Australia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Canada and other countries.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
To be retained as a major, a student must maintain a 2.0 average based on all biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, environmental science, and environmental studies courses attempted.  Majors take the 10 required courses from list A and a total of 5 electives from lists B and C (see the course lists below).  At least 3 elective courses must come from list B and at least 1 course must come from list C.  The last elective can come from either list.  Students interested in teacher certification may also complete additional courses.

A. CORE SCIENCE COURSES (10 courses)

BIO 150 (Principles of biology I)
BIO 151 (Principles of biology II)
CHM 103 (General chemistry I)
CHM 104 (General chemistry II)
MTH 121 (Calculus I)
MTH 144 (Intro. to statistics) OR  MTH 104 (Statistical methods)
ESC 113 (Environmental science I)
ESC 114 (Environmental science II)
ESC 201 (Environmental geology)
ESC 310 (Environmental chemistry) OR
    ESC 312 (Toxicology)

NOTE:  Students must take a total of 5 elective courses from lists B and C below.

B. SCIENCE ELECTIVES (choose at least 3)

BIO 255 (Ornithology) OR  BIO 272 (Marine biology)
OR  BIO 242 (Entomology)
BIO 275-279 (Investigations in field biology)
(only 1 can be taken for environmental science credit)
BIO 260 (Field botany and plant ecology) OR

BIO 268 (Freshwater ecology)

BIO 270 (Ecology)

BIO 262 (Cultural and economic botany)

BIO 460 (Physiological ecology) OR  BIO 465 (Conservation biology) 
CHM 201 (Organic chemistry I)
CHM 202 (Organic chemistry II)
CHM 311 (Analytical chemistry)
ESC 310 (Environmental chemistry)
[If not taken as part of A]
ESC 312 (Environmental toxicology)
[If not taken as part of A]
ESC 480 (Special topics in environmental science)
PHY 211 (General physics I)
PHY 212 (General physics II)
PHY 250 (Simulating science)
Other science courses as approved

C. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ELECTIVES (choose at least 1)

COM 336  OR  COM 337
(Environmental communication)
ECN 245 OR  ECC 246 (Environmental economics)
EST 350 (Env. and cultural conservation in Latin Am.)
HST 416 OR  HST 417
(Environmental history of the United States)
PHL 246 (Environmental philosophy)
PSC 216 OR  PSC 217
(Environmental politics & policy making)
PSC 330 OR  PSC 331
(Comparative & international environmental policies)
SOC 320 (Environmental sociology)
Other courses as approved  

Students may sharpen their focus by rostering additional courses in the sciences.
 

Students approved by the Environmental Science Honors Committee may register for honors work which requires completing a research project, presenting results orally and writing a formal scientific report.  Based on student performance as judged by the quality of the honors work and by maintaining at least a 3.50 in all environmental science and environmental studies courses, environmental science faculty will determine if honors will be granted.

Teacher Certification
Students seeking certification for the teaching of environmental education must take BIO 260 Field Botany and Plant Ecology, BIO 270 Ecology, and BIO 465 Conservation Biology within the elective science courses.  Students also must complete the following education courses.  Contact the Director of Environmental Science for details.

EDU 101 Foundations of Education
EDU 102 Educational Psychology
EDU 200 Teaching and Learning
EDU 201 Exceptional Learner
EDU 360 Methods in Environmental Education

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MINOR

Director:  Associate Professor Giacomo Gambino
 
 

The courses of instruction listed below constitute an interdisciplinary environmental studies minor designed to provide the student with an understanding of the fundamental socioeconomic, political, historical and philosophic institutions, attitudes, and values in which the environmental crisis is rooted.  Students in this program are also expected to secure at least a basic knowledge of the policies and strategies, whether political, economic, or technological, required to address the problems which flow from the environmental crisis.
 
 

MINOR REQUIREMENTS: