Environmental Science (Interdisciplinary), B.S.

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Total number of hours for program: 120.

Liberal Studies Hours: 42

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Major Requirements

The major requires 69 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: (4)
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 Credits: (Lecture 3; Lab 1)
CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: (4)
CHEM 435 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: (3)
CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3)

C. Guided Electives

Choose 18 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 Credits: (Lecture 3; Lab 1)
CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: (4)
CHEM 435 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: (3)
CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3)
ENVH 310 - Water Quality Control Credits: (3)
ENVH 312 - Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Credits: (2)
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: (3)
NRM 472 - Geospatial Analysis Credits: (4)

D. General Electives Hours (9-24 hours)

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

(General Elective Hours depend on the number of hours taken in the major that also count for Liberal Studies.)

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