Environmental Science, B.A.

Requirements for Major in Environmental Science

The ten-unit environmental science major provides broad exposure to environmental sciences at the introductory level, focused work in science at the upper level and a set of cognates designed to show the social and humanistic context in which scientists work.

Core:

Five units of science and mathematics, consisting of:

BIOL 195: Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity (1 Unit)
CHEM 152: Principles of Chemistry (1 Unit)
GEOL 101: Introductory Geology (1 Unit)
GEOL 111: Geography and Geographic Information Systems (1 Unit)
MATH 141: Calculus of a Single Variable I (1 Unit)
OR
MATH 209: An Introduction to Statistics (1 Unit)

Science Electives:

Five units of focused work in science. Courses should have a central theme such as (but not limited to) habitat protection, modeling in environmental science, or water resources, and should be selected in consultation with a science faculty adviser and approved by the department chair. Courses must be at the 200-level or higher, no more than three courses can be in one department, and at least one 300-level course must be included. Before beginning the study of theme, the student must secure the department chair’s approval of the proposed five-course sequence. This approval must be granted no later than mid-semester of the second semester of the student’s sophomore year. A copy of the approved program and any subsequently approved changes are to be filed with the registrar after being signed by the department chair.

Cognate Courses:

Two and one-half units,

ENVN 201: Ecology and Environmental Field Trip (1/2 Unit)
ENVN 220: Economics, Politics, and Environmental Policy (1 Unit)
AND
One additional cognate selected from the “Society and Culture” or “Language, Idea and Image” lists in the environmental studies major.

Experiential Requirements:

Attendance at a series of department colloquia each semester. In these, students who completed internships the previous semester will report on them, and other items of general interest, such as graduate schools and careers, will be discussed.
An environmental research project, service project or internship. Students should have prior approval of the department chair, and must make a presentation in the colloquium and submit a paper summarizing the experience.