Environmental Science and Policy, BS

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Requirements for the Major

1.

Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements. Complete a total of 180 credits including a minimum of 83 credits in upper division Environmental Science and Policy courses, 36 credits of which must be completed at SOU.

2.

Students must have no grade lower than a C- in all coursework that will be applied to the major and have a minimum 2.5 GPA in SOU Environmental Science and Policy courses required for graduation. Note: Only practica (ES 409) and internship (ES 498) courses are P/NP; no other lower division Environmental Science and Policy core courses or upper division Environmental Science and Policy courses may be taken P/NP.

3.

Complete the core requirements for the ES major.

4.

Complete the requirements for additional upper division courses for the ES major.

Environmental Science and Policy Core Requirements

(109-110 credits, including 81-82 core credits and 28 upper-division elective credits)

Required Lower Division Core (26 credits):

ES 100 - The Southern Oregon Bioregion 2 credits
ES 101 - Introduction to Environmental Science: Earth Science 4 credits
ES 102 - Introduction to Environmental Science: Biological Science 4 credits
ES 103 - Introduction to Environmental Science: Social Science 4 credits
CH 101 - Environmental Chemistry 4 credits
ES 210 - Environmental Science and Policy I 4 credits
MTH 243 - Introduction to Statistical Methods 4 credits

Required Gateway Core Requirements (13-14 credits):

Students must have successfully completed the above lower division core classes to take the gateway core classes.

ES 310 - Environmental Science and Policy II 4 credits
ES 349 - Maps, Cartography, and Geospatial Technology 5 credits
ES 386 - Environmental Data Analysis 5 credits
OR
SOAN 327 - Quantitative Data Analysis 4 credits

Upper Division Environmental Science and Policy Core (32 credits):

Students must have successfully completed the above lower division and gateway core classes to take upper division core classes.

Upper Division Natural Science (16 credits):

ES 314 - Hydrology 4 credits
ES 340 - Introductory Ecology 4 credits
ES 360 - Environmental Geology 4 credits
ES 482 - Climatology 4 credits
or
ES 327 - Energy and Climate Change 4 credits
or
ES 309 - Principles of Meteorology 4 credits

Upper Division Social Science–choose 4 (16 credits):

ES 351 - Environmental Policy and Impact Analysis 4 credits
ES 420 - Environmental Sociology 4 credits
ES 421 - Ecological Economics and Sustainable Development 4 credits
ES 423 - Sustainability and Natural Resources 4 credits
ES 437 - Conservation in the United States 4 credits

Capstone Requirements (10 credits):

A combination of a directed or independent ES capstone course/project, along with an internship/practicum facilitated through either ES or the minor or certificate area (see below). To enroll in the capstone, students must complete at least 24 credits of upper division coursework, including ES 310 and ES 386 .

ES 494A - Environmental Science and Policy Capstone I 2 credits
ES 494B - Environmental Science and Policy Capstone II 2 credits
ES 494C - Environmental Science and Policy Capstone III 2 credits
4 total credits, either in one of the two courses below, or a combination of them:
ES 409 - Practicum 1 to 15 credits
or
ES 498 - Internship 1 to 6 credits

Upper Division Additional Requirements (28 credits):

All Environmental Science and Policy majors are required to complete 28 upper division credits in addition to the core.

a) Complete at least 28 credits of upper division coursework from Environmental Science and Policy courses not included in core requirements and/or other SOU disciplines as approved by an advisor.

b) Complete a minor in an area outside Environmental Science and Policy

Note that minors include lower division courses, which do not apply to the 28 upper division credits required. Advisor approval required. Examples include but are not limited to:

c) Complete a SOU Certificate

Note that certificates include lower division courses, which do not apply to the 28 upper division credits required. Advisor approval required. Examples include but are not limited to:

d) Participation in an SOU-approved study abroad program for a full academic year.

(Coursework must be pre-approved by the Program of Environmental Science and Policy prior to departure.) Students who participate in an SOU-approved study abroad program for a shorter period of time may receive credit toward the Environmental Science and Policy upper division coursework required in “Part a” above.