office-of-ug-studies
Search
Close this search box.

Environmental Science with tracks in Biogeochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Public Policy

 

The pressing needs for sustainable development, acceptable environmental quality, and the urgency to address climate change are placing increasing demands upon governments and industries locally, nationally, and worldwide. To help meet those demands, the Environmental Science major provides training for students intending to enter environmental professions or to pursue graduate study in environmental science and related fields such as biology, chemistry, public health, law, and policy. The major offers an interdisciplinary course of study that combines elements of the natural and social sciences relevant to understanding the biosphere and its interaction with human society.

 

The Biogeochemistry track is designed for students interested in analysis of links between environmental systems and other Earth system processes including biological, chemical, and geologic forces.  Studies focus on global and local cycles of chemicals like carbon, nitrogen, and water that ultimately lead to global environmental change.  Students selecting this major and track will receive interdisciplinary training in environmental science with a focus on ecosystem sciences and will be uniquely prepared to solve short and long-term challenges related to human-mediated global climate change and environmental degradation.

 

The Biology track is designed for students interested in a biological perspective on environmental science.  Students learn the processes that connect living organisms to their environment at the genomics, molecular, cellular, physiological, organismal, and population, community, and ecosystem levels.  The track is designed to encourage breadth in the life sciences and allows students to acquire depth in a chosen area of scientific concentration through the choice of electives. This track prepares students for careers in research, medicine, agriculture, and environmental management.

 

The Chemistry track within the Environmental Science major is designed for students interested in a scientific perspective on environmental issues, in particular chemistry, toxicology, and pollutant fate and transport. The track is designed to encourage breadth in the physical sciences and allows students to acquire depth in a chosen area of scientific concentration through the choice of electives. This track prepares students for careers in industry, engineering, and environmental management.

 

The Public Policy track is designed for students interested in the social,  economic, and political aspects of environmental sciences. In addition to identifying problems and solutions, students learn about the making, implementation, and impact of government policies. The track balances natural sciences and public policy aspects to prepare students for environmental careers in research, industry, consultancy, public affairs, and non-profit organizations.

The Environmental Science major includes both coursework and experiential learning about the underlying science, and the social, political, legal and economic factors that both encourage and hinder environmental cooperation and competition around the world. All students pursuing this major must complete a set of required Divisional Foundational courses that provide the required background and fundamentals in the discipline essential to advanced work in the major. The major includes a set of five required interdisciplinary courses (four set courses plus one to choose from a list of three courses) which provide a well-rounded, in-depth examination of environmental science and policy issues. In addition to the foundational interdisciplinary and disciplinary requirements, students also have the choice of a number of elective courses that provide flexibility to add depth in their specific field of study, and/or explore other subject matters as they see fit.

 

Major Requirements

(Not every course listed is offered every term, and the course list will be updated periodically. Please refer to the online Course Catalog for Courses offered in 2023-2024.)

Environmental Science / Biogeochemistry

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one from the following two Math courses

MATH 101

Introductory Calculus

4

MATH 105

Calculus

4

And complete the following courses

BIOL 110

Integrated Science – Biology

4

CHEM 110

Integrated Science – Chemistry

4

PHYS 121

Integrated Science – Physics

4

Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

ENVIR 101

Introduction to Environmental Sciences

4

ENVIR 102

Dynamic Earth and Oceans: Physical and Biological Sciences for the Environment

4

ENVIR 201

Applied Environmental Science and Policy

4

choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR 304

Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology

4

ENVIR 202

Biodiversity and Conservation

4

choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR/ECON 302

Environmental Economics & Policy

4

ENVIR 301

International Environmental Policy

4

Disciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

BIOL 208

General Ecology

4

BIOL 311/ ENVIR 311

Biogeochemistry

4

And choose one from the following two courses

STATS 101

Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods

4

MATH 206

Probability and Statistics

4

And choose one from the following two courses

BIOL 312

Ecophysiology

4

ENVIR 315/ CHEM 315

Aqueous Geochemistry

4

And choose one from the following three courses

BIOL 313/ ENVIR 313

Ecosystem Service

4

BIOL 319

Global Change Biology

4

BIOL 405

Microbial Ecology

4

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Ecosystem Science and Conservation

