Environmental Science BS

College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: BS
Specialized Admission: No

Description of Major

*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*

Environmental Science is the interdisciplinary study of environmental systems from a scientific perspective. Drawing principally from the areas of oceanography, geology, meteorology, biology and chemistry, the Environmental Science program will prepare students in the broader area of geosciences and is an attractive option for students seeking a broader interdisciplinary major with the rigor of mathematics and the physical sciences at its core.

FSU offers both the BS and BA degrees in Environmental Science. The BA degree differs from the BS degree in lower-level mathematics requirements and a greater emphasis on policy. The goals of these programs are to prepare exceptionally well-qualified graduates prepared to work in the interdisciplinary earth sciences, whether in government agencies, NGOs, or the private sector. They also provide a strong basis for graduate study in environmental and interdisciplinary earth sciences.

Prerequisite Coursework

Prospective transfer students should contact as-admissions@fsu.edu (Arts & Sciences Admissions) with specific questions about admission and mapping requirements.

Prerequisite Coursework: (31-32 hours)
The following are being proposed as common program prerequisites.
STA X122 (3) Intro. to Applied Statistics
MAC X311 (4) Calculus I
BSC X010, X010L (3,1) Biological Science I, Lab
CHM X045, X045L (3,1) General Chemistry I, Lab
PHY X048C (5) General Physics A with Lab or PHY X053C (4)
BSC X011, X011L (3, 1) Biological Science II, Lab
CHM X046, X046L (3,1) General Chemistry II, Lab
GLY X010C (4) Physical Geology with Lab

Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .

Requirements

Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include:
The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.

Requirements for Progression to and Continuation in the Upper-Division Major:
Students should complete the prerequisite coursework for entrance to the major program of study. Students must also have completed a minimum of 52 hours of credit and at least half the required hours in General Education, including required English composition and Math, or an A.A degree.

Departmental policy on grades and progress in the major:
All State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1-4 Milestones must be completed with a “C” range (C minus, C, or C+) grade or better. Students earning less than the necessary grade in any of these courses will be required to retake those courses until the standard is met. No required course in which a student has earned a grade below C minus may be applied toward the degree in Environmental Science.

A student who has received more than five unsatisfactory grades (U, F, D minus, D, D+) in science, statistics, or mathematics courses (and their prerequisites), taken after enrolling at Florida State University, including repeated unsatisfactory grades in the same course, (excluding State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1-4 Milestones) will not be permitted to graduate with a degree in this major.

Major Program of Studies at FSU: (41-42 hours)

Environmental Science Core Courses: (16-17 hours)
MET 1010 (3) Introduction to the Atmosphere or MET 3231 (3) Intro to Thermo and Dynamics
OCE 4008 (3) Principles of Oceanography
OCE 4017 (3) Current Issues in Environmental Science or GLY 3039 (3) Energy, Resources and Environment
EVR 4922 (4) Senior Capstone (meets Upper-level writing requirement)
GLY 4751C (3) Intro. to Remote Sensing or (if GLY4751 is not available) may substitute GIS 4043 and GIS 4043L (3,1) Geographic Information Processing & Systems, Lab

Environmental Science Elective courses:
Choose a total of twenty-one (21) hours, at least twelve (12) of which must be selected from List 1 and the remaining nine (9) hours from any departmental approved electives outside of the major.

List 1 Geoscience Elective Courses: (12 hour minimum):
EOC 4631 Marine Pollution (3)
OCB 4631 Estuarine and Coastal Ecology (3)
ESC 3100c History of Earth Systems (4) *Highly recommended by faculty
GLY 3200C Mineralogy and Crystallography (3)
GLY 3310C Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
GLY 3400C Structural Geology (4)
GLY 3610C Paleontology (4)
GLY 4751C Introduction to Remote Sensing, Air Photo Interpretation and GIS for the Earth Sciences (3)
GLY 4905 Directed Individual Study (Geohazards) (3)
MAT 3101 Physical Climatology (3)
MET 3103C Climate Change Science (3)
MET 3220C Meteorological Computations (3)
MET 3231 Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics (3)
MET 3940 Weathercasting (1)
MET 4159r Special Topics in Meteorology (1–3)
MET 4400C Meteorological Instrumentation and Observation (3)
OCB 4631 Estuarine and Coastal Ecology (3)
OCC 4002 Introduction to Chemical Oceanography (3)
OCC 4060 Environmental Science Modeling (3)
OCE 3555 Environmental Science II: Habitable Planet (3)
OCE 4064 Marine Conservation Biology (3)
OCB 4265 Coral Reef Ecology (3)
OCP 4005 Introduction to Physical Oceanography (3)
OCE 4930r Studies in Oceanography (3) Topics vary: Biodiversity, Earth Systems, Marine Microbial Ecology, Geomicrobiology, Physics and Flow of Water Bodies, Environmental Toxicology, etc.

