Environmental Science

The Environmental Science program provides an interdisciplinary foundation in environmental science within the framework of a liberal arts education. Because of the broad spectrum of environmental fields, students are provided with flexibility in selecting a course of study that reflects their specific area(s) of interest (i.e. analytical laboratory studies, field-oriented biology, political science, or some combination). All students in the program are provided with a common foundation (the “Environmental Science Core”) and the opportunity to focus their studies in either the Science or Policy Track. This B.S. degree program (57 to 59 hours) prepares students for future study and employment leading to several possible career paths in government, industry, research, and academia. Independent studies are available; an internship is required.

Interdisciplinary Major

(B.S. degree) Fifty-seven to fifty-nine hours is required for the major depending on emphasis (Science Track or Policy Track). The core is required regardless of emphasis. (No minor required)

Environmental Science Core (required of all majors)

Note: MAT 111 will also meet the Foundations and Core requirement in mathematics, but other mathematics courses will not meet the Environmental Science requirement.

• Nine Courses (27 hours) as follows:
  • BIO 111 Biological Principles (4)
  • BIO 212 Cellular and Molecular Biology (4) or BIO 214 Organismal Biology (4)
  • BIO 314 Evolution and Ecology (4)
  • MAT 111 Probability and Statistics (3)
  • ECO 223 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
  • ENV/BIO 330 Environmental Science & Natural Resources (3)
  • ENV 332 Environmental Science & Policy (3)
  • ENV 450 Seminar (3)
  • ENV 461 Internship (1)

Science Track:

Requires thirty to thirty-one hours beyond the core (fifty-seven to fifty-eight total)

• Four Courses (11 or 12 hours) as follows:
  • CHE 111 General Chemistry I (4)
  • CHE 112 General Chemistry II (3)
  • CHE 113 General Chemistry Lab (1)
  • GEL 113 General Geology (4) or PHY 109 Meteorology (3)
• A minimum of 16 additional hours. Select from the following:
  • BIO 300 Marine Biology (3)
  • BIO 311 General Microbiology (4)
  • BIO 316 Plant Taxonomy & Spring Flora (4)
  • BIO 320 Vertebrate Ecology (4)
  • BIO 335 Genetics and Molecular Biology (4)
  • BIO 413 Freshwater Biology (4)
  • CHE 301 Organic Chemistry I (3)
  • CHE 302 Organic Chemistry Lab I (1)
  • CHE 305 Quantitative Analysis (4)
  • CHE 309 Organic Chemistry II (3)
  • CHE 310 Organic Chemistry Lab II (1)
  • CHE 315 Spectroscopy (4)
  • CHE 337 Environmental Chemistry (2)
• One Additional Course (3 hours)
  • Select one upper-level course (numbered 300 or higher) from the Policy Track outside of the natural and physical sciences.

Environmental Policy Track:

• Requires thirty-one to thirty-two hours beyond the core (fifty-eight to fifty-nine total)
• One course (4 hours) Select 1
  • CHE 111 General Chemistry I (4)
  • GEL 113 General Geology (4)
• Two courses (6 hours) Select 2
  • ECO 337 Environmental Economics (3)
  • PHI 345 Environmental Philosophy & Ethics (3)
  • SOC 355 Environment and Sustanability (3)
• Six courses (18 hours) with no more than 3 courses from any one discipline
  • Whichever course was not selected from the previous block (ECO 337, PHI 34 or SOC 355) may be included here. Select 6
    • BUA 210 Principles of Accounting I (3)
    • BUA 211 Principles of Accounting II (3)
    • ECO 221 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
    • PHI 235 Theories of Economic Justice (3)
    • POS 305 Urban Government (3)
    • POS 309 State Government (3)
    • POS 315 Public Administration & Policy Process (3)
    • POS 335 Legislative Process (3)
    • POS 409 Kentucky Government (3)
    • POS 430 International Political Economy (3)
    • SOC 405 Development and Globalization (3)
    • SOC 415 Food and Society (3)
    • One Additional Course (3-4 hours). Select 1
    • BIO 300 Marine Biology (3)
    • BIO 311 General Microbiology (4)
    • BIO 316 Plant Taxonomy and Spring Flora (4)
    • BIO 330 Vertebrate Ecology (4)
    • BIO 335 Genetics and Molecular Biology (4)
    • BIO 413 Freshwater Biology (4)

Courses

330. Environmental Science and Natural Resources. (3 hours) A study of the principles of environmental science and their application to current issues. Emphasis is placed on the use of natural resources (energy, mineral, water, and biological) and the consequences of that use (resource depletion, water and air pollution, hazardous and non-hazardous waste). Prerequisites: BIO 111 and junior or senior standing. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BIO 314. Even Springs

332. Environmental Science and Policy. (3 hours) A study of the principles of environmental science and their application to current issues. Emphasis is placed on addressing how risk is assessed, managed and communicated, how U.S. environmental policy has developed, and how regulations are formed, implemented, and enforced. The class will also discuss selected international policies, particularly those of the United Nations and Europe. Prerequisites: BIO 111 and junior or senior standing. Prerequisite or Corequisite: BIO 314. Even Falls

440. Independent Study. (1-3 hours) An independent research project supervised by a faculty member in an appropriate discipline. Prerequisites: BIO 111, Sophomore classification, consent of supervising professor, and consent of the Environmental Science Program Coordinator. As needed

450. Seminar. (3 hours) Development of library research and writing skills. Current environmental issues will be discussed, and students will prepare a review paper and make an oral presentation on their review topic. Prerequisite: Senior classification. As needed

461-462. Environmental Science Intern Program. (1-3 hours for each course) Field experience in any area of environmental science education, management or research conducted through a governmental or private agency. Prerequisites: declared major in Environmental Science and permission of the Environmental Science Program Coordinator. As needed