BIOL 318

Food Web Ecology

4

BIOL 405

Microbial Ecology

4

ENVIR 202

Biodiversity and Conservation

4

BIOL 312

Ecophysiology

4

Water Resources

ENVIR 310

Elements of Physical Hydrology

4

ENVIR 306

Water Pollution

4

ENVIR 315/ CHEM 315

Aqueous Geochemistry

4

Earth and Climate Sciences

BIOL 319

Global Change Biology

4

ENVIR 310

Elements of Physical Hydrology

4

ENVIR 303

Climate Change and Society in China

4

PUBPOL 308

Managing the Oceans to Solve Global Problems

4

Methods

SOSC 204

Business Ethics 

4

INFOSCI 302

Introduction to Geographical Information Science

4

BIOL 314

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

4

INTGSCI 205

Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication

4

 

 

Environmental Science / Biology

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one from the following two Math courses

MATH 101

Introductory Calculus

4

MATH 105

Calculus

4

And complete the following courses

BIOL 110

Integrated Science – Biology

4

CHEM 110

Integrated Science – Chemistry

4

PHYS 121

Integrated Science – Physics

4

Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

ENVIR 101

Introduction to Environmental Sciences

4

ENVIR 102

Dynamic Earth and Oceans: Physical and Biological Sciences for the Environment

4

ENVIR 201

Applied Environmental Science and Policy

4

And choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR 304

Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology

4

ENVIR 202

Biodiversity and Conservation

4

And choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR/ECON 302

Environmental Economics & Policy

4

ENVIR 301

International Environmental Policy

4

Disciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

BIOL 201

Cell and Molecular Biology

4

CHEM 201

Organic Chemistry I

4

BIOL 208

General Ecology

4

BIOL 212

Microbiology

4

BIOL 202

Genetics and Evolution

4

BIOL 305

Biochemistry

4

And choose one from the following two courses

STATS 101

Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods

4

MATH 206

Probability and Statistics

4

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

BIOL 203

Molecular, Behavioral and Social Evolution: Evolution of Genomes, Traits, Behaviors and Societies

4

SOSC 204

Business Ethics 

4

GLHLTH 301

Global Health Research Methods

4

INFOSCI 302

Introduction to Geographical Information Science

4

GLHLTH 306

Evolution of health and disease

4

ENVIR 306

Water Pollution

4

BIOL 308

Evolution of Infectious Diseases

4

BIOL 309

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4

BIOL 310

Developmental Biology: Development, Stem Cells, and Regeneration

4

BIOL 314

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

4

PUBPOL 317

Plastic Planet: Pollution and Solutions

4

ENVIR 404/ ECON 404

Environmental Justice: The Economics of Race, Place and Pollution

4

BIOL 409/ GLHLTH 409 

Fundamental Immunology 

4

BIOL 410 / GLHLTH 410

Principles of Nutrition and Disease

4

BIOL 411/ GLHLTH 411 

Vaccine Development for Emerging Infectious Diseases

4

INTGSCI 205

Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication

4

 

 

Environmental Science / Chemistry

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one from the following two Math courses

