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:
030 Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours
| ENVR 1401 | Introduction to Environmental Science I | 4 |
| ENVR 1402 | Introduction to Environmental Science II | 4 |
Three-credit hours apply from each course.
090 Integrative and Experiential Learning - 6 hours
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 2301 | Earth System Science | 3 |
| ENVR 2302 | Environment and Society | 3 |
| ENVR 3303 | Research Methodology and Data Analysis in Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| GEOL 4411 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
Science Foundation - 22 hours
Choose one:
Prescribed Electives - 8 hours
Required:
Choose 4 hours from:
If selected, CHEM lecture and lab must be completed.
Earth and Ocean Sciences Concentration – 25 hours
Required - 8 hours
Choose 17 hours from:
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.