Environmental Science, B.S.

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Major Requirements

The major requires 60 hours as follows:

Foundations in Environmental Science

BIOL 140 - Principles of Biology I Credits: (4)
BIOL 141 - Principles of Biology II Credits: (4)
CHEM 140 - Advanced General Chemistry Credits: (4)
ES 101 - Careers and Issues in Environmental Science Credits: (1)
ES 150 - Introduction and Approaches to Environmental Science Credits: (4)
ES 495 - Senior Research Seminar in Environmental Science Credits: (3)
GEOL 150 - Methods in Geology Credits: (4)
MATH 140 - Introductory Calculus Credits: (5)

Geographic Information Systems

Choose one from the following list:

GEOG 321 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: (3)
or
NRM 344 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: (4)

Environmental Health

Choose one from the following list:

ENVH 310 - Water Quality Control Credits: (3)
ENVH 375 - Environmental Toxicology Credits: (3)
ENVH 440 - Air Quality Control Credits: (3)
ENVH 470 - Principles of Epidemiology Credits: (3)

Environmental Policy

Choose one from the following list:

ECON 310 - Natural Resource Economics Credits: (3)
ENVH 458 - Environmental Regulation and Law Credits: (3)
NRM 442 - Natural Resources Policy and Administration Credits: (3)

Environment and Society

Choose one from the following list:

ANTH 351 - Environmental Anthropology Credits: (3)
GEOG 402 - Conservation of Natural Resources Credits: (3)
PAR 330 - America’s Wilderness Ethics and Aesthetics Credits: (3)
PAR 333 - Environmental Ethics Credits: (3)
SOC 371 - Society and the Environment Credits: (3)

Advanced Study in the Environmental Sciences

Student must obtain approval of a degree plan from the ES committee prior to pursuing Advanced Study courses. Advanced Study courses must not duplicate Foundations courses.

A. Quantitative Methods

Choose one from the following list:

BIOL 467 - Biostatistics Credits: (3)
CHEM 232 - Quantitative Analysis Credits: (3)
MATH 375 - Statistical Methods II Credits: (3)

B. Advanced Environmental Sciences

i. Field & Natural Environmental Science

Choose one from the following list:

BIOL 434 - Terrestrial Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOL 435 - Aquatic Ecology Credits: (4)
GEOL 305 - Soils and Hydrology Credits: (4)
GEOL 405 - Hydrogeology Credits: (4)

ii. Analytical/Instrumentation

Choose one from the following list:

CHEM 330 - Aquatic Chemistry (Lecture 3; Lab 1) Credits: (Lecture 3; Lab 1)
CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: (3)
CHEM 432 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: (3)
CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3)

C. Electives

Choose 18-19 hours of upper level courses from the list below, or course(s) in consultation with your advisor. Courses may not duplicate other degree requirements.

BIOL 304 - General Ecology Credits: (3)
BIOL 434 - Terrestrial Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOL 435 - Aquatic Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOL 467 - Biostatistics Credits: (3)
BIOL 473 - Microbial Ecology Credits: (4)
BIOL 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: (4)
CHEM 330 - Aquatic Chemistry (Lecture 3; Lab 1) Credits: (Lecture 3; Lab 1)
CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: (3)
CHEM 432 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: (3)
CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3)
CHEM 470 - Advanced Instrumental Analysis Laboratory Credits: (1)
ENVH 310 - Water Quality Control Credits: (3)
ENVH 312 - Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Credits: (3)
ENVH 375 - Environmental Toxicology Credits: (3)
ENVH 440 - Air Quality Control Credits: (3)
ENVH 457 - Industrial Hygiene Credits: (3)
ENVH 470 - Principles of Epidemiology Credits: (3)
GEOL 305 - Soils and Hydrology Credits: (4)
GEOL 405 - Hydrogeology Credits: (4)
GEOL 410 - Fluvial Geomorphology Credits: (3)
GEOL 423 - Contaminated Rivers: Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Credits: (3)
GEOL 455 - Wetlands Credits: (3)
MATH 270 - Statistical Methods I Credits: (3)
MATH 370 - Probability and Statistics I Credits: (3)
MATH 375 - Statistical Methods II Credits: (3)
NRM 351 - Forest Ecology Credits: (3)
NRM 371 - Landscape Ecology Credits: (4)
NRM 472 - Ecosystem Structure and Analysis Credits: (4)

D. General Electives Hours: 18

Students must take at least 30 hours at the junior-senior level at WCU in order to satisfy general university degree requirements.

Visit the department’s website at http://www.wcu.edu/4428.asp to view the 8 semester curriculum guide.