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Bachelors

Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Major

Oregon State University
NA , NA
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Tuition Fee
Not Available
Start Date
Not Available
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
4 years
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Program Details
Degree
Bachelors
Major
Ecology | Environmental Sciences
Area of study
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries | Natural Science
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
About Program

Program Overview

Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The Environmental Sciences undergraduate major provides a rigorous education that can lead to helping understand and resolve some of today's most challenging scientific and policy issues, including global climate change, pollution, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and balancing resource use and preservation.


Overview

To help reach these objectives, the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to environmental problem-solving. As an Environmental Sciences major, a student completes coursework in four general areas:


  • OSU's general education courses (the baccalaureate core)
  • Basic science and math
  • Environmental sciences and humanities core
  • A specialization area

In addition, each student completes a minimum of 3 credits of experiential learning as an internship, research, study abroad, or field course.


Program Details

The BS degree in Environmental Sciences provides excellent training for a variety of careers, including work with federal, state, and local agencies, industry, non-profits, and education, or for graduate school. Students can pursue the BS degree at the Corvallis campus, online through Ecampus, and at the OSU-Cascades campus.


Locations and Options

This program is available at the following locations:


  • Corvallis
  • Ecampus
  • OSU-Cascades Options available:
  • Alternative Energy
  • Applied Ecology
  • Aquatic Biology
  • Chemistry and the Environment
  • Conservation, Resources, and Sustainability
  • Earth Systems
  • Environmental Agriculture
  • Environmental Policy and Economics
  • Environmental Water Resources

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:


  • Demonstrate a rigorous cross-disciplinary base across the biological, physical, and social sciences.
  • Articulate connections between multiple components of human and natural systems, including implications for land, air, water, climate, energy, food, biodiversity, and human health.
  • Investigate and diagnose interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder environmental issues to propose solutions.
  • Apply the analysis of data to an environmental problem.
  • Reflect on how identity, including one's own, affects the perception of issues and the practice of environmental science.
  • Communicate effectively with diverse audiences in writing, speech, and in graphic forms.

Major Curriculum

The Environmental Sciences major requires credits in seven categories:


  • 49 credits of baccalaureate core
  • 51–53 credits of basic science and math
  • 27–36 credits of environmental sciences and humanities
  • 27–31 credits of specialization
  • 3 credits writing intensive course
  • 3 credits minimum of experiential learning
  • 4–53 credits of elective courses (depends on the number of baccalaureate core electives that will also meet requirements of the major)

The major requires a minimum of 32 credits combined between the Environmental Sciences and Humanities core, the Specialization, the major WIC, and Experiential Learning requirement, that are unique (not double-counted) to the Environmental Sciences Bachelor of Science.


Baccalaureate Core

The university baccalaureate core course (BCC) requirement is met with 49 credits and a writing intensive course (WIC). The environmental sciences student satisfies the general education requirement by selecting 27 unrestricted credits from the general list of approved courses and 21 credits from a restrictive list of BCC courses, which simultaneously satisfy requirements for the Environmental Sciences major.


Course List

  • Basic Science and Math Courses:
    • Biology: Select one of the following biology series
      • BI 221, BI 222, BI 223: *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS, *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS, *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS
      • BI 204, BI 205, BI 206: *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I, *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II, *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III
    • Chemistry: Select one of the following chemistry series
      • CH 121, CH 122, CH 123: GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *GENERAL CHEMISTRY
      • CH 231, CH 261, CH 232, CH 262, CH 233, CH 263: GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231, GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232, GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233
    • Math: Select one of the following pairs
      • MTH 251, MTH 252: *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS, INTEGRAL CALCULUS
      • MTH 227, MTH 228: *CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I, CALCULUS AND PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II
    • Physics: Select one of the following pairs
      • PH 201, PH 202: *GENERAL PHYSICS, *GENERAL PHYSICS
      • PH 211, PH 212: *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS, *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS
    • Statistics: ST 351, ST 352: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS, INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS

