Program Overview

Environmental Data Science Major

The Environmental Data Science Major is a Bachelor of Science degree program offered by the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. This program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in environmental data science, including the collection, analysis, and interpretation of environmental data.

Program Curriculum

The program curriculum consists of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including degree core requirements, Environmental Data Science major requirements, and free electives.

• Degree Core Requirements (19 credits)
  • FREC 2214: Introduction to Land and Field Measurements
  • FREC 2314: Forest Biology and Dendrology
  • FREC 2324: Dendrology Laboratory
  • FREC 2614: Human-Environment Systems
  • FREC/NR 4004: Professional Skills in Natural Resources
  • FREC/NR 4014: Natural Resources Economics
  • FREC 4114: Information Technologies for Natural Resource Management
  • FREC 4434: Natural Resource Policy
• Environmental Data Science Major Requirements
  • Computational Requirements
    • BIT 3424: Introduction to Business Analytics Modeling
    • BIT 3514: Systems Analysis
    • BIT 3524: Database Management and Design
    • FREC 1044: Introduction to Environmental Data Science
    • FREC 3044: Environmental Data Science
    • FREC 4044: Environmental Data Science Capstone
    • FREC 4214: Forest Photogrammetry and Spatial Data Processing
    • Select one of the following: FREC 4244: Hydroinformatics or FREC 3214 and FREC 3224: Forest Biometrics and Forest Biometrics Laboratory
  • Computer Programming Requirement
    • Select one of the following: CS 1044: Introduction to Programming in C, CS 1064: Introduction to Programming in Python, or CS 1114: Introduction to Software Design
  • Advanced Data Science Skills Requirement
    • Select one of the following: STAT 3616: Biological Statistics, MATH 2114: Introduction to Linear Algebra, or CS 2064: Intermediate Programming in Python
  • Natural Science Requirements
    • BIOL 1115: Principles of Biology Laboratory
    • BIOL 1116: Principles of Biology Laboratory
    • FREC 2004: Forest Ecosystems
• Pathways to General Education
  • Pathways Concept 1: Discourse
    • COMM 1015: Communication Skills (1F) or ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing
    • COMM 1016: Communication Skills (1F) or ENGL 1106: First-Year Writing
    • Select three credits in Pathway 1a
  • Pathways Concept 2: Critical Thinking in the Humanities
    • Select six credits of Pathway 2
  • Pathways Concept 3: Reasoning in the Social Sciences
    • AAEC 1005: Economics of the Food and Fiber System or ECON 2005: Principles of Economics
    • Select three additional credits
  • Pathways Concept 4: Reasoning in the Natural Sciences
    • BIOL 1105: Principles of Biology
    • BIOL 1106: Principles of Biology
  • Pathways Concept 5: Quantitative and Computational Thinking
    • MATH 1025: Elementary Calculus (5F) or MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable
    • MATH 1026: Elementary Calculus (5F) or MATH 1226: Calculus of a Single Variable
    • STAT 3615: Biological Statistics (5A)
  • Pathways Concept 6: Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts
    • Select three credits in Pathway 6d
    • Select three credits in Pathway 6a
  • Pathways Concept 7: Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States
    • Select three credits in Pathway 7
• Free Electives
  • Select additional credit hours to total at least 120

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Degree Requirements: An in-major and overall GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.
2. Minimum hours for degree: 120 credit hours are required for graduation.
3. Policy on Student Exchange: If studying overseas or at another U.S. university, begin planning at least 9 months prior to departure to ensure that all requirements for graduation will be met.
4. In-major GPA Computation: All degree core and Environmental Data Science major requirements will factor into the in-major GPA.
5. Curriculum Planning: Students should plan early with their advisors to determine appropriate sequences for their courses.

Acceptable Substitutions

The following substitutions are acceptable:

1. STAT 3615: Biological Statistics: STAT 3005: Statistical Methods
2. BIOL 1105: Principles of Biology: CHEM 1035: General Chemistry
3. BIOL 1115: Principles of Biology Laboratory: CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Laboratory

Foreign Language Requirement

A sequence of two (2) foreign language courses is required for graduation unless two (2) high school credits of the same foreign language or six (6) transfer credit hours of foreign language have been earned. These credits do not count toward graduation.

Plan of Study Grid

A sample plan of study grid is provided to help students plan their course sequence. However, students do not need to follow this plan exactly and should consult with their advisors to determine the best course sequence for their individual needs.

Notes

Some courses have prerequisite or enrollment restrictions. Consult the undergraduate course catalog or the timetable of classes for more information. Additionally, students planning to take MATH 2114 must select MATH 1225, and students planning to take CS 2064 must select CS 1064. EDS students must force-add BIT 3424; consult with advisor about prerequisites and force-add procedure.