*Other classes may be allowed as electives with department permission.

Related Areas of Focus

Environmental Engineering Tools (9-10 hour maximum)
CGN 2327L Civil Engineering Graphics Lab (1)
CEG 2202C Introduction to Geomatics Engineering (4)
EES 3040 Introduction to Environmental Engineering Science (3)
EES 3040L Environmental Engineering Science Lab (1)
EGM 3512 Engineering Mechanics (4)
EGN 2123 Computer Graphics for Engineers (2)
ENV 4001 Environmental Engineering (3)
ENV 4041 Environmental Systems Analysis (3)
ENV 4341 Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering (3)
ENV 4405 Water Reuse Engineering (3)

Environmental Geology/Geosciences (9-10 hour maximum)
GLY 4884 Environmental Geology (3)
GLY 4544C Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4)
GLY 4451 Introduction to Geophysics (3)
GLY 4820 Principles of Hydrology (3)
GLY 4905 Direct Individual Study (3)
GLY 4240 Principles of Geochemistry (3)

*Environmental Science Students with a focus area in GLY, wanting to use Field Camp as their Capstone should take the following coursework:
GLY 2010C Physical Geography (4)
GLY 3100C History of Earth Systems (4)
GLY 4544C Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4)
GLY 3400C Structural Geology (4)
GLY 4790 Field Camp (6)

Biology (9-10 hour maximum):
BOT 4394 Plant Molecular Biology (3)
BSC 3052 Conservation Biology (3)
BSC 3312 Marine Biology (3)
BSC 3402L Experimental Biology Laboratory (3)
BSC 3930 Seminar in Biological Frontiers (1)
BSC 3938 Careers in the Biological Sciences (1)
BSC 4473C Introduction to Scientific Diving (3) (Faculty Permission Required)
BSC 4933r Selected Topics in Biological Science (1–4)
PCB 4674 Evolution (3)
ZOO 4454C Biology of Fishes (4)

Chemistry (9-10 hour maximum)
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (3)
CHM 3120 Analytical Chemistry I (3)
CHM 3120L Analytical Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHM 4080 Environmental Chemistry I (3)
CHM 4081 Environmental Chemistry II (3)

Geography/GIS (9-10 hour maximum)
GEO 4114 Environmental Field Methods (3)
GEO 4162C Spatial Data Analysis (3)
GEO 4300 Biogeography (3)
GEO 4340 Living in a Hazardous Environment (3)
GEO 4357 Environmental Conflict and Economic Development (3)
GEO 4376 Landscape Ecology (3)
GEO 4930r Special Topics in Geography (1–3)
GIS 3015 Map Analysis (3)
GIS 4006 Computer Cartography (3)
GIS 4043 Geographic Information Systems (3)
GIS 4043L GIS Lab (1)

Graduate School Preparation: (no maximum)
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Lab (3)
MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (4)
MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4)
MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (5)
PHY 2049C General Physics B (five hours at FSU) (5)

Collateral Minor: 0 hours needed beyond required courses
By completing the requirements of the BS Environmental Science Program, students automatically receive a collateral minor in Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science. Twelve additional hours of coursework in specific elective classes may constitute a specific minor within that field. Talk to your advisor for more information

Digital Literacy: 0 hours beyond other requirements.
BSC 2011L (1) Biological Science Lab II meets this requirement.

Oral Communication Competency: 0-3 hours.
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with an approved college-level approved course, such as SPC 1017 or SPC 2608.

MET 3940 (1) Weathercasting also meets this requirement and is highly recommended.

Minimum Program Requirements - ­Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
BS Prerequisite Coursework 31-32*
BS Major Coursework 41-42*
Minor Coursework 0 beyond other requirements
Foreign Language 0-12 (depending on placement)
Digital Literacy 0 beyond major
Oral Communication Competency 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120

*Note: Some coursework required for this major (prerequisite/collateral/major) may also be applied to General Education or minor requirements.

Mapping
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at
www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.

Remarks
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.

Employment Information
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Representative job titles related to this major: Environmental technician, geoscientist, environmental scientist, hydrologist, general physical scientist, and oceanographer. Some positions may require additional education or training.

Representative Employers: Federal, state, and local governments; NGOs; private employers.