Earth and Environmental Science—Geoscience-Environmental Science, B.S.

Completion of this major prepares one for a career as an environmental consultant, hydrologist, geologist, or geological/environmental technician. Continued study may include a master’s degree in environmental science, geology or engineering.

The requirements for admission to this degree track are a minimum CGPA of 2.5 and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in General Education Program.

Required Courses
EESC 135Our Planet Earth: Introduction to Dynamic Earth Processes3
EESC 201Environmental Science for All: Introduction to Environmental Systems and Processes3
EESC 237Environmental Issues and Policy: Global and Urban Perspectives3
EESC 227Hands on Earth: Earth Lab3
EESC 252GIS I: Contemporary Applications of GIS3
EESC 340Hydrology I3
EESC 410Urban Soil Survey4
or EESC 434 Earth Surface Processes
EESC 446Introduction to Geochemistry3
BIOL 130Principles Biology I4
BIOL 131Principles Biology II4
BIOL 332Field Ecology4
or BIOL 232 Invertebrate Zoology
CHEM 105
CHEM 1105
General Chemistry I Lecture
and General Chemistry I Recitation/Laboratory
5
CHEM 106
CHEM 1106
General Chemistry II Lecture
and General Chemistry II Recitation/Laboratory
5
CHEM 205
CHEM 2205
Analytical Chemistry Lec
and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
4-5
or CHEM 207
CHEM 2207
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 220Environmental Chemistry4
PHYS 130
PHYS 1130
College Physics I (Lecture)
and Physics I Recitation & Laboratory
4
MATH 175Enhanced Precalculus4
MATH 192Calculus and Analytic Geometry I4
Recommended Environmental Science General Education Courses:
EESC 120Water Explorer: Introduction to Water Science3
EESC 121Mapping the City3
EESC 226Earth 360:Integrated Geography3
EESC 235Global Climate Change3
EESC 250Plunder: The Race for Natural Resources3
EESC 325GIS for the Urban Community3
Environmental Science BS Electives (Select a minimum of 6 credits from Earth and Environmental Science courses numbered 200 or higher. The following courses are especially recommended):
EESC 236Our Sustainable World: Urban and Global Sustainability3
EESC 336Field Methods in Geoscience4
EESC 348Environmental Geology3
EESC 349Introduction Hazmat Field Techniques4
EESC 350GIS II: Contemp Analysis w/GIS3
EESC 437Environmental Health3
EESC 447Introduction to Geophysics4
EESC 455GIS III: Modeling with GIS3
Total Credits72-73
1

Courses are part of the General Education program and may be used to simultaneously satisfy a General Education Program requirement.

2

 Course offered in Summer ONLY

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
Semester 1Credits
ENGL 101
English Composition I
or English Composition I for English as a Second Language Students
4-6
EESC 121 Mapping the City 2 3
EESC 201 Environmental Science for All: Introduction to Environmental Systems and Processes 3
EESC 226 Earth 360:Integrated Geography 3 3
INTD 101 Orientation to College *First time Freshmen Only 1
 Credits14-16
Semester 2
ENGL 102
English Composition II
or English Composition 2 ESL
4-6
EESC 135 Our Planet Earth: Introduction to Dynamic Earth Processes 3
MATH 175 Enhanced Precalculus 4
General Education Tier l Course 3
 Credits14-16
Sophomore
Semester 1
BIOL 130 Principles Biology I 4
EESC 227 Hands on Earth: Earth Lab 3
CHEM 105
CHEM 1105
General Chemistry I Lecture
and General Chemistry I Recitation/Laboratory
5
EESC 120 Water Explorer: Introduction to Water Science 2 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
EESC 252 GIS I: Contemporary Applications of GIS 3
EESC 235 Global Climate Change 3
BIOL 131 Principles Biology II 4
CHEM 106
CHEM 1106
General Chemistry II Lecture
and General Chemistry II Recitation/Laboratory
5
 Credits15
Junior
Semester 1
EESC 237 Environmental Issues and Policy: Global and Urban Perspectives 3
EESC 250 Plunder: The Race for Natural Resources 3 4
MATH 192 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 4
General Education Tier II Course 3
 Credits14
Semester 2
EESC 340 Hydrology I 3
Environ Science Elective 3
PHYS 130
College Physics I (Lecture)
or Principles of Physics I - Lecture
3
PHYS 1130
Physics I Recitation & Laboratory
or Principles of Physics I - Laboratory and recitation
1
GEN ED TIER II 3
GEN ED TIER II 3
 Credits16
Senior
Semester 1
EESC 410 Urban Soil Survey 4
CHEM 205
Analytical Chemistry Lec
or Organic Chemistry I
4-5
BIOL 332
Field Ecology
or Invertebrate Zoology
4
General Education Tier III Course (EESC 3XX Energy, Society, & Sustainability) 3
 Credits15-16
Semester 2
EESC 446 Introduction to Geochemistry 3
Environ Science Elective 3-4
Elective or Minor Course 3
Elective or Minor Course 3
Elective or Minor Course 2-3
 Credits14-16
 Total Credits117-124
1

 The department offers some upper level courses on an even/odd year schedule; therefore there may be variation in this degree map.  Please see departmental course sequence. 

2

Counts toward Tier I Gen Ed requirement 

3

Counts toward Tier II Gen Ed requirement 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Earth/Environmental Science-Environmental Science BS program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of geoscience. 
  2. Create and design effective professional oral, poster and written presentations.
  3. Use their quantitative reasoning and/or problem solving skills to interpret and evaluate geological and environmental processes.
  4. Arrange geological and/or environmental data in the field in order to formulate hypotheses and design further investigations.
  5. Produce and assess data using modern technology and instrumental analysis and be able to evaluate the results.