Environmental Science (Earth and Ocean Sciences), Bachelor of Science

Program Overview

The multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science prepares graduates for careers at local, state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, and environmental consulting firms. Additionally, graduates of this program are prepared to continue on to graduate studies in order to pursue research and scholarship opportunities. The program core focuses on key environmental issues while the restricted electives allow the students to choose to focus on areas of interest to the individual student.

Core Curriculum - 42 hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.

The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.

020 Mathematics - 3 hours

Choose one:

MATH 1314College Algebra

3

MATH 1414College Algebra

4

MATH 2412Precalculus

4

030 Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours

ENVR 1401Introduction to Environmental Science I

4

ENVR 1402Introduction to Environmental Science II

4

Three-credit hours apply from each course.

090 Integrative and Experiential Learning - 6 hours

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4

ENVR 1401Introduction to Environmental Science I

4

ENVR 1402Introduction to Environmental Science II

4

One credit hour from each required Life and Physical Science course applies.

Major Requirements - 68 hours

Required Courses - 35 hours

Environmental Science Foundation - 13 hours

ENVR 2301Earth System Science

3

ENVR 2302Environment and Society

3

ENVR 3303Research Methodology and Data Analysis in Environmental Sciences

3

GEOL 4411Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

4

Science Foundation - 22 hours

MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods

3

MATH 2413Calculus I

4

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I

3

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Lab

1

GEOL 1403Physical Geology

4

Three credit hours from BIOL 1406 apply.

Choose one:
PHYS 1401General Physics I

4

PHYS 2425Physics for Scientists and Engineers I

4

Prescribed Electives - 8 hours

Required:

GEOL 1404Historical Geology

4

Choose 4 hours from:

BIOL 1407General Biology II

4

MATH 2414Calculus II

4

PHYS 1402General Physics II

4

Or

PHYS 2426Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

4

CHEM 1312General Chemistry II

3

And

CHEM 1112General Chemistry II Lab

1

CHEM 2323Organic Chemistry I

3

And

CHEM 2123Organic Chemistry I Lab

1

If selected, CHEM lecture and lab must be completed.

Earth and Ocean Sciences Concentration – 25 hours

Required - 8 hours

GEOL 3402Hydrologic Systems

4

GEOL 3405Oceanography

4

Choose 17 hours from:

EEMS 3360Soil Science and Conservation

3

ENVR 4323Soil Physics & Hydrology

3

GEOL 3401Geomorphology

4

GEOL 3411Mineralogy

4

GEOL 4170Topics in Geology Lab

1

GEOL 4302Environmental Geology

3

GEOL 4309Undergraduate Research Geoscience

3

GEOL 4370Topics in Geology

3

GEOL 4403Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4

GEOL 4412Advanced Geographic Information Systems

4

With approval from the department additional courses may be used to fulfill concentration requirements.

Free Electives - 10 hours

Free electives credit hours required may vary to achieve the institutional minimum of 120 hours for a degree.

Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

 

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.

 

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.