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Bachelor of Science Degree - Environmental Science

Overview

Two students in a field of sunflowers.

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science is a major within the School of Applied Sciences. If you have questions regarding this program, please contact dsu.hawk@dickinsonstate.edu or call 1-800-279-HAWK.

Degree Requirements:

  • General Education Courses
  • Major Courses
  • Minor Courses – Optional

Student Learning Outcomes

A student successfully completing the Environmental Science major will be able to:

  1. Integrate knowledge from various scientific disciplines (i.e. biology, chemistry, earth science, physics) to address real-world environmental problems. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes III, and VII.)
  2. Design a valid scientific experiment and analyze the resulting data. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes III, IV, V, VI, and VII.)
  3. Read, interpret, and evaluate information presented in media ranging from public new sources to scientific papers. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes III and VIII.)
  4. Accurately communicate scientific ideas in written and oral form. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes VII and VIII.)
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of major global environment issues and appreciate the interconnectedness of the global system. (This learning outcome directly addresses Institutional Learning Outcomes III, VII, and X.)

Requirements

Environmental Science Core Courses

In order to graduate, a minimum 2.3 cumulative science is required in fulfillment of a natural science degree or minor as well as ENGL 110, ENGL 120, and COMM 110.

BIOL 151General Biology II

3

BIOL 151LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

BIOL 375Environmental Economics, Law and Public Policy

3

BIOL 405Biometry

3

CHEM 121General Chemistry I

4

CHEM 121LGeneral Chemistry Lab I

1

GEOL 105Physical Geology

3

GEOL 105LPhysical Geology Lab

1

GIS 380Applied Arc GIS

3

 

PHYS 211College Physics I

3

And

PHYS 211LCollege Physics I Lab

1

Or

PHYS 251University Physics I

4

And

PHYS 251LUniversity Physics I Lab

1

 

SCNC 291Sophomore Science Seminar

1

SCNC 315Weather and Climate

3

SCNC 389Scientific Writings and Readings

2

SCNC 390Science Research I

1

SCNC 410Current Issues in Environmental Science

2

SCNC 490Science Research II

1

SCNC 491Science Seminar

1

SOIL 210Introduction to Soil Science

4

Total Credit Hours:41-42

Science Requirements

This program prepares students for careers as an environmental scientist. The coursework teaches the science content knowledge, the critical thinking skills, and the research skills needed to start a career as an environmental consultant, atmospheric scientist, water quality scientist, reclamation expert, and so many more, working for private industry, the government, or a non-profit organization. This program also prepares students to attend graduate school in a large variety of scientific fields to gain additional education.

BIOL 150General Biology I

3

BIOL 150LGeneral Biology I Lab

1

BIOL 254Introduction to Botany

4

BIOL 415Ecology

4

CHEM 122General Chemistry II

4

CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry Lab II

1

CHEM 341Organic Chemistry I

4

CHEM 341LOrganic Chemistry Lab I

1

GEOL 320Hydrogeology

3

 

PHYS 212College Physics II

3

And

PHYS 212LCollege Physics II Lab

1

Or

PHYS 252University Physics II

4

And

PHYS 252LUniversity Physics II Lab

1

Total Credit Hours:29-30

Science Electives:


Take an additional 9 semester hours from the following:

(at least one semester hour must be 300 or 400 level)

BIOL 250Wildlife Management

3

BIOL 305General Microbiology

4

BIOL 455Soil Microbiology

3

CHEM 330Quantitative Analysis

4

CHEM 335Analytical Instrumentation

4

CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II

4

CHEM 342LOrganic Chemistry Lab II

1

CHEM 420Inorganic Chemistry

3

GEOL 311Process Geomorphology

4

MATH 165Calculus I

4

GIS 382Applied GPS

3

GIS 480GPS/GIS II

3

RNG 236Introduction to Range Management

4

RNG 453Rangeland Resources Watershed Management

3

RNG 456Range Habitat Management

3

RNG 458Rangeland Ecology

3

RNG 480Conflict Resolutions in Agriculture

1

SOIL 321Soil Management and Conservation

3

SOIL 444Soil Genesis and Survey

4

SOIL 455Soil Microbiology

3

Total Credit Hours:9

STUDENT MAY ALSO CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOR UP TO THREE CREDITS:

BIOL 497Biology Internship, Externship, Cooperative Education

1-6

CHEM 497Chemistry Internship, Externship, Cooperative Education

1-6

GEOL 497Geology Internship, Externship, Cooperative

1-6

Total Credit Hours:1-3

STUDENT MAY ALSO CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOR UP TO FOUR CREDITS:

BIOL 499Special Topics, Readings

1-6

CHEM 499Special Topics

1-6

GEOL 499Special Topics, Readings

1-6

Total Credit Hours:1-4

Total Credit Hours:81-88

Semester Sequence

First Semester

CHEM 121General Chemistry I

4

CHEM 121LGeneral Chemistry Lab I

1

ENGL 110College Composition I

3

MATH 103College Algebra

4

UNIV 100Freshman Seminar

1

General Education General Education

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Second Semester

BIOL 150General Biology I

3

BIOL 150LGeneral Biology I Lab

1

CHEM 122General Chemistry II

4

CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry Lab II

1

ENGL 120College Composition II

3

General Education General Education

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Third Semester

BIOL 151General Biology II

3

BIOL 151LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

BIOL 254Introduction to Botany

4

GEOL 105Physical Geology

3

GEOL 105LPhysical Geology Lab

1

SCNC 291Sophomore Science Seminar

1

SCNC 389Scientific Writings and Readings

2

Total Credit Hours:15

Fourth Semester

GEOL 320Hydrogeology

3

SOIL 210Introduction to Soil Science

4

General Education General Education

3

Science Elective Science Elective

3

ECON or POLS General Education

3

Total Credit Hours:16
GEOL 320 is offered Spring, Even Years.

Fifth Semester

CHEM 341Organic Chemistry I

4

CHEM 341LOrganic Chemistry Lab I

1

GIS 380Applied Arc GIS

3

SCNC 410Current Issues in Environmental Science

2

Science Elective Science Elective

3

General Education General Education

3

Total Credit Hours:16
SCNC 410 is offered Fall, Even Years.

Sixth Semester

BIOL 415Ecology

4

SCNC 315Weather and Climate

3

SCNC 390Science Research I

1

Science Elective Science Elective

3

General Education General Education

3

Elective

2

Total Credit Hours:16

BIOL 415 and SCNC 315 are offered Spring, Odd Years.

Seventh Semester

BIOL 405Biometry

3

 

PHYS 211College Physics I

3

PHYS 211LCollege Physics I Lab

1

Or

PHYS 251University Physics I

4

PHYS 251LUniversity Physics I Lab

1

 

SCNC 490Science Research II

1

Science Elective Science Elective

3

General Education General Education

3

Total Credit Hours:14-15

Eighth Semester

BIOL 375Environmental Economics, Law and Public Policy

3

 

PHYS 212College Physics II

3

PHYS 212LCollege Physics II Lab

1

Or

PHYS 252University Physics II

4

PHYS 252LUniversity Physics II Lab

1

 

SCNC 491Science Seminar

1

General Education General Education

3

Science Electives Science Electives

5

Total Credit Hours:16-17
BIO 375 is offered Spring, Even Years.