Environmental Science (Biology), B.S.
The interdepartmental major in Environmental Science is designed to prepare students to monitor the quality of the environment, interpret the impact of human actions on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and develop strategies for ecosystem restoration. Career opportunities in this field include conservation biology, environmental analysis, wildlife biology, environmental education, ecological research, environmental planning, resource management, and environmental chemistry.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the program in Environmental Science will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the process of science and of the concepts and theories of biology across a broad range of organizational levels, as defined by the Vision and Change nationally-validated set of core biology concepts.
- Apply key concepts and principles in analytical chemistry.
- Use standard instrumentation and laboratory equipment to conduct scientific experiments and perform chemical characterization and analyses.
- Participate in the life of the departments of Biology and/or Chemistry by involvement in science clubs and/or in various positions of responsibility such as graders, tutors, and teaching assistants.
- Develop a rationally defensible integration of science and faith, particularly with regard to environmental stewardship.
- Be prepared for post-graduate studies or science-related careers.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Requirements | ||
| BIO 2010 & 2010L | Cell Biology and Biochemistry (GE) and Cell Biology and Biochemistry Lab (GE) | 4 |
| BIO 2011 & 2011L | Ecological and Evolutionary Systems (GE) and Ecological and Evolutionary Systems Lab (GE) | 4 |
| BIO 2012 & 2012L | Organismal Biology and Organismal Biology Lab | 4 |
| CHE 1052 & 1052L | General Chemistry I (GE) and General Chemistry I Lab (GE) | 5 |
| CHE 1053 & 1053L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CHE 2013 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHE 2094 & 2094L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| MTH 1044 | Calculus with Applications (GE) | 4 |
| Choose one (1) course from the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics (GE) | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics (GE) | ||
| Cultural Anthropology (GE) | ||
| Upper-Division Requirements | ||
| BIO 3002 | Environment and People | 4 |
| BIO 3045 & 3045L | Genetics and Genetics Lab | 4 |
| BIO 3063 & 3063L | Conservation Ecology and Conservation Ecology Lab | 4 |
| BIO 4083 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 3 |
| BIO 4097 | Biology Seminar | 1 |
| CHE 4070 & 4070L | Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| MTH 3063 | Calculus Based Statistics with R | 3 |
| Upper-Division Electives | 12 | |
| Of the 12 required upper-division electives, a minimum of 8 units of upper-division electives are required from approved environmental off-campus programs. Both departmental chairs (Biology and Chemistry) or their designees are responsible for approving all off-campus courses. At least one-half of upper-division units in the major must be taken at PLNU. | ||
| The following courses can be used to transfer in these 8 units: | ||
| Advanced Biology | ||
| Advanced Ecology | ||
| Advanced Ecological Applications | ||
| Public Policy and Stewardship | ||
| Special Topics in Environmental Science | ||
| Advanced Science Electives | ||
| Choose a minimum of eight (8) units from the following: 1,2 | 8 | |
| Microbiology and Microbiology Lab | ||
| Introduction to Oceanography and Introduction to Oceanography Lab | ||
| Marine Biology and Marine Biology Lab | ||
| Field Biology: Neotropical Ecology and Field Biology: Neotropical Ecology Lab | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Sustainable Agriculture | ||
| Vertebrate Biology and Vertebrate Biology Lab | ||
| Advanced Human Physiology and Advanced Human Physiology Lab | ||
| Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab | ||
| Experimental Marine Ecology and Experimental Marine Ecology Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics and Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics Lab | ||
| Organic Structure Elucidation | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry and Advanced Biochemistry Lab | ||
| Bioinorganic Chemistry | ||
| Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Other Related Electives | ||
| Choose a minimum of four (4) units from the following: 1,3 | 4 | |
Methodology: | ||
| Research Methodology | ||
| Learning and Teaching in Science | ||
| Internship in Biology | ||
| Research in Biology | ||
| Internship in Chemistry | ||
| Research in Chemistry | ||
Public Policy and Stewardship: | ||
| Sustainability in Action | ||
| Philosophy and the Sciences | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| Issues in Public Policy | ||
| Total Units | 82 | |
- 1
One or more approved off-campus environmental course(s) may fulfill part or all of this requirement.
- 2
Courses and their corresponding lab (if applicable) must be taken concurrently.
- 3
Students can customize their degree by taking one (1) course from each of the two (2) categories.