Program Overview

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Environmental Sciences (BS)

The Environmental Sciences program at North Carolina State University provides students with a comprehensive understanding of environmental systems and earth processes. This interdisciplinary program combines courses from various colleges to create a thorough grounding in environmental sciences. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues and improve socio-economic development and environmental quality.

Overview

The Environmental Sciences program uses interdisciplinary approaches that link natural science and social science disciplines. Students will develop a wide range of skills, including systematic problem-solving skills, essential for understanding changes in a rapidly changing world. The program provides sound, individualized academic programs for students who can develop a wide range of careers.

Plan Requirements

The program requires a total of 120 hours, including:

• English & Communication: 6 hours
• Mathematics and Science: 14 hours
• Science Electives: 4 hours
• Natural Sciences: 8 hours
• Departmental Requirements: 24 hours
• Analytical Skills Electives: 3 hours
• Economics Electives: 3 hours
• Environmental Law and Policy Electives: 3 hours
• External Learning Experience: 3 hours
• Focal Area: 15 hours
• Electives: 9 hours
• General Education Program (GEP) Courses: 15 hours
• Free Electives: 10 hours

Course List

The program includes a range of courses, such as:

• ENV 100: Student Success in Environmental First Year
• ENV 101: Exploring the Environment
• ES 100: Introduction to Environmental Sciences 1
• ES 111: Applications of Environmental Sciences 1
• ES 200: Climate Change and Sustainability 1
• ES 300: Energy and Environment 1
• ES 400: Analysis of Environmental Issues 1
• ST 311: Introduction to Statistics
• Analytical Skills Electives
• Economics Electives
• Environmental Law and Policy Electives
• External Learning Experience Electives

Communication Skills Electives

Students can choose from a range of communication skills electives, including:

• Written Communication Skills:
  • COM 336: Newsletter Writing and Production
  • ENG 210: Introduction to Language and Linguistics
  • ENG 214: Introduction to Editing
  • ENG 216: Technologies for Texts
  • ENG 281: Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
  • ENG 287: Explorations in Creative Writing
  • ENG 288: Fiction Writing
  • ENG 289: Poetry Writing
  • ENG 292: Writing About Film
  • ENG 316: Introduction to News and Article Writing
  • ENG 317: Designing Networked Communications
  • ENG 323: Writing in Rhetorical Traditions
  • ENG 324: Modern English Syntax
  • ENG 331: Communication for Engineering and Technology
  • ENG 332: Communication for Business and Management
  • ENG 333: Communication for Science and Research
  • ENG 422: Writing Theory and the Writing Process
  • ENG 425: Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
  • ENG 426: Analyzing Style
  • FLE 402: Advanced Written Communication in English for International Students
• Verbal/Oral Communication Skills:
  • AEE 311: Communication Methods and Media
  • COM 110: Public Speaking
  • COM 112: Interpersonal Communication
  • COM 202: Small Group Communication
  • COM 211: Argumentation and Advocacy
  • COM 226: Introduction to Public Relations
  • COM 289: Science Communication and Public Engagement
  • COM 292: Language, Communication, and Culture
  • COM 392: International and Crosscultural Communication
  • COM 395: Studies in Rhetoric and Digital Media
  • COM 411: Rhetorical Criticism
  • COM 436: Environmental Communication
  • COM 479: Climate Change Communication
  • ENG 321: Survey of Rhetorical Theory
  • ENG 325: Spoken and Written Traditions of American English Dialects
  • ENG 326: History of the English Language
  • ENG 327: Language and Gender
  • ENG 328: Linguistics for Education Professionals
  • ENG 329: Language in Globalization
  • ENG 335: Language Development
  • ENG 395: Studies in Rhetoric and Digital Media
  • ENG 411: Rhetorical Criticism
  • ENG 494: Special Topics in Linguistics
  • HSS 392: International and Crosscultural Communication
  • PRT 342: Recreation and Park Interpretive Services
  • THE 103: Introduction to the Theatre
  • THE 203: Theory and Practice of Acting
  • THE 293: Theater Practicum
  • WGS 327: Language and Gender

Science Electives

Students can choose from a range of science electives, including:

• CH 201 & CH 202: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
• GN 311: Principles of Genetics
• MB 351 & MB 352: General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory
• PY 208 & PY 209: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
• PY 212: College Physics II

Natural Sciences Electives

Students can choose from a range of natural sciences electives, including:

