Environmental science is the study of the myriad interactions between us and the world.
As our population continues to grow, as technology advances and our needs and wants increase, our impacts on the world become more widespread and severe, despite improvement in some areas. Environmental impacts, in turn, affect human health and wellbeing.
Environmental challenges are multidisciplinary in nature. That is, in order to understand each environmental challenge sufficiently well to develop effective solutions, we must assemble expertise in several disciplines. It is also important that environmental scientists and decision makers understand the different sciences sufficiently well to communicate with those of other specialties and to appreciate the importance of other disciplines in addressing the challenges.
In the environmental science program, you will build a strong foundation in the basic sciences essential for understanding and resolving environmental challenges, including biology, chemistry, geology, physics and mathematics. You will enhance and apply this knowledge with experience in the field - from the highlands to the coast. You will work on a major research problem or gain professional experience by interning with a government agency, industry or consulting firm.
Upon completion of the environmental science program, you will be ready to start a meaningful and rewarding career as an environmental scientist, or begin graduate study, contributing to the rapidly growing body of knowledge in this multidisciplinary field.
Internships and Research in Environmental Science
The B.S. in Environmental Science is a program in the Department of Physical Sciences at Lander University. Click here to learn more about the department.
The Department of Physical Sciences is housed in Lander University’s College of Science and Mathematics. For more information on the college, click here.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS1 | CREDIT HOURS |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Core Skills |
|
||
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Inquiry I | 3 | |
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Inquiry II | 3 | |
| MATH 123 | Calculus and its Applications OR MATH 121 Mathematical Applications |
3 | |
|
B. Humanities and Fine Arts |
6 | ||
| C. Behavioral and Social Perspectives (6 hours selected from 2 different disciplines) |
6 | ||
| D. Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning | |||
| MATH 211 | Statistical Methods I | 3 | |
| PHYS 201 | Introductory Physics I | 4 | |
| E. Founding Documents of the United States | |||
| HIST 111R2 | United States History to 1877 OR HIST 112R2 United States History since 1877 OR POLS 101R2 American National Government |
3 | |
| F. World Cultures | |||
| CHEM 381 | Cultural Perspectives of Pollution | 3 | |
| G. LINK 101 | 1 | ||
| Total General Education Requirements | 35 | ||
1 For approved courses see the General Education section
2 If you already have credit for HIST 111, do not take HIST 111R; if you already have credit for HIST 112, do not take HIST 112R; if you already have credit for POLS 101, do not take POLS 101R
| MAJOR PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 111 | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 306 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 415 | Limnology | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 331 | Chemical Instrumentation | 5 |
| CHEM 420 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| ES 111 | Environmental Sustainability OR ES 265 Field Methods |
3 |
| ES 301 | Introduction to Environmental Science 1 OR ES 355 Geographic Information Systems |
4 |
| ES 302 | Introduction to Environmental Science 2 OR ES 445 Environmental Data Science |
4 |
| PSCI 112 | Earth and Space Science | 4 |
| PSCI 499 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| MAJOR PROGRAM ELECTIVES | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|
| Choose 5: BIOL 112: Foundations in Cellular and Molecular Biology BIOL 213: Botany BIOL 214: Zoology BIOL 303: Evolution BIOL 308: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIOL 313: Plant Anatomy BIOL 409: Undergraduate Research or CHEM 409: Undergraduate Research BIOL 421: General Microbiology CHEM 222: Organic Chemistry II CHEM 260: Microscopical Methods CHEM 301: Biochemistry CHEM 330: Analytical Chemistry CHEM 341: Inorganic Chemistry CHEM 360: Toxicology CHEM 401: Physical Chemistry I HIST 341: United States Wildlife Conservation History POLS 308: Law, Politics, and Society POLS 379: Emergency Management PUBH 310: Global Health PUBH 415: Epidemiology and Biostatistics SOCI 363: Environmental Sociology |
15-20 |
| Total Major Program Requirements | 63-69 |
| Additional Electives | 16-22 |
| TOTAL FOR B.S. DEGREE | 120 |