Environmental Science
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
I. Introduction
The mission of the Bachelor of Science program in Environmental Science
is to educate students to succeed in their chosen careers, to transfer
environmental knowledge to the community and to peers, and to provide an
environmentally literate workforce and citizenry.
The program is intended to provide the environmental science major with
a broad foundation in the sciences as well as specialized knowledge in
environmental biology, environmental chemistry, environmental geology,
or science education concentration areas. The environmental science curriculum
prepares students for career positions in environmental science or science
education, or for further professional education.
II. Environmental Science Major
Students who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental
Science may do so by following one of four curriculum plans referred to
as concentrations. The concentration options include biology, chemistry,
geology, or science education. A prospective 4-8 level science teacher
could obtain a BS in Environmental Science while following the science
education concentration. Information on the BS in Environmental Science
- Science Education Concentration is found in the College of Science and
Technology Science, Mathematics and Technology Education section of the
catalog. Details of the requirements for obtaining a teaching certificate
are provided in the College of Education section.
Environmental Biology/Chemistry/Geology Concentrations
The minimum requirement for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental
Science with a concentration in environmental biology, environmental chemistry
or environmental geology is a total of at least 135 hours. The degree requirements
are divided among the following areas:
| |
|
Sem. Hrs. |
A.
B.
C.
D.
|
University Core and First-Year Seminars
Foundation Courses
Major Requirements
Concentration Area
|
50
31-32
22
32
135-136 |
| |
Total
|
|
| A. |
University Core and First-Year Seminars
Core Curriculum
See catalog section on University Core Curriculum Program. Mathematics course to be Statistics for Life (MATH 1442), or Calculus I (MATH 2413) depending on concentration area. Please consult the faculty advisor for specific details. |
Sem. Hrs.
48 |
| |
0First-Year Seminars or Electives |
|
| |
00Full-time, first-year students are required to take the following courses: |
|
| |
0000UCCP 1101/UCCP 1102 First-Year Seminar I, II |
2 |
| |
00Students not required to take these courses may substitute electives. |
|
| |
Total
|
50 |
| |
|
|
B.
|
Foundation Courses
No foundation courses may be taken on a pass/no pass (P/NP) basis.
ESCI 1401 Environmental Science I: Introduction to Environmental Science, or
ESCI 1402 Environmental Science II: Systems and Applications (included in University Core) |
Sem. Hrs.
(4) |
| |
BIOL 1406 Biology I (included in University Core) |
(4) |
| |
GEOL 1403 Physical Geology |
4 |
| |
CHEM 1311/1111 & 1312/1112 General Chemistry I, II |
8 |
| |
CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry I |
4 |
| |
PHYS 1401/1402 General Physics I, II |
8 |
| |
MATH 1442 Statistics for Life |
|
| |
Or MATH 3342 Applied Probability and Statistics |
3-4 |
| |
One from the following (depends on concentration area) |
4 |
| |
BIOL 1407 Biology II
GEOL 1404 Historical Geology
|
|
| |
Total
|
31-32 |
| |
|
|
| C. |
Major Requirements |
|
| |
ESCI 3351 Oceanography |
3
4
4
4
4
3
22 |
| |
ESCI 3403 Meteorology |
| |
BIOL 3443 Environmental Biology |
| |
GEOL 3443 Environmental Geology |
| |
CHEM 4443 Environmental Chemistry |
| |
ESCI 4301 Environmental Regulations |
| |
Total
|
| |
|
|
| D. |
Concentration Area
Students must take a total of 32 semester hours in prescribed courses and electives to complete a concentration in environmental biology, environmental chemistry, or environmental geology. Equivalent courses from other institutions may be substituted with the approval of the advisor. |
| |
|
|
|
1. Environmental Biology Concentration |
|
| |
Students choosing an environmental biology concentration may take either Introduction to Modeling (MATH 1470) or Calculus I (MATH 2413) as part of the University Core requirements. They must complete Biology II (BIOL 1407), which is included in the Foundations requirements. |