Environmental Sciences and Humanities Core

  • ENSC 101: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ORIENTATION
  • ENSC 321: ^ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDIES
  • Natural Environmental Systems:
    • Select one Atmosphere course
      • ATS 201: *CLIMATE SCIENCE
      • ATS 310: METEOROLOGY
      • ATS 420: CLIMATE PHYSICS
      • GEOG 323: ^CLIMATOLOGY
    • Select one Biosphere course
      • BI 370: ECOLOGY
      • GEOG 324: ^ECOLOGICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY
    • Select one Geosphere course
      • CSS 205: *SOIL SCIENCE
      • GEO 201: *PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
      • GEO 202: *EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE
      • GEO 221: *ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
      • GEO 322: SURFACE PROCESSES
      • GEOG 102: *PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
      • SOIL 205, SOIL 206: SOIL SCIENCE, *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205
      • SOIL 395: ^WORLD SOIL RESOURCES
    • Select one Hydrosphere course
      • FW 456: FRESHWATER ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
      • GEO 487: HYDROGEOLOGY
      • GEOG 340: *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY
      • GEOG 424: HYDROLOGY FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
      • OC 201: *OCEANOGRAPHY
  • Humans and the Environment:
    • Select one Environmental Economics and Policy course
      • AEC 122: *INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ECONOMICS AND POLICY
      • AEC 250: *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY
      • AEC 253: *ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, POLICY, AND ECONOMICS
      • AEC 351: *NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY
      • AEC 352/ECON 352: *ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY
      • AEC 432: ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
      • ECON 201: *INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS
      • FES 486: ^PUBLIC LANDS POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
      • FOR 462: NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY AND LAW
      • FW 324: *FOOD FROM THE SEA
      • FW 415: FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE LAW AND POLICY
      • FW 422: INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN LAW
      • FW 462: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
      • GEOG 340: *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY
      • GEOG 450: LAND USE IN THE AMERICAN WEST
      • GEOG 451: PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
      • PPOL 446: THE POLICY AND LAW OF U.S. COASTAL GOVERNANCE
      • PPOL 447: INTEGRATED POLICY: FOOD, ENERGY, WATER, CLIMATE
      • PPOL 448: MARINE POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES
      • PS 473: US ENERGY POLICY
      • PS 475: ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY
      • PS 476: SCIENCE AND POLITICS
      • PS 477: INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY
      • SOC 360: *POPULATION TRENDS AND POLICY
      • WGSS 440: *WOMEN AND NATURAL RESOURCES
    • Select one Environmental Ethics course
      • ANTH 481: *NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY VALUES
      • ES 353: *ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
      • ES 448/PHL 448/REL 448: NATIVE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHIES
      • FES 435/TOX 435: *GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK
      • FES 485: *CONSENSUS AND NATURAL RESOURCES
      • FW 340: *MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES IN NATURAL RESOURCES
      • GEOG 333: *ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
      • PHL 325: *SCIENTIFIC REASONING
      • PHL 440: *ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
      • PHL 443/REL 443: *WORLD VIEWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES
      • PPOL 441/SOC 482: *ENERGY, CLIMATE AND SOCIETY
      • PPOL 447: INTEGRATED POLICY: FOOD, ENERGY, WATER, CLIMATE
      • SOC 456: *SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIAL CONTEXT
      • SOC 480: *ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY
      • SOC 481: *SOCIETY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
      • SUS 331: *SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT
      • WGSS 440: *WOMEN AND NATURAL RESOURCES
    • Select one Human Environment course
      • AG 301: *ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE OF PACIFIC NW INDIANS
      • BI 301: *HUMAN IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS
      • BI 347: *OCEANS IN PERIL
      • BI 348: *HUMAN ECOLOGY
      • EAH 411: *PERSPECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES
      • FW 324: *FOOD FROM THE SEA
      • FW 325: *GLOBAL CRISES IN RESOURCE ECOLOGY
      • GEO 308: *GLOBAL CHANGE AND EARTH SCIENCES
      • GEOG 203: *HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT GEOGRAPHY
      • GEOG 300: *SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD
      • GEOG 350: *GEOGRAPHY OF NATURAL HAZARDS
      • GEOG 431: GLOBAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
      • GEOG 453: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE SCIENCE
      • HST 481: *ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
      • OC 333: *OCEANS, COASTS, AND PEOPLE
      • SUS 102: *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
      • SUS 350: *SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
      • WGSS 440: *WOMEN AND NATURAL RESOURCES
      • WR 462: ^ENVIRONMENTAL WRITING
      • Z 349: *BIODIVERSITY: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND CONSERVATION
    • Select one Environmental Management course
      • BOT 413/FOR 413: FOREST PATHOLOGY
      • ENT 331/HORT 331: *POLLINATORS IN PERIL
      • FES 350/HORT 350: URBAN FORESTRY
      • FES 365: *ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION
      • FES 412: FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
      • FES 445/FW 445: ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
      • FOR 346: TOPICS IN WILDLAND FIRE
      • FW 251: PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
      • FW 323: MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES OF PACIFIC SALMON IN THE NORTHWEST
      • FW 326: INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
      • FW 435: ^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS
      • FW 464: MARINE CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
      • GEO 306: *MINERALS, ENERGY, WATER, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
      • GEOG 430: RESILIENCE-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
      • GEOG 440: CONFLICT, COOPERATION, AND CONTROL OF WATER IN THE US
      • GEOG 441: THE WORLD'S WATER
      • GEOG 452: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
      • NR 455: NATURAL RESOURCE DECISION MAKING
      • RNG 341: PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
      • RNG 421: RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT
      • RNG 455: RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
      • RNG 490: RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING
      • TRAL 352: WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT

