Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (BS)

This course provides a foundational basis for the study of basic biology. It is the first in a two-part biology series designed for students who intend to complete a degree that requires a majors-level biology course. Topics covered in this course include an introduction to the molecular basis of life; the biology of the cell; genetic and molecular biology; evolution; and the diversity of life on Earth. This course includes virtual laboratories that complement the topics and concepts covered in the lectures.

This is the first course of a two-course general chemistry sequence that introduces students to the principles, terminology, methodology, and worldview of chemistry. Lecture and lab topics are both descriptive and mathematical and include matter, measurement and problem solving; atomic theory and structure; the periodic table; and nomenclature. Other topics covered in the class are the physical properties of gases, liquids, and solids; molecular bonding and geometry; stoichiometry; thermochemistry; the types of chemical reactions; and solution chemistry. The virtual laboratory exercises in this course are designed to help students to learn how to make qualitative and quantitative observations about physical and chemical phenomena; to make calculations; and to test their own reasoning. Students will also acquire skills in laboratory techniques to reinforce and build upon the concepts presented in class lectures. This is a time- and resource-intensive course. Students intending to use this course to satisfy prerequisites for pre-professional programs should verify that the CHEM133 and CHEM134 course sequence meets the requirements of their intended program prior to enrollment. To be successful in this course, it is recommended that students complete high school chemistry or a basic college equivalent, and they should also be comfortable with basic algebra, including the manipulation of equations.

This course provides an introduction to the economics of natural resource management and environmental policy. Topics include benefit-cost analysis, valuation, market failure, pollution control, sustainable development, market-based environmental policy, and the economics of renewable and non-renewable resource management.

Atmospheric science is an applied discipline that focuses on the structure and circulation of the atmosphere, global climate change and dynamics, air quality, and other processes that impact humans and the environment. Topics discussed in the course include meteorology, atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, and climate dynamics. Students will also have opportunities to observe and discuss both past, current, and near real-time weather and air quality conditions to better understand the atmosphere’s complexity.

An overview course on water sources, uses, management and conservation; biological, economic, and health issues. The course will use chemical and engineering approaches to water and wastewater treatment. It includes studies for assessing chemicals in water and wastewater. Students will cover the application of standardized analytical methods for evaluating water quality. (Prerequisites: BIOL133 or SCIN130 and MATH302)

A fundamental study of soil properties and reactions critical to the evaluation of how contaminants, as well as essential nutrients, behave in the soil environment. Interactions of potential pollutants with soils and the aquatic and atmospheric environments are emphasized. Methods of soil management or remediation to minimize pollution are presented.

This course will introduce students to the principles of environmental sustainability. Students will explore various aspects of sustainability, including energy use, industrial processes, waste generation and disposal, and the built environment. As part of the focus on solutions, the course will introduce students to tools society can use to attain and implement sustainable practices, such as policy, law, education and communication, marketing, research advocacy, and international agreements and collaboration.

This course illustrates the fundamental concepts of GIS and remote sensing technologies in the context of land use planning and management. Topics include the physical basis for remote sensing, remote sensing systems, digital image processing, data structures, database design, and spatial data analysis. The course is not intended to provide students with extensive training in particular image processing or GIS packages; however course exercises and the final project will require GIS data analysis and presentation skills.

This course is an introduction to environmental policy, regulation, and law in the U.S. Subjects covered will include command and control of regulation, air quality, water quality, control of toxic materials, waste management, energy, and natural resources.

This course focuses on contemporary theories and practices associated with environmental and ecosystems management. Industrial, economic, commercial, political, developmental, and other issues and concerns that influence environmental and ecosystems management are addressed. (Prerequisite: EVSP310)

This course provides an intensive treatment of the field of ecology. Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions among organisms and their environment, which explains the distribution and dynamics of organisms, their traits, and the effects that they have on the natural world. Students will learn that ecology is an integrative discipline that draws from various fields of biology (physiology, morphology, behavior, evolution) and natural sciences (e.g., geology and chemistry), as well as other disciplines (e.g., economics and social sciences). The focus of the course will be on identifying and recommending solutions to ecological problems, e.g., habitat destruction and fragmentation, biodiversity, global environmental change, desertification, acidification of the oceans, and others.

This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze and solve the wide variety of problems encountered in business, science, medicine, education, the social sciences, and other disciplines. Successful completion of this course will provide students with a working knowledge of the principles of both descriptive and inferential statistics, probability, averages and variations, normal probability distributions, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, statistical hypothesis tests, and correlation and regression analyses. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their application in real life -- not on mathematical proofs. This course will use Microsoft Excel for some of the work. Students should have a basic familiarity with Excel and have access to this software application. MATH120 is the recommended mathematics general education course for students who will be required to take additional statistics courses such as MATH302 Statistics as part of their program of study. (Prerequisites: MATH110, MATH111, MATH120, or MATH225)

This course is a study of environmental issues from a moral and philosophical approach. Issues raised in the course include the moral obligation, or lack thereof, to preserve and protect the environment, the ethical presumptions that underlie environmental policy, the traditional theories of moral philosophy applicable to contemporary environmental problems, and the potential for a new conception of the relationship between humanity and nature.

This course provides students a chance to explore an array of topics and disciplines across science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and provides a solid exploration of the STEM industry and career opportunities through undergraduate study. Students will be introduced to major areas of STEM, covering the fundamental concepts of each discipline, and how STEM topics are integrated into non-STEM areas. Additionally, students will be introduced to career avenues, expectations of career readiness, career satisfaction, and professional communication. There is an emphasis on developing an understanding of personal interests, skills, and abilities, with a focus on helping students find their passion through self-reflection and self-assessment. Additionally, this course is designed to foster community among students from a variety of majors.

As a senior seminar, this course will provide a review of core program content and a springboard for more advanced discussion on topics covered throughout the degree program. Students will review and analyze the environmental problem solving process with consideration for the social, environmental, and economic components. This capstone course will provide students with the opportunity to reflect on the course work and demonstrate knowledge of their selected concentration field of study. This is a capstone course to be taken after the environmental science courses have been satisfactorily completed. (Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of 105 hours towards your program)