Major in Environmental Science
Environmental science is a joint major offered by the Departments of Biology and Chemistry. This major recognizes the importance of environmental problems in the contemporary world and the expansion of career opportunities in this area. Environmental careers fall in to three broad categories: environmental protection, natural resource management, and planning/communication. With regard to career preparation, the Simmons major is most closely associated with the environmental protection area. This field depends particularly on the application of science to problems such as air quality, water quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, and habitat destruction.Persons pursuing careers in environmental protection need strong preparation in the basic sciences combined with the broad outlook that can distinguish environmentally responsible development from narrowly-focused projects that ignore any environmental impact.
The environmental science major incorporates strong preparation in basic sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics), four science courses with specific emphasis on environmental problems, and non-science courses that explore the relationships between environmental protection and economics and government. An internship in an environmental science laboratory or with an environmental protection agency/organization is encouraged.
First Year
Note: Students may take either CHEM 111 or CHEM 113 to fulfill the requirements.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5 Courses | ||
| General Biology | BIOL-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Principles of Zoology | BIOL-218 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic | CHEM-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro. Chemistry: Organic | CHEM-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Principles of Chemistry | CHEM-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
* Students are also required to take ENV 201 through the COF. Contact the Biology Department for more information.
Sophomore Year
Note: Students may take either MATH 118 or MATH 238 to fulfill the requirements.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6 Courses | ||
| Princ. of Ecology | BIOL-245 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Quantitative Analysis | CHEM-226 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introductory Statistics | MATH-118 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Applied Statistical Models | MATH-238 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro Physics I | PHYS-110 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro Physics II | PHYS-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
* Students are also required to take ENV 202 through the COF. Contact the Biology Department for more information.
Junior Year
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 3 Courses | ||
| Plant Biology | BIOL-340 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Energy & Global Warming | CHEM-327 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Prin. of Microeconomics | ECON-100 | 4.00 | Lecture |
* Students are also required to take ENV 203 & CHEM 550 through the COF. Contact the Biology Department for more information.
Senior Year
Note: Students may take either ECON 239 or ECON 247 to fulfill the requirements.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4 Courses | ||
| Marine Biology | BIOL-333 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Environmental Ethics | PHIL-139 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Gov't Regulation of Industry | ECON-239 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Environmental Economics | ECON-247 | 4.00 | Lecture |