Experiential Learning

Select 3 credits from the following:


  • ENSC 401: RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
  • ENSC 403: THESIS
  • ENSC 410: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP Alternative Approved Courses:
  • BI 371: ^ECOLOGICAL METHODS
  • BI 373: ^FIELD METHODS IN MARINE ECOLOGY
  • BI 375: FIELD METHODS IN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
  • BOT 321: PLANT SYSTEMATICS
  • BOT 440: FIELD METHODS IN PLANT ECOLOGY
  • GEOG 324: ^ECOLOGICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY
  • RNG 441: VEGETATION MONITORING AND ANALYSIS
  • SOIL 466: SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION

Specialization Area

Complete an approved certificate, option, minor, or other course cluster.


Approved Certificates

  • Geographic Information Science
  • Scientific, Technical, and Professional Communication Certificate

Approved Minor

  • Education Minor

Approved Options

  • Alternative Energy
  • Applied Ecology
  • Aquatic Biology
  • Chemistry and the Environment
  • Conservation, Resources, and Sustainability
  • Earth Systems
  • Environmental Agriculture
  • Environmental Policy and Economics
  • Environmental Water Resources

Additional Requirements

Remaining Bacc Core and Electives: 61-70 Total Credits: 180


Plan of Study Grid

First Year:


  • Fall:
    • WR 121Z: *COMPOSITION I
    • CH 121 or CH 231, CH 261: GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231
    • MTH 112Z: *PRECALCULUS II: TRIGONOMETRY
    • ENSC 101: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ORIENTATION
    • HHS 231: *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH
  • Winter:
    • CH 122 or CH 232, CH 262: *GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232
    • COMM 218Z or COMM 111Z or COMM 114: *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION or *PUBLIC SPEAKING or *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE
    • MTH 251 or MTH 227: *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS or *CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I
    • Bacc Core - Literature & Arts
  • Spring:
    • CH 123 or CH 233, CH 263: *GENERAL CHEMISTRY or GENERAL CHEMISTRY, *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233
    • HHS 241: *LIFETIME FITNESS (or a PAC course)
    • MTH 252 or MTH 228: INTEGRAL CALCULUS or CALCULUS AND PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II
    • Bacc Core - Difference, Power and Discrimination
    • Bacc Core - Western Culture

Second Year:


  • Fall:
    • BI 221 or BI 204: *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I
    • Atmosphere
    • Environmental Economics & Policy
    • General Elective
  • Winter:
    • BI 222 or BI 205: *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II
    • Hydrosphere
    • Bacc Core - Cultural Diversity
    • Bacc Core - Writing II
  • Spring:
    • BI 223 or BI 206: *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS or *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III
    • Environmental Ethics
    • Geosphere
    • General Elective

Third Year:


  • Fall:
    • ENSC 321: ^ENVIRONMENTAL CASE STUDIES
    • PH 201 or PH 211: *GENERAL PHYSICS or *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS
    • Biosphere
    • General Elective
  • Winter:
    • PH 202 or PH 212: *GENERAL PHYSICS or *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
  • Spring:
    • ST 351: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS
    • Environmental Management
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • General Elective

Fourth Year:


  • Fall:
    • ST 352: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS
    • Human Environment
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • General Elective
  • Winter:
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • General Elective
  • Spring:
    • ENSC 410 or ENSC 401 or ENSC 403: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP or RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP or THESIS
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • Upper Division Specialization
    • General Elective

Total Credits: 180


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