2017-2018 Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Science, Environmental Studies


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The environmental science major is intended for students who plan to pursue a career requiring scientific training in environmental problems and their solutions. The major will prepare students for jobs in a variety of fields and will prepare them for further study in certain graduate programs such as ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, or environmental biology. Students choose one of three concentrations: biology, chemistry, or geology. The following advisors will supervise students through the three concentrations: R. VanDragt for biology, M. Muyskens for chemistry, and R. Stearley for geology. Students who wish to pursue graduate study in chemistry or geology, and are interested in environmental issues, are encouraged to complete a disciplinary major and the environmental studies minor.

The environmental studies major serves as a foundation for a broad range of environmental careers, from environmental law to land use planning. Majors choose one of three concentrations: economics, geography, or political science. Majors may also select an alternate concentration with the approval of the environmental studies director, J. Skillen, and an advisor in that field. Students are strongly urged to do an internship as part of the major. The environmental studies minor is intended for students who are following a disciplinary major and who also have an interest in studying environmental problems and issues at the local, national, and global levels. Because the study of such issues is truly interdisciplinary in scope, the environmental studies minor is appropriate for students majoring in the humanities, the social sciences, or the natural sciences. While disciplinary majors with environmental interest are encouraged to complete the entire group minor, the environmental studies courses also may be taken singly as electives to enrich a program of study.

In order to be admitted as a major in the environmental science program, a student must have completed three college-level science courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each course and be approved by the committee, which oversees the environmental science program.
Beyond the requirements of the general honors program, the Honors Program in environmental science requires:

  1. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 in courses contributing to the major.
  2. One course taken for honors from BIOL 160 , BIOL 161 , CHEM 103 , or GEOL 151 .
  3. One course taken for honors between ENST 210  or ENST 302 ,
  4. One course taken for honors among BIOL 345 , CHEM 271 , or GEOL 312 .
  5. Completion of ENST 395  with honors.
  6. Completion of a practical experience through ENST 385 , an independent study (390 course) in biology, chemistry, or geology, or another approved practicum.

In order to be admitted as a major in the environmental studies program, a student must have completed two courses in the major with a minimum grade average of B- (2.7).

Programs

    MajorMinor

    Courses

      Environmental Studies

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