| |
|
Sem. Hrs. |
| |
BIOL 2421 Microbiology |
4
4
4
4
4
4 |
| |
BIOL 3413 Invertebrate Zoology |
| |
BIOL 3414 Vertebrate Biology |
| |
BIOL 3428 Principles of Ecology |
| |
BIOL 4436 Marine Ecology |
| |
BIOL 4422 Plant Taxonomy |
| |
Additional upper-level electives selected in consultation with a student’s academic advisor and approved by the advisor. Electives may be from biology, chemistry, computer science,environmental science, geographic information science, geology, mathematics, or physics offerings. |
8 |
| |
Total
|
32 |
| |
|
|
| |
2. Environmental Chemistry Concentration
In addition to the courses listed below, students choosing an environmental chemistry concentration must take Calculus I (MATH 2413) as part of the University Core requirements, and must take Applied Probability and Statistics (MATH 3342). |
| |
|
Sem. Hrs. |
| |
CHEM 3412 Organic Chemistry II |
4
4
4
3
4 |
| |
CHEM 3417 Quantitative Analysis |
| |
CHEM 4423 Physical Chemistry I |
| |
ESCI 4370 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response |
| |
One from the following: |
| |
CHEM 4401 Biochemistry I
CHEM 3418 Instrumental Analysis
|
|
| |
Additional upper-level electives selected in consultation with a student’s academic advisor and approved by the advisor. Electives may be from biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geographic information science, geology, mathematics, or physics offerings. |
13 |
| |
Total
|
32 |
| |
|
|
| |
3. Environmental Geology Concentration |
|
| |
In addition to the courses listed below, students choosing an environmental geology concentration must take Calculus I (MATH 2413) as part of the University Core requirements. They must also take 8 hours of introductory geology (GEOL 1403/1404), and Applied Probability and Statistics (MATH 3342), which are included in the Foundations requirements. |
| |
|
Sem. Hrs. |
GEOL 3411 Mineralogy
GEOL 3442 Geomorphology
GEOL 4411 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
GEOL 4414 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
GEOL 4421 Structural Geology
GEOL 4444 Hydrogeology
ESCI 4370 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response |
4
4
4
4
4
4
3 |
| |
Additional upper-level electives selected in consultation with a student’s academic advisor and approved by the advisor. Electives may be from biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geographic information science, geology, mathematics or physics offerings. |
5 |
| |
Total
|
32 |
Science Education Concentration
Information on the Bachelor of Science with a science education concentration is found in the College of Science and Technology Science, Mathematics and Technology Education of the catalog.
III. Minor in Environmental Science
Students majoring in other academic fields who wish to earn a minor in environmental science must complete the following requirements
| |
BIOL 3443 Environmental Biology
CHEM 4443 Environmental Chemistry
GEOL 3443 Environmental Geology
ESCI 4301 Environmental Regulations
Two from the following:
|
4
4
4
3
8
|
| |
BIOL 2471 Principles of Zoology
BIOL 2472 Principles of Botany
CHEM 1311/1111 General Chemistry I
GEOL 1403 Physical Geology
|
|
| |
|
|
| Students wishing to minor in environmental science should consult the appropriate section of the catalog to determine any additional prerequisites needed before they may take these courses. |
IV. Minor
Environmental science majors who wish to complete an optional minor in another discipline may arrange this in consultation with the academic advisor. Course requirements for the minor normally involve 18-24 semester hours, and the content is specified by faculty in the minor field. Minors in biology, chemistry, computer science, geographic information science, geology and mathematics are generally appropriate for environmental science majors. Minors in other disciplines or combination minors may be arranged in consultation with the academic advisor.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Environmental Science Program, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5800. Phone: (361) 825-2754. Web: http://www.sci.tamucc.edu/pals/esci/esci.html.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES |