Environmental Science

Description

The environmental science program is designed to prepare students to address the integral relationship between humankind and the environment. There is a growing recognition of the impact of humans on organisms, landforms, the atmosphere, and ecosystems. This program will engage students in a study of the principles, methodologies, and practices of the life, physical, and mathematical sciences as they relate to the environment. The foundational concepts of human systems, such as businesses, governments, and communities, and their impact on the environment will also be studied. An emphasis on experiential and lifelong learning will also prepare graduates to meet the needs of today’s society.

Objectives

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, graduates will be able to:

1. Solve environmental problems by integrating knowledge from the natural and social sciences.
2. Evaluate the effects of humans on the biosphere.
3. Apply field and laboratory research skills and techniques to the investigation of scientific questions.
4. Evaluate environmental issues and advances using scientific literature.
5. Communicate scientific findings in written and oral formats appropriate to the specific audience.
6. Conduct himself or herself in a manner consistent with the professional and ethical standards of the discipline.
7. Practice environmental stewardship.
8. Apply academic preparation to professional experiences outside the classroom.

Policies

Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major, and the lowest acceptable grade is a "C" in all major and Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) courses. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to take a science or math course unless he/she earns a grade of "C" or better in all prerequisite courses.

A student may not earn a grade of “C-” or lower in any science or math course more than three times during the program. If a fourth grade of “C-” or lower is earned in any science or math course, the student will be automatically dismissed from the environmental science major.

Probation : The student who earns any combination of two grades of “C-” or lower in a science or math course will be notified, in writing, by the department chair that he or she is on probation in the Beverly K. Fine School of the Sciences.

Final Probation: The student who earns any combination of three grades of “C-” or lower in a science or math course will be notified, in writing, by the department chair that he or she is on final probation in the Beverly K. Fine School of the Sciences.

Dismissal: If a fourth grade of “C-” or lower in any science or math course is earned, the student will be notified, in writing, by the department chair that he or she has been dismissed from the major.

Requirements

The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).

Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.

Major Requirements:

Select ONE of the following two-course sequences:

Senior Capstone Experience (Select ONE of the six):

Environmental Science Electives:

NOTE: Students may choose to take up to two biology and/or chemistry courses to fulfill ENV electives.

Group 1 (Select THREE):

Group 2 (Select THREE):

Group 3:

Any 2 additional BIO, CHEM, and/or ENV courses.

Suggested Course Sequence

Suggested Course Sequence Environmental Science

Minor in Environmental Science

Environmental Science studies the connections between humans and the environment. Therefore, a minor in Environmental Science is an excellent addition to many liberal arts majors and is particularly relevant to students interested in the environmental aspects of business, economics, policy, law, health, or for those simply interested in understanding our responsibility as caretakers of planet Earth.

The minor in environmental science requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits with an ENV prefix. Courses ineligible for the environmental science minor include:

• ENV 150 Society and the Environment
• ENV 165 Science of the Chesapeake Bay

Please see the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences for further information regarding this minor. General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the Minors section of the catalog.

Other Options

Biology Department Honors Requirements: Eligible students majoring in environmental science may elect to pursue honors within the Department of Biological Sciences. The intention to pursue biology department honors must be declared no later than the end of the first semester of the junior year. To declare the intent to pursue departmental honors, a student must have earned a science GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Students graduating with biology department honors will have this distinction noted on their official university transcript. In order to graduate with departmental honors, the following requirements must be met:

• Completion of a 400-level capstone experience with a grade of “B” or better
• Completion of BIO 440 Seminar Topics in Biology with a grade of “B” or better
• Completion of an Honors Contract Project in an upper-level biology or environmental science course. A grade of “B” or better must be earned in the course in which an Honors Contract Project is completed. The student must submit a contract project proposal to be approved by department faculty before beginning the project. The final project must be approved by department faculty in order to receive honors credit.
• A science GPA of 3.50 or higher at the time of graduation

BS/MAT Option: The BS/MAT option is available for students majoring in biology who wish to combine their bachelor's coursework with work toward a Stevenson University master's degree in teaching. Please see Additional Enrollment Options in the Admissions section of this catalog for more information.

Course Descriptions

See Environmental Science Course Descriptions