Program Overview

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Environmental Science & Policy Program

Overview

The Environmental Science & Policy program is an interdisciplinary study of environmental systems from a scientific perspective, drawing from areas such as oceanography, geology, and meteorology. This program prepares students for careers in government agencies, NGOs, or the private sector, and provides a strong basis for graduate study in environmental and interdisciplinary earth sciences.

Description of Major

The Environmental Science & Policy major offers lower-level mathematics requirements and a greater emphasis on policy. The goals of this program are to prepare exceptionally well-qualified graduates to work in the interdisciplinary earth sciences.

Prerequisite Coursework

• MAC X105 (3) College Algebra
• MAC X140 (3) Pre-calculus Algebra or STA X122 (3) Introduction to Applied Statistics
• BSC X010, X010L (3,1) Biological Science I, Lab
• CHM X045, X045L (3,1) General Chemistry I, Lab
• GLY X010C (4) Physical Geology with Lab
• BSC 2011, 2011L (3, 1) Biological Science II, Lab or CHM 1046, 1046L (3, 1) General Chemistry II, Lab

Requirements for Graduation

The College of Arts and Sciences requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.

Requirements for Progression to and Continuation in the Upper-Division Major

• Students should complete the prerequisite coursework for entrance to the major program of study.
• Students must also have completed a minimum of 52 hours of credit and at least half the required hours in General Education, including required English composition and Math, or an A.A degree.

Departmental Policy on Grades and Progress in the Major

• All State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1-4 Milestones must be completed with a "C" range (C minus, C, or C+) grade or better.
• Students earning less than the necessary grade in any of these courses will be required to retake those courses until the standard is met.
• No required course in which a student has earned a grade below C minus may be applied toward the degree in Environmental Science and Policy.
• A student who has received more than five unsatisfactory grades (U, F, D minus, D, D+) in science, statistics, or mathematics courses (and their prerequisites), taken after enrolling at Florida State University, including repeated unsatisfactory grades in the same course, (excluding State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1-4 Milestones) will not be permitted to graduate with a degree in this major.

Major Program of Studies

• Environmental Science and Policy Core Courses: (17 hours)
  • MET 1010 (3) Introduction to the Atmosphere
  • MET 1020 (3) Introduction to Atmospheric Science
  • ESC 3100C (4) History of Earth Systems
  • OCE 4008 (3) Principles of Oceanography
  • OCE 4017 (3) Current Issues in Environmental Science
  • GLY 3039 (3) Energy, Resources, and Environment
  • EVR 4922 (4) Senior Capstone (meets Upper-Division Writing Requirement)
• Required Policy Courses: (9 hours)
  • Choose from:
    • GEO 3502 (3) Economic Geography
    • GEO 4357 (3) Env. Conflict and Economic Development
    • GEO 4471 (3) Political Geography
    • PAD 4391 (3) Foundations in Emergency Management
    • PHI 2620 (3) Environmental Ethics
    • PHM 3400 (3) Philosophy of Law
    • POS 3691 (3) Law and Society
    • PUP 3002 (3) Introduction to Public Policy
    • PUP 4203 (3) Env. Politics and Policy
    • URP 3000 (3) Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning
    • URP 4423 (3) Introduction to Environmental Planning and Resource Management
    • COM 3420 (3) Media, Culture, Film
• Required Environmental Science Courses: (18 hours)
  • Choose a total of 18 hours from the courses below; at least nine (9) hours must be selected from List 1 and the remaining nine (9) hours from any departmental approved electives outside of the major.
  • List 1 Geoscience Elective Courses: (9 hour minimum)
    • EOC 4631 Marine Pollution (3)
    • OCB 4631 Estuarine and Coastal Ecology (3)
    • ESC 3100C History of Earth Systems (4)
    • GLY 3200C Mineralogy and Crystallography (3)
    • GLY 3310C Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
    • GLY 3400C Structural Geology (4)
    • GLY 3610C Paleontology (4)
    • GLY 4240 Principles of Geochemistry (3)
    • GLY 4544C Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4)
    • GLY 4751C Introduction to Remote Sensing, Air Photo Interpretation and GIS for the Earth Sciences (3)
    • GLY 4905 Directed Individual Study (Geohazards) (3)
    • MET 3101 Physical Climatology (3)
    • MET 3103C Climate Change Science (3)
    • MET 3220C Meteorological Computations (3)
    • MET 3231 Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics (3)
    • MET 3940 Weathercasting (1)
    • MET 4159r Special Topics in Meteorology (1–3)
    • MET 4400C Meteorological Instrumentation and Observation (3)
    • OCB 4631 Estuarine and Coastal Ecology (3)
    • OCB 4637 Marine Benthic Ecology (3)
    • OCC 4002 Introduction to Chemical Oceanography (3)
    • OCC 4060 Environmental Science Modeling (3)
    • OCE 3555 Environmental Science II: Habitable Planet (3)
    • OCE 4064 Marine Conservation Biology (3)
    • OCB 4265 Coral Reef Ecology (3)
    • OCP 4005 Introduction to Physical Oceanography (3)
    • OCE 4930r Studies in Oceanography (3)
  • List 2:
    • CHM 1046 General Chemistry II (3)
    • BSC 2011 Biological Science II (3)
    • CHM 4080 Environmental Chemistry I (3)
    • HFT 3700 Tourism Management and the Environment (3)
    • URP 3000 Introduction to Planning and Urban Development (3)
    • URP 4022 Collective Decision Making (3)
    • URP 4314 Introduction to Growth Management and Comprehensive Planning (3)
    • URP 4318 Growth Management and Environmental Planning (3)
    • URP 4402 Sustainable Development Planning in the Americas (3)
    • URP 4404 River Basin Management and Planning (3)
    • URP 4423 Introduction to Environmental Planning and Resource Management (3)
    • URP 4618 Planning for Developing Regions (3)

Collateral Minor

By completing the requirements of the BS Environmental Science Policy Program, students automatically receive a collateral minor in Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science.

Digital Literacy

This requirement may be met with a University-approved college-level course.

Oral Communication Competency

Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with a University-approved college-level course.

Minimum Program Requirements - Summary

• Total Hrs. Required: 120
• General Education: 36
• BS Prerequisite Coursework: 22
• BS Major Coursework: 44
• Minor Coursework: 12 or more
• Foreign Language: 0-12 (depending on placement)
• Digital Literacy: 3
• Oral Communication Competency: 0-3

Mapping

Mapping is FSU's academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion.

Remarks

1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
4. The Environmental Science and Policy B.A. degree requires 9 additional hours in the fields of history and humanities.

Employment Information

• Salary Information: For more information, refer to national employment statistics.
• Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Environmental technician, geoscientist, policy expert, environmental administrator, environmental scientist, hydrologist, general physical scientist, and oceanographer.
• Representative Employers: Federal, state, and local governments; NGOs; private employers.