Environmental Science Major

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Go to information for the Environmental Science major

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH A MAJOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE:

Liberal Arts Core - Credits: 32-34

All Fort Lewis College degrees require the completion of the Liberal Arts Core (LAC). Liberal Arts Core requirements may be satisfied by major requirements. (aka. “double dipping”)

See Liberal Arts Core for course choices

First-Year Launch Course	1 course	FLC 100 (Credits:1)

Communication	2 courses	COMP 150 AND one CO2 course (Credits: 6)
		OR
		One CO2 course AND One CO3 course (Credits: 6)

Mathematics	1 course	One MA1 course (Credits: 3-4)

Arts & Humanities	2 courses	Two AH courses (Credits: 6)

History	1 course	One HI course (Credits: 3)

Social & Behavioral Sciences	1 course	One SS course (Credits: 3)

Additional AH/HI/SS	1 course	One additional AH or HI or SS course (Credits: 3)

Natural & Physical Sciences	2 courses	Two SC courses - one MUST include a lab (Credits: 7-8)

Major Requirements - Credits: 60

Note: The total major credit requirement listed above does not include credits from liberal arts core courses that may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Major Core:

ENV 100 - Introduction to Environmental Studies [LAC-SS] Credits: 3
ENV 110 - Introduction to Environmental Science Credits: 4
ENV 320 - Research Methods and Design Credits: 3
ENV 395 - Collaborative Environmental Research Credits: 3
Senior capstone experience (select one (1) course from the following):
ENV 410 - Capstone: Community Internship Credits: 3
OR ENV 496 - Capstone: Research Credits: 3

Natural/Physical Sciences Courses:

BIO 245 - Issues in Ecology Credits: 4
CHEM 150 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I: Atoms/Molecules [LAC-SC1] Credits: 4
CHEM 151 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II: Chemical Reaction [LAC-SC1] Credits: 4
CHEM 365 - Analytical Chemistry Credits: 4
GEOG 310 - Introduction to Computer Mapping and GIS Credits: 4
HS 208 - Microbiology for the Health Sciences Credits: 4
and complete one (1) of the following GEOL courses:
GEOL 105 - Earth and the Environment [LAC-SC1] Credits: 4
OR GEOL 113 - Physical Geology [LAC-SC1] Credits: 3

Mathematics Choices:

Minimum of six (6) credits required

MATH 121 - Pre-Calculus [LAC-MA1] Credits: 4
MATH 132 - Introduction to Statistics [LAC-MA1] Credits: 3
MATH 221 - Calculus I [LAC-MA1] Credits: 4

Interdisciplinary Science Courses:

Minimum of 17 credits required, at least 14 credits must be 300 or 400 level

ANTH 246 - Human Biological Variation [LAC-SC2] Credits: 3
ANTH 344 - Environmental Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 356 - Environmental Anthropology Credits: 3
BIO 377 - Field Methods: Vegetation and Soil Ecology Credits: 4 ^*
BIO 382 - Field Botany Credits: 5
BIO 467 - River Eco-Geomorphology Credits: 4
BIO 470 - Wildlife Ecology and Management Credits: 3
CHEM 465 - Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Credits: 4
ENGR 104 - Fundamentals of Engineering Computing Credits: 3
ENGR 270 - Engineering Thermodynamics Credits: 3
ENGR 301 - Environmental Principles Credits: 3
ENGR 410 - Alternative Energy Systems Credits: 3
ENV 301 - Environmental Geography Credits: 3
ENV 319 - Agroecology Credits: 3
ENV 393 - Advanced Topics in Environmental Studies Credits: 3
ENV 476 - Advanced Topics in Environmental Science with Lab Credits: 4
GEOG 235 - Weather and Climate [LAC-SC2] Credits: 3
GEOG 325 - Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 3
GEOL 323 - Geomorphology Credits: 4
GEOL 435 - Groundwater Geology Credits: 4
PH 102 - Environmental Public Health I Credits: 3
PH 333 - Environmental Public Health II Credits: 3
PH 340 - Global Health Credits: 3
PH 380 - Epidemiology Credits: 3
PH 440 - Advanced Topics in Public Health Credits: 3
PH 444 - Environmental Public Health III Credits: 3
PHIL 252 - Environmental Ethics [LAC-AH] Credits: 3
PHIL 341 - Professional Ethics Credits: 3
PHYS 217 - Physics - Science and Engineering I [LAC-SC1] Credits: 4
PS 420 - Water Politics: An Uphill Flow to Money Credits: 3
SOC 311 - Ecology and Society Field School Credits: 5
SOC 331 - Environmental Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 384 - Special Topics: Sustainability Credits: 3
SOC 385 - Soil and Society Credits: 3

Free Electives - Credits: Variable

Chosen in conjunction with your academic advisor to assure that the total graduation credit requirement for this program is met.

Note: Students completing the Liberal Arts Core in fewer than 33 credits or who have met a prerequisite or required course through transfer, examinations, or assessment of prior learning will have additional free choices.

Upper Division Requirement - Credits: 36

Among the total required courses, at least 36 credits must be upper division (300- and 400-level) courses. This major may require additional courses to meet the upper division requirement.

Course Information

Prior to course registration, students should review all courses for prerequisites, minimum prerequisite grade requirements and minimum class standing.

Additional Program Notes

* BIO 377 only taught in summer.

Note: Students whose placement is MATH 121 or transfer in MATH 121 will have MATH 113 waived. Students whose placement is MATH 221 or transfer in MATH 221 will have MATH 113 and MATH 121 waived. Please email gradcheck@fortlewis.edu for waiver to be processed on the degree audit.

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION - CREDITS: 120

All curricular requirements for the Liberal Arts Core and at least one major must be met. Many students choose to use free electives to complete the requirements for a certificate, minor or teacher licensure.

A minimum of 15 credits of coursework must be completed in the combined areas of AH/HI/SS.

Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for those courses accepted to meet the requirements for the major, a certificate or minor.

A minimum of 30 credits must be completed at Fort Lewis College. College-sponsored off-campus academic experiences are considered “in residence.”