MATH 101

Introductory Calculus

4

MATH 105

Calculus

4

And complete the following courses

BIOL 110

Integrated Science – Biology

4

CHEM 110

Integrated Science – Chemistry

4

PHYS 121

Integrated Science – Physics

4

Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

ENVIR 101

Introduction to Environmental Sciences

4

ENVIR 102

Dynamic Earth and Oceans: Physical and Biological Sciences for the Environment

4

ENVIR 201

Applied Environmental Science and Policy

4

choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR 304

Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology

4

ENVIR 202

Biodiversity and Conservation

4

choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR 302/ ECON 302

Environmental Economics & Policy

4

ENVIR 301

International Environmental Policy

4

Disciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

PHYS 122

General Physics II

4

CHEM 150

General Chemistry II

4

MATH 201

Multivariable Calculus

4

CHEM 201

Organic Chemistry I

4

CHEM 202

Organic Chemistry II

4

CHEM 301

Elements of Physical Chemistry

4

CHEM 401

Analytical Chemistry

4

CHEM 402

Inorganic Chemistry

4

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Chemical Transformation

ENVIR 306

Water Pollution

4

ENVIR 311 / BIOL 311

Biogeochemistry

4

ENVIR 402

Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants

4

ENVIR 315 / CHEM 315

Aqueous Geochemistry

4

Societal Implications

ENVIR 203

The Theory and Practice of Sustainability

4

SOSC 204

Business Ethics 

4

ENVIR 303

Climate Change and Society in China

4

PUBPOL 317

Plastic Planet: Pollution and Solutions

4

ENVIR 313 / BIOL 313

Ecosystem Service

4

ENVIR 404 / ECON 404

Environmental Justice: The Economics of Race, Place and Pollution

4

Physical Implications

CHEM 130

Science of Cooking

4

CHEM 403

Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry

4

Methods

INTGSCI 205

Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication

4

 

 

Environmental Science / Public Policy

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one from the following two Math courses

MATH 101

Introductory Calculus

4

MATH 105

Calculus

4

And complete the following courses

SOSC 101

Foundational Questions in Social Science

4

SOSC 102

Introduction to Research Methods

4

BIOL 110

Integrated Science – Biology

4

CHEM 110

Integrated Science – Chemistry

4

Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

ENVIR 101

Introduction to Environmental Sciences

4

ENVIR 102

Dynamic Earth and Oceans: Physical and Biological Sciences for the Environment

4

ENVIR 201

Applied Environmental Science and Policy

4

choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR 304

Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology

4

ENVIR 202

Biodiversity and Conservation

4

choose one from the following two courses

ENVIR 302/ ECON 302

Environmental Economics & Policy

4

ENVIR 301

International Environmental Policy

4

Disciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

STATS 101

Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods

4

PUBPOL 101

Introduction to Policy Analysis

4

PUBPOL 301

Political Analysis for Public Policy

4

PUBPOL 303

Policy Choice as Value Conflict

4

And choose one course from the following two courses

ECON 201

Intermediate Microeconomics I

4

PUBPOL 205[1]

Microeconomic Policy Tools

4

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Energy and Climate

ENVIR 206

Energy and the Environment

4

PUBPOL 201

Climate Change Law and Policy

4

ENVIR 303

Climate Change and Society in China

4

ENVIR 403

Energy Economics and Policy

4

Policy, Politics, and Society

GCULS 108

Science, Culture, and Politics

4

HIST 123

All Around Us – Technology, Infrastructure, and History

2

SOCIOL 180

Society, the Self, and the Changing Natural World

4

SOSC 204

Business Ethics 

4

PUBPOL 209

The Politics of Environmental Crises

4

PUBPOL 220

Introduction to Regulatory Governance

4

PUBPOL 318

How to Change the World: The Role of Non-State Actors

4

HIST 316/ PUBPOL 316

The Modern Regulatory State

4

ENVIR 404 / ECON 404

Environmental Justice: The Economics of Race, Place and Pollution

4

Global Policy

PUBPOL 202

Global Disasters: Science and Policy

4

ENVIR 204

Global Environmental Issues and Policies

2

CULANTH 209

Globalization and Alternative-Globalization

4

PUBPOL 305

Environment and Development Economics in Developing Countries

4

POLSCI 317/ SOSC 317 

Politics of Organization 

4

Marine Conservation

ENVIR 306

Water Pollution

4

PUBPOL 308

Managing the Oceans to Solve Global Problems

4

PUBPOL 317

Plastic Planet: Pollution and Solutions

4

Methods and Skills

ENVIR 203

The Theory and Practice of Sustainability

4

WOC 206

Debating Scenarios for Sustainable Futures

4

INFOSCI 302

Introduction to Geographical Information Science

4

CULANTH 302[2]

Ethnographic Field Methods

4

SOSC 320

Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics

4

[1] This course was numbered PUBPOL 304 prior to fall term 2022.

 

[2] This course was named CULANTH 302 Field Methods prior to fall term 2022.