Environmental Studies, BS

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Requirements for the Major

1.

Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements. Complete a total of 180 credits including a minimum of 58 credits in upper division Environmental Studies, 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 Studies courses required for graduation. Note: Except for practica (ES 409) and internship (ES 498), no lower division Environmental Studies core courses or upper division Environmental Studies 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 Studies Core Requirements

(78-80 credits)

Required Lower Division (24 credits):

ES 101 - Introduction to Environmental Studies: Earth Science 4 credits
ES 102 - Introduction to Environmental Studies: Biological Science 4 credits
ES 103 - Introduction to Environmental Studies: Social Science 4 credits
ES 104 - Introduction to Environmental Studies: Chemical Science 4 credits
ES 210 - Environmental Studies 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 Studies 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 Studies Core (32 credits):

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

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

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 (up to 12 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 core coursework.

ES 494A - Environmental Studies Capstone I 2 credits
ES 494B - Environmental Studies Capstone II 2 credits
ES 494C - Environmental Studies Capstone III 2 credits
OR
ES 495 - Environmental Studies Individual Capstone I 1 to 2 credits (with advisor approval)
ES 496 - Environmental Studies Individual Capstone II 2 to 3 credits (with advisor approval)
ES 497 - Environmental Studies Individual Capstone III 2 to 3 credits (with advisor approval)
AND
Up to 4 total credits in either or a combination of:
ES 409 - Practicum 1 to 15 credits (up to 4 credits required for Capstone)
OR
ES 498 - Internship 1 to 6 credits (up to 4 credits required for Capstone)

Upper Division Additional Requirements (28 credits):

All Environmental Studies majors are required to complete 28 upper division credits in addition to the core. These can be completed through any one of the following:

a)Complete at least 28 credits of upper division Environmental Studies coursework from the following:

ES 309 - Principles of Meteorology 4 credits
ES 315 - Hydrogeology 4 credits
ES 327 - Energy and Climate Change 4 credits
ES 353 - Oceanography 4 credits
ES 379 - Biodiversity 4 credits
ES 383 - Science and Advocacy in Environmental Policy Debates 4 credits
ES 431 - Urban Watersheds 4 credits
ES 433 - Soil Science 4 credits
ES 435 - Water Resources 4 credits
ES 439 - Land Use Planning 4 credits
ES 440 - Planning Issues 4 credits
ES 442 - Valuation of Ecosystem Goods and Services 4 credits
ES 445 - Ecosystem Management and Conservation 4 credits
ES 451 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 5 credits
ES 453 - Introduction to Remote Sensing 5 credits
ES 475 - Environmental Modeling 4 credits
ES 479 - Biosphere, Ecology, and Global Environmental Change 4 credits
ES 480 - Fire Ecology 4 credits
ES 481 - Geomorphology 4 credits

b) Complete at least 28 credits of upper division coursework as approved by an advisor.

Courses can come from Environmental Studies and/or other SOU disciplines.

c) Complete a minor in an area outside Environmental Studies

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

Biology (27)
Business Administration (24)
Chemistry (28)
Computer Science (28)
Conflict Resolution (24)
Emerging Media & Digital Arts (28)
Digital Media (28)
Outdoor Adventure Leadership (26)
Sociology and Anthropology (24)

d) Complete a SOU Certificate

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

Applied Cultural Anthropology Certificate (36)
Certificate in Conflict Resolution (36)
Certificate in Nonprofit Management (24)
Certificate in Sustainability Leadership (32)
Cultural Resource Management Certificate (36)
Regional Studies and Applied Research Certificate (36)

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

(Coursework must be pre-approved by the Department of Environmental Studies 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 Studies upper division coursework required in “Part a” above.