Environmental Science Major
The Environmental Science Program prepares students for careers in the ever-growing field of environmental science. The curriculum of the Environmental Science Program emphasizes a deep understanding of contemporary environmental and sustainability issues through an interdisciplinary approach. This approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the requirements for careers in environmental related fields in academia, industry, government, non-profit and service organizations. Students enrolled in the major will work through a course of study that will develop a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics while also exploring the complex interconnected nature of sustainability and environmental topics through courses focused on environmental topics in the humanities, social sciences, and business. Students have the opportunity to choose a course of study that focuses on what interests them most. Students also complete a semester-long experiential learning requirement that aims to give graduates an inside understanding of career paths for environmental science graduates. This course of study coupled with the General Education Curriculum at Saint Joseph's University creates a transformative Jesuit education that prepares graduates to be agents of change in their communities through both professional and personal action.
SLO 1.1: Students will be able to describe the basic environmental challenges facing the world today, their causes, and possible solutions.
SLO 1.2: Students will be able to describe the scientific, ethical, and moral imperatives behind the need to protect and sustain the environment.
SLO 2.1: Students will be able to explain basic concepts in biology, general chemistry, and physics.
SLO 2.2: Students will be able to apply quantitative and computer skills such as statistics and Geographic Information Systems to answer research questions and implement solutions.
SLO 2.3: Students will be able to use basic laboratory equipment.
SLO 3.1: Students will be able to communicate scientific research through written and oral formats.
SLO 3.2: Students will be able to apply their skills to real-world issues in an internship with environmental professionals.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | ||
| HIS 101 | Globalization in World History | 3 |
| or HIS 102 | Movements in World History | |
| or HIS 103 | Empires in World History | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 101 & 101L | Bio I: Cells and Bio I: Cells Lab (will count for CCC: Natural Science) | 4 |
| BIO 102 & 102L | Bio II: Genetics and Bio II: Genetics Lab | 4 |
| BIO 201 & 201L | Bio III: Organismic Biology and Bio III: Organismic Biol Lab | 4 |
| BIO 429 & 429L | Environmental Science and Environmental Science Lab | 4 |
| or ENV 106 & 106L | Exploring the Earth and Exploring the Earth Laboratory | |
| CHM 120 & 120L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHM 125 & 125L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II | 4 |
| CHM 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| ENV 202 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar (each semester in major) | 0 |
| ANS 490 | CAS Internship I | 0-3 |
| or ANS 492 | CAS Internship Experience | |
| MAT 148 | Applied Statistics Plus | 4 |
| Mathematics (will count as CCC: Mathematics) | 3-4 | |
| Fundamentals of Calculus | ||
or MAT 161 | Calculus I | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I | ||
| University Physics I and University Physics Lab I | ||
| Select one from each of the following groups: | ||
| Group A: Biological Sciences | 4 | |
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Biomechanics | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Plant Physiological Ecology | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Applied & Environ Microbiology | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Aquatic Biology and Aquatic Biology Lab | ||
| Group B: Physical Science | 3 | |
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Atmospheric Environmental Chem | ||
| Water Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | ||
| General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II | ||
| University Physics II and University Physics Lab II | ||
| Group C: Environmental Studies | 3 | |
| Sculpture and the Environment | ||
| God and Evolution | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Environ Challenges LatAmerica | ||
| Irish Environmental Writing | ||
| Nature & Environmental Writing | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Climate Change Stories | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Intermediate GIS | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Organizational Sustainability | ||
| Philosophy of the Environment | ||
| Fair Trade Coffee: Study Tour | ||
| Darwin, Dogma, and Ecology | ||
| Select four additional upper-level environmental science electives. | 12 | |
| Sculpture and the Environment | ||
| Atmospheric Environmental Chem | ||
| Water Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | ||
| God and Evolution | ||
| Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab | ||
| Biomechanics and Biomechanics Lab | ||
| Ecology and Ecology Lab | ||
| Plant Physiological Ecology and Plant Physiological Eco Lab | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology and Invertebrate Zoology Lab | ||
| Applied & Environ Microbiology and Applied & Environ Micro Lab | ||
| Evolution and Evolution Lab | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Special Topics in Economics | ||
| Nature & Environmental Writing | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Climate Change Stories | ||
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Intermediate GIS | ||
| Special Topics in GIS | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Organizational Sustainability | ||
| Philosophy of the Environment | ||
| General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II | ||
| University Physics II and University Physics Lab II | ||
| Indigenous Ecologies &Religion | ||
| Darwin, Dogma, and Ecology | ||
| Total Hours | 64-68 | |
Free Electives
To be awarded a bachelor's degree at Saint Joseph's University, students must complete at least 120 total credits. As such, elective credits may be required in addition to Cornerstone Core Curriculum (CCC) and major requirements. Any credits necessary to reach at least 120 total credits outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives. Under the CCC, there are no fixed number of electives required. A student's total number of electives will vary based on major requirements, transfer credits, as well as math and language placement.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BIO 101 & 101L |
Bio I: Cells and Bio I: Cells Lab |
4 |
| MAT 155 |
Fundamentals of Calculus or Calculus I or Precalculus |
3 |
| Non-Native Language | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History | 3 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 102 & 102L |
Bio II: Genetics and Bio II: Genetics Lab |
4 |
| Theology | 3 | |
| MAT 148 | Applied Statistics Plus | 4 |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIO 201 & 201L |
Bio III: Organismic Biology and Bio III: Organismic Biol Lab |
4 |
| CHM 120 & 120L |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I |
4 |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Major Elective C / Writing intensive Overlay | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIO 429 & 429L |
Environmental Science and Environmental Science Lab |
4 |
| CHM 125 & 125L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II |
4 |
| ENV 202 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Diversity | 3 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| CHM 210 & 210L |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I |
4 |
| Group C Major Elective | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Group B Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity | 3 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Overlay | 3 | |
| PHY 101 & 101L |
General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I |
4 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| ANS 490 or ANS 492 |
CAS Internship I or CAS Internship Experience |
0-3 |
| Hours | 13-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Free Elective minimum credits here or elsewhere up to 120 total, with minimum 12 credits this semester | 12 | |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 121-126 | |