Natural Sciences
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR
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The Environmental Science Program emphasizes the multi-disciplinary nature of environmental issues and the role of the natural sciences in addressing and solving environmental problems. The program curriculum is designed to complement disciplinary, content-oriented courses, such as biology, chemistry, economics, etc., with applied problem-solving courses and experiences.
Specifically, the program objectives are:
- To provide students with expertise in science methodology and content Balanced with a core of interdisciplinary courses and a liberal arts education. The fundamental program goal is to train students who are capable of developing and implementing ethical solutions to complex environmental problems by successfully fusing scientific and policy perspectives;
- To provide students with a solid foundation in environmental science and ecological theory and concepts as a prerequisite for postgraduate studies or for positions in government or industry;
- To develop in students a contemporary environmental ethic; and,
- To provide experience, through issue-oriented courses and internships, in developing solutions to environmental problems.
MAJOR PROGRAM (80 semester hours)
Required Courses:
Environmental Science:
| ENVS 120 | Earth Science | 4 |
| ENVS 300 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENVS 400 | Senior Inquiry | 3 |
| BIOL 124/5 | Principles of Biology I and Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 126/7 | Principles of Biology II and Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 310 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| BIOL 331 | Botany | 4 |
| BIOL 361 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 481 | Topics in Botany | 4 |
Business:
| BSAD 101 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| BSAD 102 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
Philosophy:
| PHIL 320 | Contemporary Issues in Ethics |
3
|
Chemistry:
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 224/5 | Organic Chemistry I and Lab | |
| CHEM 226/7 | Organic Chemistry II and Lab | 5 |
Computer Science:
| COMP 101 | Computer Concepts and Applications |
3
|
Mathematics:
| MATH 105 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 181 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
Political Science:
| POLI 221 | State and Local Politics | 3 |
| POLI 375 | American Public Policy | or |
| POLI 400 | Policy Topics: Environmental Policy | 3 |
MINOR PROGRAM (23 Semester Hours)
| ENVS 120 | Earth Science | -or- |
| BIOL 122 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
| ENVS 105 | Environment and Humanity | -or- |
| BIOL 361 | Ecology | 4 |
| ENVS 300 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | Chemistry and the Environment | 4 -or- |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
Political Science: One of the following
| POLI 221 | State and Local Politics | 3 |
| POLI 375 | American Public Policy | 3 |
| POLI 494 | Topics: Environmental Policy | 3 |
Philosophy or Psychology: One of the following
| PHIL 320 | Contemporary Issues and Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 323 | Ethics and Environmental Issues | 3 |
| PSY 494 | Topics in Psychology: Environmental Psychology | 3 |
Business or Mathematics: One of the following
| BSAD 101 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| BSAD 102 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 175 | Statistics | 4 |
Students have had internships with Will County Forest Preserve District, Argonne National Laboratory, BEST Environmental, Tri-County Services (division of Waste Management), and Kendall County Soil and Conservation District.
Environmental Careers
Check out The Environmental Careers Organization.
Also try EcoCompass at Island Press.
You may also find some info at Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Science Career Development Office
Equipment and Facilities
The teaching labs are all well equiped with modern microscopes and the basic supplies that you expect to find in biology/chemistry labs. The Undergraduate Research Lab (N123A) has five computers connected to the USF network. The lab is also equipped to measure water quality and conduct GIS analyses. The department purchased a Micro-Titer Plate Reader and a Micro-Oxymax Respirometer with funds from NSF. A 500 square foot greenhouse was built in 1995 for teaching and research use by USF students.
