Dedman College: Environmental Science

Dedman College
of Humanities and Sciences

Environmental Science

Coordinating Committee: Assistant Professor B. Jacobs (Environmental Science Program), Chair; Professor Lattman (Chemistry); Professor Ruben (Biological Sciences); Professor Gregory (Geological Sciences).
Chemistry: Professors: Biehl, Lattman, Maguire, Wisian-Neilson; Associate Professors: Buynak, , Goodson, Horsthemke, Schell; Assistant Professor: Son. Geological Sciences: Professors: Blackwell, Gregory, Hansen, Herrin, L. Jacobs, Stump, Walther, Yapp; Associate Professor: Goodge; Adjunct Associate Professor: T. Fiorillo, A. Winkler, D. Winkler. Biological Sciences: Professors: Buchanan, Orr, Ubelaker; Vik; Associate Professor: Jones; Lecturers: Goodnight, Oberdörster.

The natural systems that constitute the Earth's environment are in continuous mutual interaction. These interactions occur on spatial scales that range from microscopic to global and on temporal scales that range from fractions of a second to millions of years. Scientific efforts to understand how the activities of humans affect the workings of such a complex arrangement must properly involve the identification and study of the fundamental processes operating at present in the Earth's environment. Furthermore, to apply such knowledge with skill, insight and perspective, information must also be acquired on the extent to which ancient environmental conditions on the Earth may have differed from those observed today, and how such changes affected life on the planet. An intellectual and practical scientific problem of such vast scope must be approached in an interdisciplinary manner. This interdisciplinary requirement is important not only for students who will become professional environmental scientists, but also for those who want a solid scientific foundation for post-graduate training in environmental law, public policy, business, and other fields.

The program includes a set of "core" courses that provide the student with the necessary background in chemistry, earth science, physics, biology and mathematics to move into an earth science, chemistry, or biology emphasis in the upper division courses. Students choose an emphasis in Chemistry, Earth Science or Biology for upper level course work. All Environmental Science majors will come together their senior year in a multidisciplinary seminar in Environmental Science. Juniors and seniors may do an internship (e.g., with an environmental lawyer, an assessment and remediation company, or a nonprofit agency) for course credit and by special arrangement.

A total of 122 credits is required for a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science. Included are 30 credits in General Education, 24 credits as Free Electives (can be 27 credits if the Information Technology requirement is satisfied with the Environmental Sciences Program), 50 credits of core courses, and 18 credits of Environmental Science electives taken with an emphasis in Chemistry, Earth Science, or Biology.

Core Courses

(50 course credits)

Biology (7 credits):

BIOL 1402 Introductory Biology II
BIOL 3307 Ecology

Chemistry (15 or 16 credits):

CHEM 1303 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1113 General Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 1304 General Chemistry II
CHEM 1114 General Chemistry II Laboratory
CHEM 3371 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3117 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
and either
CHEM 3372 and 3118 Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
or
CHEM 3351 Quantitative Analysis

Geological Sciences (11 credits):

GEOL 1301 Earth Systems or
GEOL 1315 Environmental Sciences
GEOL 3451 Earth Materials I
GEOL 3452 Earth Materials II

Mathematics (6 credits):

MATH 1337 Calculus I
MATH 1338 Calculus II

Physics (8 credits):

PHYS 1303 Introductory Mechanics and
PHYS 1105 General Physics Laboratory I or
PHYS 1407 General Physics I
PHYS 1304 Introductory Electricity and Magnetism and
PHYS 1106 General Physics Laboratory II or
PHYS 1408 General Physics II

Environmental Science (3 credits):

GEOL 3363 Environmental Geology Seminar

Chemistry Emphasis, Upper-Division Courses

(18 credit hours)

Required (9 or 10 credits):

CHEM 3359 Inorganic Chemistry I
CHEM 3372 and 3118 Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory or CHEM 3351 Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 5381 Physical Chemistry or 5383 Physical Chemistry I

Electives (choose 9 or more credits):

CHEM 4197, 4297, or 4397 Research
CHEM 5390 Environmental Chemistry
GEOL 3366 Environmental Geology and Geochemical Cycles
GEOL 5384 Hydrogeology
GEOL 5386 Geochemistry
GEOL 3353 Modern and Ancient Climates
GEOL 5338 Thermodynamics and Geologic Processes
ME 5317 Groundwater Hydrology and Contamination

Earth Sciences Emphasis, Upper-Division Electives

(choose 18 credit hours)

CHEM 3351 Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 3359 Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 3372 and 3118 Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
CHEM 5381 or 5383 Physical Chemistry or Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 5390 Environmental Chemistry
GEOL 3353 Modern and Ancient Climates
GEOL 3360 or 5398 Process Geomorphology or Global Geomorphology
GEOL 3366 Environmental Geology and Geochemical Cycles
GEOL 3369 Paleobiology
GEOL 3454 Structural Geology
GEOL 3472 Sedimentology
GEOL 4296 and/or 4298 Integrative Research (up to 4 credits) or GEOL 4321 Internship in Geoscience
GEOL 4390 Geophysical Prospecting
GEOL 5338 Thermodynamics and Geologic Processes
GEOL 5368 Paleoecology
GEOL 5384 Hydrogeology
GEOL 5386 Geochemistry
ME 2342 Fluid Mechanics
ENCE 3341 Introduction to Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
STAT 2331 or 4340 Introduction to Statistical Methods or Statistical Methods for Engineers and Applied Scientists

Biology Emphasis

(18 credit hours)

Required (4 credits):

BIOL 1401 Introductory Biology I

Electives (choose 14 or more credits):

BIOL 3303 Evolution
BIOL 3304 Genetics
BIOL 3306 Physiology
BIOL 3342 Plant Kingdom
BIOL 3343 Field Botany (SMU-in-Taos)
BIOL 3347 Systematic Botany (SMU-in-Taos)
GEOL 3353 Modern and Ancient Climates
BIOL 3354 Parasitology
BIOL 3357 Biology of Invertebrates
BIOL 3403 Microbiology
BIOL 5166 Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (Corequisite: BIOL 5366)
BIOL 5366 Vertebrate Origins and Evolution (Corequisite: BIOL 5166)
BIOL 5110 Biological Chemistry Lab (Co- or Prerequisite: BIOL 5310)
BIOL 5311 Biological Chemistry: Metabolism

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