• AEC 419: Freshwater Ecology
• AEC 460: Field Ecology and Methods
• FOR 260: Forest Ecology
• FOR 401: Dendrology
• MEA 200 & MEA 210: Introduction to Oceanography and Oceanography Lab
• PB 250: Plant Biology
• PB 345 & PB 346: Economic Botany and Economic Botany Lab
• SSC 200 & SSC 201: Soil Science and Soil Science Laboratory
• ZO 250: Animal Anatomy and Physiology
• ZO 350: Animal Phylogeny and Diversity
• ZO 402: Invertebrate Biology

Analytical Skills Electives

Students can choose from a range of analytical skills electives, including:

• GIS 280: Introduction to GIS
• ST 312: Introduction to Statistics II
• FOR 353: GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Analysis and Assessment
• PS 371: Research Methodology of Political Science

Economics Electives

Students can choose from a range of economics electives, including:

• ARE 201: Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
• ARE 201A: Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
• EC 201: Principles of Microeconomics
• EC 205: Fundamentals of Economics
• NR 219: Natural Resource Markets

Environmental Law and Policy Electives

Students can choose from a range of environmental law and policy electives, including:

• ARE 309: Environmental Law & Economic Policy
• PS 320: U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
• PS 336: Global Environmental Politics
• NR 460: Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy

External Learning Experience Electives

Students can choose from a range of external learning experience electives, including:

• ES 496: Environmental Science Internship
• ES 497: Professional Development in Environmental Science
• ES 498: Research in Environmental Science
• ES 499: Thesis in Environmental Science

Semester Sequence

The program follows a sample semester sequence:

• First Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • ENV 100: Student Success in Environmental First Year
    • ENV 101: Exploring the Environment
    • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research
    • BIO 181: Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity
    • MA 131: Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
    • GEP Health and Exercise Studies
  • Spring Semester:
    • ES 100: Introduction to Environmental Sciences 1
    • ES 111: Applications of Environmental Sciences 1
    • CH 101 & CH 102: Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory
    • MA 231: Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B
    • GEP Humanities
• Second Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CH 220 & CH 222: Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab
    • AEC/PB 360 or BIO 183: Ecology or Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
    • Communications Requirement
    • Free Elective
    • GEP Health and Exercise Studies
  • Spring Semester:
    • ES 200: Climate Change and Sustainability 1
    • Natural Sciences Electives
    • Economics Requirement
    • Advised Elective I
    • GEP Elective
• Third Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • PY 205 & PY 206 or PY 131 or PY 211: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I or Conceptual Physics or College Physics I
    • ST 311: Introduction to Statistics
    • Environmental Law and Policy Electives
    • Focal Area I
    • Free Elective
  • Spring Semester:
    • ES 300: Energy and Environment 1
    • Sciences Electives
    • Analytical Skills Electives
    • Focal Area II
    • Communications Requirement
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • Focal Area III
    • Free Elective
    • Advised Elective II
    • Focal Area IV
    • External Learning Experience
  • Spring Semester:
    • ES 400: Analysis of Environmental Issues 1
    • Focal Area V
    • 400-level Advised Elective
    • GEP Humanities
    • Free Elective

Career Opportunities

The Environmental Sciences program provides opportunities for students to pursue a wide range of careers, including:

• Agricultural Technician
• Atmospheric and Space Scientist
• Biochemist
• Biologist
• Biomedical Engineer
• Chemist
• Chief Sustainability Officers
• Climate Change Policy Analysts
• Conservation Scientist
• Environmental Compliance Inspector
• Environmental Disease Analyst
• Environmental Economists
• Environmental Engineer
• Environmental Planner
• Environmental Research Analyst
• Environmental Restoration Planners
• Environmental Science and Protection Technician
• Environmental Science Professor
• Environmental Technician
• Forest and Conservation Technician
• Forest and Conservation Workers
• Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialist
• Forester
• Geographer
• Geologist
• Geophysicist
• Hazardous Waste Management Analyst
• Hydrographer
• Hydrologist
• Industrial Air Pollution Analyst
• Industrial Ecologists
• Industrial Waste Inspector
• Landfill Inspectors
• Medical Equipment Technician
• Microbiologist
• Park Naturalist
• Seismologist
• Soil Conservation Technician
• Soil Scientist
• Urban and Regional Planner
• Water Pollution Control Inspector
• Wildlife Biologist
• Zoologist

Graduates of the Environmental Sciences program can find jobs in the environmental industry, including careers as environmental consultants, working in large corporations, or starting their own businesses. Others find careers working in federal, state, and local agencies with environmental mandates. Still, others continue their educations in professional and graduate schools.