Environmental Science (Interdisciplinary), BS

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements  

Major Requirements (66-69 hours)

A GPA of 2.0 or higher is required in the major. Students will complete a 2-year plan in ES 250 to guide their choice of coursework.

The major requires 66-69 hours as follows:

Foundations and Core in Environmental Science (35 hours)

All majors must take these courses:

• BIOL 141 - Principles of Biology II Credits: 4

• BIOL 140 pre-req is waived for students in the Environmental Science program.

• BIOL 241 - Introduction to Ecology and Evolution Credits: 4

• BIOL 240 pre-req is waived for students in the Environmental Science program.

• CHEM 139 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
• CHEM 140 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
• ES 150 - Introduction and Approaches to Environmental Science Credits: 4
• ES 250 - Seminal Readings in Environmental Sciences Credits: 1
• ES 350 - Seminar in Energy, Economics, and the Environment Credits: 1
• ES 495 - Senior Research Seminar in Environmental Science Credits: 3
• GEOL 151 - Earth: Geology, Resources, Hazards, and Environment Credits: 3
• GEOG 221 - Introduction to Geospatial Analysis Credits: 3
• (  MATH 146 - Precalculus II Credits: 4

• or

• MATH 153 - Calculus I Credits: 4 )

Categories

At least one course in each category must be taken. Additional courses in the same cateogry will count toward the Program Electives.

Program Electives (13 hours)

Program electives must include 13 hours of 300- or 400-level courses that meet any of the following three options:

1. Any courses listed in the Categories not used to fulfill the category requirement can be used as program electives.
2. Any 300- or 400-level courses approved by your advisor can be used as program electives.
3. Any course from the list below can be used as program electives.
   

• BIOL 304 - General Ecology Credits: 3
• BIOL 438 - Ecological Restoration Credits: 3
• BIOL 441 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3
• CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: 4
• CHEM 435 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: 3
• CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
• COMM 313 - Conflict Resolution Credits: 3
• ENVH 311 - Water Quality Control Laboratory Credits: 1
• ENVH 450 - Air Quality Control Lab Credits: 1
• ES 480 - Independent Study Credits: 1-3, R6
• ES 483 - Internship in Environmental Science Credits: 1-3, R6
• ES 493 - Topics in Environmental Science Credits: (1-3, R6)
• GEOG 324 - Introduction to Remote Sensing 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
• HSCC 472 - Principles of Epidemiology Credits: 3
• MATH 370 - Probability and Statistics I Credits: 3
• MATH 375 - Statistical Methods II Credits: 3
• NRM 320 - Soil Conservation Credits: 3
• NRM 344 - Applied Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4
• NRM 351 - Forest Ecology Credits: 3
• NRM 444 - Applied Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4
• NRM 460 - Watershed Management Credits: 3
• NRM 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: 4

• or

• BIOL 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: 4
• NRM 479 - Mammalogy Credits: 4

• or

• BIOL 479 - Mammalogy Credits: 4
• PRM 321 - Introduction to Environmental Interpretation Credits: 3
• SOC 385 - Methods of Social Research Credits: 3

General Electives (8-23 hours)

General electives (9 to 24 hours, depending on the number of courses in the major which are also used for the Liberal Studies program) are required to complete the degree.

To satisfy general university degree requirements, students must take at least 30 hours at the junior-senior level at WCU.

Visit the department’s website at https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/science-and-math/gnr/environmental-science.aspx