Earth and Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences (BS)

Two majors in the environmental field, a BS in Environmental Science (EVS) and a BA in Environmental Studies (ESP) are offered in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Interested students should contact Professor K. Berger (585) 275-3934 or the Department Office at (585) 275-5713. 

BS in Environmental Sciences (EVS)

The BS in Environmental Sciences provides students with a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, a broad background in Earth sciences, as well as the strong analytical, quantitative, and communication skills needed to solve problems related to Earth systems and resources. The acquired knowledge and skills are excellent training for graduate research in a variety of fields (e.g., hydrology, geochemistry, oceanography, environmental geophysics, and atmospheric science) and careers in environmental and geological consulting, environmental law, or governmental advising.

The required courses provide a strong background in basic sciences.  Four core courses deal explicitly with important environmental problems and illustrate the relationship between natural processes and human activities. Four technical electives permit a student to specialize in specific aspects of environmental sciences: Geology, Chemistry or Biology. The program is concluded with a closure experience, which consists either of a Senior Project or a combination of a Senior Seminar with a Senior Thesis or Internship.  Two of the courses must be taken as writing courses (writing courses are indicated by a W, courses with a writing section by +).

Required Courses

Biology:

• BIO 110 Principles of Biology I
• BIO 111 Principles of Biology II

Chemistry:

• CHM 131 Chemical Concepts, Systems and Practices I
• CHM 132 Chemical Concepts, Systems and Practices II
• CHM 203 Organic Chemistry I + Lab (CHM 207)

Mathematics:

• MTH 161 Analysis I
• MTH 162 Analysis II (MTH 141-143 may be substituted for MTH 161/162)
• MTH 163 Ordinary Differential Equations (MTH 165 acceptable substitute)

Physics:

• PHY 113/121 General Physics I/Mechanics
• PHY 114/122 General Physics II/Electricity and Magnetism

Core courses

Choose one of the following. If both are taken, then the second can be counted as a technical elective if taken before the senior year.

• EES 103 Introduction to Environmental Science
• EES 101 Introduction to Geological Sciences
  • Note: EES 104Q or EES 105 are acceptable alternates for 101 and 103 if taken in the Freshman year.

Choose three out of five of the following. Chemistry emphasis must include both EES 216 and 218. Geology emphasis must include EES 211 and EES 213. If  four courses are taken, then the fourth will be counted as a technical elective.

• EES 211   Geohazards and Their Mitigation: Living on an active planet
• EES 212   A Climate Change Perspective to Chemical Oceanography
• EES 213+ Physical Hydrology
• EES 216+ Environmental Geochemistry
• EES 218   Atmospheric Geochemistry

Technical Electives

A minimum of 16 credit hours of technical electives are required, chosen from the courses listed below. It is recommended that the courses come from a single track. The list of technical electives will be updated periodically to reflect changes in the course offerings.; Substitutions are permitted with prior approval of the program advisors.

BIOLOGY EMPHASIS:

• BIO 198 Principles of Genetics
• BIO 205+ Evolution
• BIO 225 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• BIO 247  Environmental Animal Physiology
• BIO 250 Biochemistry
• BIO 253 Computational Biology
• BIO 260+ Animal Behavior
• BIO 263+ Ecology
• BIO 265 Molecular Evolution
• BIO 266 Tree of Life
• MBI 220 Introduction to Microbiology
• PM  415 Principles of Epidemiology
• CSC 160 Engineering computing, CSC 161 Comp Programming or PHY 256 Computation Physics
• STT 251 Applied Multivariate Analysis

CHEMISTRY EMPHASIS:

• EES 215 Environmental and Applied geophysics (covers subsurface water, redox reactions, etc)
• CHM 204/206 Organic Chemistry II + Lab. (CHM 208/210)
• CHM 211 Inorganic Chemistry
• CHM 231 Chemical Instrumentation
• CHM 252 Physical Chemistry or CHE 225 Thermodynamics
• CHE 150 Green Engineering
• CHE 243 Fluid Dynamics
• CHE 244 Heat and Mass Transfer
• CSC 160 Engineering computing, CSC 161 Comp Programming or PHY 256 Computation Physics
• STT 251 Applied Multivariate Analysis

GEOLOGY EMPHASIS:

• EES 102Q/202Q Plate Tectonics & Active Geologic Processes (EES 102Q can be counted as a technical elective if taken in the freshman year.)
• EES 104Q Environmental Geology in the Field and Lab (EES 104Q and EES 360 are offered concurrently.  Freshmen and Sophomores can use 104Q as one of their Technical Electives. EES 104Q can be taken concurrently with EES 101. EES 360 is a Closure Course for seniors who serve as leaders in group projects.)
• EES 105 Introduction to Climate Change
• EES 201+ Evolution of the Earth
• EES 203 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
• EES 204+ Introductory Mineralogy
• EES 208 Structural Geology
• EES 215 Environmental and Applied Geophysics
• EES 217 Chemical Hydrology
• EES 219+ Energy and Society
• EES 248+ High Temperature Geochemistry
• EES 251 Remote Sensing
• EES 252 Marine Geology
• EES 265 Paleoclimate
• EES 283 Sedimentary Basin Analysis
• CSC 160 Engineering computing, CSC 161 Comp Programming or PHY 256 Computation Physics
• STT 251 Applied Multivariate Analysis

Closure Courses

Eight credit hours are required. This requirement can be fulfilled by a combination of the courses chosen from the following list or by finishing a Senior Project with environmental content (selected in consultation with the Advising Committee). The senior project can be carried out in any department willing to offer such a project.

• EES 320W Sustainable Systems
• EES 360 Environmental Geology in the Field and Laboratory
• EES 391 Independent Research
• EES 394 Internship in Environmental Sciences
• Senior Thesis in Environmental Sciences (4 or 8 credits) such as EES 393+

Notes:

This is a suggested sequence only, which can readily be changed in the first two years. An alternative sequence would be, for example, to take the two BIO courses in the first year and to start with the initial EES courses in the second year.

Acceptable substitutions are: BIO 112/113 for BIO 110/111; PHY 113/114 for PHY 121/122; MTH 141-143 for MTH 161/162; CHM 171Q+173Q for CHM 203+207; AP credit (score of 4 or 5): Environmental Science (EES 103); Biology (BIO 198); chemistry (CHM 131); mathematics (MTH 161); physics (PHY 113 or 114 – following regulations of Physics Department).

Transfer credit for required courses in accordance with rules of the department offering the course, for technical electives on a case by case basis after consultation with a faculty advisor.