Environmental Science Comprehensive Major: Environmental Science Emphasis

Program Requirements

The Environmental Science Emphasis requires a minimum of 64 credits:

Required Introductory Courses
BIOL 150Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
BIOL 151Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)4
ESCI 105Earth Systems and Resources (with lab)4
Required Core Courses
BIOL 301GENERAL ECOLOGY3
CHEM 111
CHEM 112
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
and General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)
4
CHEM 113
CHEM 114
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
4
ESCI 300Environmental Science Careers1
GEOG 340INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS3
GEOL 362Environmental Geochemistry3
MATH 151Calculus I (GT-MA1)4
MATH 213Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)3
Either:4
Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)
OR
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
OR
General Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
Required Elective Courses: take at least 14 credits, and must be from at least three different disciplines:14
Biological Anthropology (with laboratory)
Ecology Laboratory and Recitation
Cell Biology
Genetics (with recitation)
Ornithology (with laboratory and recitation)
Mammalogy (with laboratory and recitation)
Invertebrate Zoology with Laboratory
Field Entomology (with laboratory)
Botany (with laboratory)
Rocky Mountain Flora
EVOLUTION
Wildlife Ecology and Management (with laboratory)
Wildlife Techniques Workshop
Conservation Biology
Biology of Fishes
Ichthyology Laboratory
Aquatic Ecology (with laboratory)
Forest Ecology (with laboratory)
Analytical Chemistry (with laboratory)
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
Introduction to Soil Science
Environmental Monitoring
UAV Imagery Acquisition
Satellite Remote Sensing
Geospatial Analysis
Earth Materials (with laboratory)
Geomorphology (with laboratory)
Paleoclimatology
Hydrogeology (with laboratory)
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
OR
General Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
Required Environmental Policy and Politics Courses (6 credits)6
Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2)
And one of the following:
Cultural Ecology
Introduction to Climate Policy
Environmental Justice
Introduction to Public Lands Management
U.S. and Western Environmental Politics
Global Environmental Policy
Water Policy and Politics
Politics of the Environment
Required Capstone Course
ESCI 450Applied Environmental Science3
Total Credits64

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CHEM 111
CHEM 112
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
and General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)
4
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
ESCI 105 Earth Systems and Resources (with lab) 4
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 151 Calculus I (GT-MA1) 4
 Credits16
Spring
BIOL 150 Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
CHEM 113
CHEM 114
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
4
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
MATH 213 Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits14
Year Two
Fall
BIOL 151 Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) 4
ENVS 100 Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) 3
GEOG 340 INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS 3
PHYS 140 Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
 Credits14
Spring
BIOL 301 GENERAL ECOLOGY 3
Elective ESCI Elective 3
ESCI 300 Environmental Science Careers 1
Gen Ed Area I 3
Gen Ed Area III 3
GEOL 362 Environmental Geochemistry 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
Elective ESCI Elective 8
Gen Ed Area I 3
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits14
Spring
Elective Elective or minor course 3
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 3
Elective ESCI Elective 7
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits16
Year Four
Fall
Elective Elective or minor course 6
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 4
ENVS ENVS Policy course 3
ESCI 450 Applied Environmental Science 3
 Credits16
Spring
Elective Elective or minor course 10
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 4
 Credits14
 Total Credits120