Environmental Science, B.S.

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Description

Environmental science focuses on ecosystem management, the effects of pollutants on ecosystems, ways to restore polluted environments to their natural state, and effective strategies toward minimizing pollution (preventative management). The Environmental Science major at Cleveland State University provides education in the fundamentals of all the major areas of modern Environmental Science, training in current laboratory skills, as well as environmental policy.

What careers can this major prepare you for?

A BS in Environmental Science will prepare you for a variety of jobs as well as the ability to move on to a variety of MS and PhD programs. With a PhD in Environmental Science, your career opportunities include: College or University faculty (with or without a research program); Director of research in government labs, research centers,industrial labs, parks and zoos; Various Director roles including those with the EPA, US Fish and Wildlife, US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, parks, zoos and private consulting firms; Program officers for the National Science Foundation; Museum Curator; Science writer; Product manager for lab supply companies. With a MS in Environmental Science, your career opportunities include: Research associates in university research labs, government research labs, research centers, industrial labs, parks and zoos; Various supervisory roles including those with the EPA, US Fish and Wildlife, US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, parks, zoos and private consulting firms; Museum Curator; Science writer; Technical sales and service representatives; High school teachers of science (licensure required). With a BS in Environmental Science, your career opportunities include: Entry-level technicians in university research labs, government research labs, research centers, and industrial labs; Entry-level roles including those with the EPA, US Fish and Wildlife, US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and private consulting firms; Museum coordinator; Science writer; Technical sales and service representatives; High school teacher of science (licensure required)

What skills are developed within this major?

Skills developed within this major include but are not limited to: a working knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics and math and in-depth knowledge of the environment, critical thinking and analysis, experimental design, communication, time management, and problem-solving.

Special Tracks

Honors Program, Environmental Biology, Environmental Geology, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Technology, Environmental Planning, Secondary Teacher Licensure Program

Note

Environmental Science is part of the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences.

Hours Required for Degree

Hours required for degree: 120

Hours required for major: 72-74

Major-Field Requirements

All majors must take 56-58 credits of core courses and 16 elective credits in one of the special environmental foci described below.

Requirements of the College of Sciences and Health Professions

A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a degree, of which 42 semester credit hours must be earned in 300- and/or 400-level courses.

A. Required Core Courses (19 Courses)

Choose one of the following physical science lecture and lab courses

Note: Courses not taken to fulfill this requirement may be used as Geology focus credits.

Choose two of the following planning and policy courses

Note: Courses not taken to fulfill this requirement may be used as Environmental Planning focus credits.

Choose one (at least four credits) of the following capstone courses

Recommendations:

Although not required, students are urged to take MTH 181 - Calculus I and MTH 182 - Calculus II .

B. Environmental Focus Areas - Sixteen Credit Hours

Complete 16 credit hours of electives in one of the following focus areas: Environmental Biology; Environmental Geology; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Technology; or Environmental Planning.

Environmental Biology Track

Environmental Geology Track

Environmental Chemistry Track

Environmental Technology Track

Environmental Planning Track

Note(s)

If not used as a core course requirement, students may take EVS 354 , EVS 355 , EVS 424 , EVS 425 , EVS 444 , EVS 445 , EVS 460 , EVS 461 , UST 435 , UST 436 , and UST 441 to satisfy environmental focus electives where appropriate.

With the approval of the departmental adviser, a student may develop an alternative selection of focused electives from the above lists.

The university requirement for at least one WAC course within the major is satisfied when students take their required capstone: EVS 490 , EVS 496 , or EVS 497 . For EVS Honors students, EVS 492 satisfies the capstone requirement and counts as a WAC in the major. EVS students can also get a WAC in the major if they take EVS 461 - Geomorphology Lab or UST 436 .

Environmental Science with Secondary Teacher License

The CSUteach Program offers an integrated science license. This licensure program requires coursework from the College of Sciences and Health Professions and College of Education and Human Services. Contact the CSUteach Program for education courses required for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate secondary Teacher Licensure Programs (216-687-4625, JH 170).

BS in Environmental Science, Integrated Science License, Grades 7-12

Environmental Science Courses (36 credit hours)

Choose two of the following planning and policy courses

Choose one (at least four credits) of the following capstone courses

Chemistry Courses (11 credit hours)

Physics Courses (13 credit hours)

Biology Courses (12 credit hours)

Mathematics Courses (7 credit hours)

Note

Students will also need to complete additional CSUteach education courses. Please see the College of Education, CSUteach program catalog for details.

Honors Program

Environmental Science Honors students will undertake three or four credits of research (EVS 491 ) in a supervising faculty member’s laboratory on a project approved by the faculty member and by the department’s Honors Program Committee. A written report on the research project must be defended before a three-person faculty review committee (EVS 492 ). To remain in the program the student must sustain the grade-point averages required for admission to the program, as well as the approval of the faculty member supervising the student’s honors research.

University Scholars

University scholars, who are Biology majors, are required to perform 8 credits of specialized coursework within the upper division electives required for their degree. Scholars who qualify for the departmental honors program and obtain a faculty mentor may satisfy this requirement by completing the EVS Honors Program. Alternatively, they fulfill this requirement by taking 8 credits of any combination of EVS courses taken as a “contract” course. All of these require the prior agreement of the course’s instructor. A course becomes a contract course if, before the course begins, the student makes an agreement with the course instructor to prepare extra topical assignments related to the course. Students may link this assignment in the contract course with enrollment in EVS or BIO 391 , which is a WAC course in the major field of study thereby satisfying this general education requirement.

University Scholars Requirements

1. Fulfill the requirements for the Environmental Science honors program OR

2. 8 credits of the following courses:

EVS 496 - Independent Study in Environmental Science
EVS 497 - Research in Environmental Science
Upper-level BIO or EVS courses (300 level or 400 level) as a “contract course”, with additional exercises, library research and writing under the supervision of the course instructor.