Degree Requirements
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers flexibility to students interested in the Earth and environmental sciences by providing three distinct curriculum tracks: B.S. in Sustainability Science, B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and B.A. in Earth and Environmental Sciences. There is also flexibility within each track. Because of the potential overlap of electives between Sustainability Science (SUS) major and Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) major, students will not be permitted to double major in both EES and SUS.
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEGREE [PDF Brochure]
Candidates for the B.S. degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences must complete
Candidates for the B.A. degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences must complete
Students anticipating graduate study and professional work in earth and environmental
sciences should obtain the B.S. degree. The following are also recommended: BIO-340 (Ecology), CHM-120 (Organic Chemistry), MTH-151 (Analytical Geometry and Calculus II) and PHY-111 (General Physics I).
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE DEGREE [PDF Brochure]
Candidates for the B.S. degree in Sustainability Science must complete:
A. Introductory Course: Introduction to the concepts of sustainability and the complex problems associated with sustainability. Laboratories cover an introduction to basic methods common in global environmental systems, human systems, and social systems.
B. The following four core courses: Core courses introduce the three systems of global sustainability and laboratories focus on an introduction to specific methods within each system. The fourth course focuses on how complex, dynamic systems are modeled.
C. Upper Level Electives: Students will take a total of
five electives from the list of approved elective courses. At least
one elective from each category should be selected. These areas focus on the complex problems of global sustainability that arise because of breakdowns within each of the global, human, and social systems, as well as feedbacks between the systems .
D. Senior Thesis:
SUS/EES 472 (Research and Analysis): This is a research, analysis, and writing course based on data collected by the student during summer or academic year research projects. This course
must be taken during the fall of senior year.
Approved Elective Courses
Environmental Security - ANT 303 (Cultural Ecology)
- BIO/EES 343 (Environmental Systems)
- BIO 340 (Ecology), or BIO 341/342 (Tropical Ecology/Field Studies), or BIO 344 (African Ecology), or BIO 380 (Freshwater Ecology)
- BIO 401 (Applied Plant Science)
- BIO 423 (Marine Biology)
- BIO 430 (Natural Resource Management)
- EES 201 (Geographic Information Systems)
- EES 410 (Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate Dynamics)
- EES 230 (Watershed Hydrology)
- EES 301 (Remote Sensing of the Environment)
- EST 301 (Environment and Society)
- PSC 213 (Environmental Policy)
Human Security - ECN 237 (Economics of Poverty and Inequality)
- ENG 416 (Environmental Writing)
- GGY 230 (Principles of Geography)
- HSC 304 (Community and Environmental Health)
- PHL 303 (Environmental Ethics)
- PHL 304 (Ethics of Globalization)
- PSC 214 (Environmental law and conservation advocacy)
- PVS 101 (Introduction to Poverty Studies)
- SOC 222 (Population and the Environment)
- REL 362 (Religion and the Environment)
Sustainable Production and Consumption - BUS 312 (Sustainable Corporation)
- ECN 236 (Economics of the Environment)
- ECN 243 (Economic Growth and Development)
- PSC 227 (Environmental Politics in China)
Environmental Studies Concentration
Students interested in the environment, but not wishing to major in the sciences may complete the Environmental Studies concentration. To satisfy the requirements for the concentration in Environmental Studies, students must complete:
For course descriptions, and further information, see course
catalog or contact Dr. Greg Lewis of Biology Department.