Environmental Science: Natural Science Concentration
Degree: B.S., Environmental Science and Geology
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
The Environmental Science and Geology degree (Bachelor of Science) promotes the study of our environment and the impact that human activities have on natural systems. Environmental Science majors choose either a natural science or a social science perspective according to their interests. Both tracks provide a strong background for advanced study or allow placement directly in a variety of career areas.
The Natural Science track provides a background in biology, chemistry, and geology. Analytical skills acquired in this program, coupled with an appreciation of socioeconomic considerations, will prepare the student to evaluate environmental problems and work on solutions with the limits of societal resources in mind.
The interdisciplinary nature of the Environmental Science program permits students to select classes from a wide range of course offerings in multiple departments in order to best prepare for personal career goals.
The Department has modern laboratories in the Jepson Science Center equipped with advanced analytical instruments to support classroom instruction and to provide opportunities for research. Equipment for ecological studies in terrestrial, fresh water, and marine environments includes live animal traps, plankton and insect nets, seines, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH meters, and fresh and salt water aquaria. Major laboratory equipment includes petrographic microscopes, a magnetic susceptibility instrument, and dedicated lab facilities for paleontology, sedimentology, and geochemistry. The Jepson Science Center has a variable pressure scanning electron microscope with chemical capabilities that is shared by the science disciplines. For environmental and geological fieldwork, the department has GPS equipment, a small fleet of research boats (including one equipped for trawling, coring, and dredging), coring and surveying equipment, and for classroom study, an extensive collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils. The department also maintains a computer lab/classroom equipped with the latest Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.
Majors in all of our programs are encouraged to do independent study and/or research during their senior year. Financial support for student research is available. Qualified students may also choose to do an internship with a professional organization during either their junior or senior year. Students with a 3.00 overall grade-point average and a 3.25 grade-point average in the major may pursue Honors in Environmental Science, Geology, or Environmental Geology by completing an independent research project and writing and defending a thesis.
All of our majors are encouraged to fulfill the general education experiential learning requirement by completing URES 197 Undergraduate Research, EESC 481 Readings, EESC 491 Individual Study, EESC 493 Honors Research, or EESC 499 Internship . Alternatively, majors may meet this requirement by participating in an approved supervised on-campus or off-campus summer research experience developed in consultation with the department (such as the UMW Summer Science Research Program or a similar program at another college or university). To complete the Beyond The Classroom requirement through a summer research experience, contact the department chair for more details.
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
EESC 110 | Environmental and Ecological Systems | 3 |
EESC 111 | Our Dynamic Earth | 4 |
EESC 120 | Principles of Environmental Sustainability | 4 |
EESC 315 | Hydrogeology | 4 |
EESC 460 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
GIS Applications in Environmental Science and Geology with Lab | ||
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Cartography | ||
Introduction to GIS | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Plant Ecology | ||
Animal Ecology | ||
Biology of Fishes | ||
Ornithology | ||
Conservation Biology | ||
Applied Ecotoxicology | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Organic Chemistry I | ||
Chemical Analysis I | ||
Chemical Analysis II | ||
Environmental Geochemistry | ||
Select 12 credits from courses in the Natural Sciences Elective Track list | 12 | |
Total Credits | 41 |
Major Electives for the Natural Sciences Concentration
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Biology Courses | ||
BIOL 231 | Plant Biology | 4 |
BIOL 260 | Biostatistics and Research Design | 3 |
BIOL 311 | Plant Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 321 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
BIOL 322 | Animal Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 323 | Entomology | 4 |
BIOL 340 | Cellular Biology | 4 |
BIOL 341 | General Genetics | 4 |
BIOL 371 | Microbiology | 4 |
BIOL 372 | Parasitology | 4 |
BIOL 401 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
BIOL 424 | Tropical Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 425 | Vertebrate Zoology | 4 |
BIOL 426 | Biology of Fishes | 4 |
BIOL 427 | Ornithology | 4 |
BIOL 428 | Conservation Biology | 4 |
BIOL 435 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
Chemistry Courses | ||
CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
CHEM 212 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
CHEM 253 | Chemical Analysis I | 4 |
CHEM 254 | Chemical Analysis II | 4 |
CHEM 317 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
CHEM 318 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
CHEM 319 | Biochemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
CHEM 320 | Biochemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
CHEM 343 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 345 | Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 423 | Experimental Methods in Chemistry | 4 |
Economics Courses | ||
ECON 331A | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
Earth and Environmental Science Courses | ||
EESC 121 | Oceanography | 4 |
EESC 230 | Global Environmental Problems | 3 |
EESC 240 | Field Methods in Environmental Science and Geology | 4 |
EESC 301 | Mineralogy | 4 |
EESC 307 | Environmental Soil Science | 3 |
EESC 311 | Sedimentation and Stratigraphy | 4 |
EESC 313 | Watershed Management | 4 |
EESC 325 | Environmental Geochemistry | 4 |
EESC 326 | Pollution Prevention Planning | 3 |
EESC 330 | Environmental Regulations | 3 |
EESC 340 | Energy Resources and Technology | 3 |
EESC 355 | Icehouse-Greenhouse Earth | 3 |
EESC 360 | Environmental Exploration | 2-4 |
EESC 421 | Special Topics | 2-4 |
EESC 465 | Senior Portfolio and Career Preparation | 1 |
EESC 481 | Readings | 1-2 |
EESC 491 | Individual Study | 1-4 |
EESC 493 | Honors Research | 4 |
EESC 499 | Internship 1 | 1-12 |
Geography Courses | ||
GEOG 110 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 4 |
GEOG 231 | Introduction to Planning | 3 |
GEOG 325 | Dynamic Climatology | 3 |
GEOG 351A | Spatial Analysis | 4 |
Geographic Information Science Courses | ||
GISC 340 | Remote Sensing and Air Photo Interpretation | 4 |
GISC 351 | Spatial Analysis | 4 |
GISC 355 | Mobile Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems | 4 |
- 1
A maximum of 3 credits may count toward the major requirements.
Prerequisite Courses
Natural Science Concentration
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | 8 | |
Biological Concepts and Organism Function and Diversity | ||
Phage Hunters I and Phage Hunters II | ||
BIOL 210 | Introduction to Ecology and Evolution | 3 |
CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Earth and Environmental Sciences Department
Jodie L. Hayob, Chair
Jodie L. Hayob, Career Advisor (Geology)
Melanie D. Szulczewski, Career Advisor (Environmental Science)/Program Director, (Environmental Sustainability Minor)
Faculty
Professors
Jodie L. Hayob
Ben O. Kisila
Grant R. Woodwell
Associate Professors
Melanie D. Szulczewski
Assistant Professors
Tyler E. Frankel
Pamela R. Grothe
Senior Lecturer
Sarah A. Morealli