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Columbia Campus    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin 
    
 
  Apr 15, 2024
 
2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin

Environmental Science, BS


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Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate their knowledge of fundamental concepts in environmental sciences.
  • When presented with a scientific question or hypothesis, students will be able to form an appropriate research plan and identify sources of error in the resulting data or analyses.
  • Students will demonstrate strong analytical writing skills.
  • Students will demonstrate strong oral communication skills.

Admission, Progression and Transfer Standards

  1. Any student applying for transfer to the environmental science major from other programs within the University, or from accredited colleges and universities, is required to have a minimum grade point average of 2.80 on a 4.00 scale.
  2. Environmental Science majors may enroll in an environmental science course a maximum of two times to earn the required grade of C or higher. For the purposes of this standard of progression, withdrawal with a W does not constitute enrollment.

Special Opportunities

The major endorses the use of independent study courses to further students’ intellectual pursuits in alternative ways. Before students may register for an independent study course, they must submit a completed independent study contract which has been approved by the major advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies. (No student may apply more than 6 hours of independent study credits toward the degree). A grade-point average of 2.5 or greater is required to enroll in independent study courses.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Environmental Science, BS
 

Degree Requirements (128 hours)

Program of Study

  1. Carolina Core (34-46 hours)
  2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)
  3. Program Requirements (28-45 hours)
  4. Major Requirements (34-36 hours)

1. Carolina Core (34-46 hours)


Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written — CMW (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving — ARP (8 hours)

Scientific Literacy — SCI (8 hours)

Note: Must take either both BIOL or both MSCI.

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language — GFL (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking — GHS (3 hours) 

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences — GSS (3 hours) 

Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding —  AIU (3 hours)

Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component* — CMS (0-3 hours)

  • any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course

Information Literacy* —  INF (0-3 hours)

Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility* — VSR (0-3 hours)

  • fulfilled through POLI 201 , an overlay course with GSS

*Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)


Foreign Language (0-3 hours) 

  • only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

Analytical Reasoning (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

History (3 hours) 

The College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement. Accordingly, please select one of the following:

  • One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111 , 112 , 214 , or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Science to fit this geographic category.

OR

  • One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on non-U.S. History: HIST 101 , 102 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 108 , 109 , GERM 280 , FAMS 300 , or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category.

Social Science (3 hours)

Select one of the following:

Fine Arts or Humanities (3 hours)

Select one of the following:

3. Program Requirements (28-45 hours)


Supporting Courses (27 hours)

*Pre-major course that must be completed before taking major courses.

Minor (18 hours) optional

A student in the Environmental Science major may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.

The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .

Electives (1-18 hours)

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

 

4. Major Requirements (34-36 hours)


A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

Major Courses (17-18 hours)

All majors must complete at least 34-36 hours of approved courses which must include the core requirements of 17-18 hours. Majors must complete 17-18 additional hours in major elective courses to bring them to the required 34-36 hours total. Students are required to develop a program of study in consultation with their advisor. A minimum grade of C is required for all courses used to fulfill major requirements. Any modifications to the program of study require the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Major Electives (17-18 hours)

Students, in consultation with their assigned advisor, must develop a program of study which either provides a broad set environmental science courses or allows students to focus in a defined area. Given the current course offerings and faculty expertise at the University, if a student wanted to focus their elective course work, possible areas include: Natural Systems, Climate and Weather, Water Resources, Energy, or Humans and the Environment. All Students’ selective courses should include at least 6 hours taken at the 400 level or above.  All courses may be selected from ENVR designator classes, but if not ENVR classes, then no more than 3 should be from a single discipline and no more than one Research Methods course.

Courses Acceptable for Major Credit:

From the Environment and Sustainability Program:
From the Life Sciences:
From the Earth and Marine Sciences:
From the Geographical Sciences:
From Mathematics, Statistics, and Engineering:
From the Health Sciences:
Research Methods Courses

Not required, but if selected, only one of these three may be taken for credit towards the major.

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