Environmental Science

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary program in which students follow one of the three tracks listed below. Contact the faculty advisors for further information.

[1] Purposes

The interdisciplinary Environmental Science Program at UCA is designed to provide students the opportunity to assess the complexity of environmental problems and find solutions to these problems within the context of the natural (biological, chemical, and physical) and social (politics, economics) sciences. This program prepares students for careers in federal and state government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, State Game and Fish Commission, and State Department of Environmental Quality. Graduates of UCA’s environmental science program are also competitive for positions in private industry (consulting, corporate environmental compliance, laboratory technicians) and postgraduate academic programs (MS, PhD, or law school).

[2] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Science

The bachelor of science degree, with a major in Environmental Science, requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) BS degree requirements; and (3) the major requirements listed below. A minor is not required.

[2.1] Common Core for All Environmental Science Majors (34 hours)

[2.2] Biology Track (50 hours)

The biology track emphasizes ecology, conservation biology, and environmental toxicology. Students are instructed in biological specialties that will provide them with a basis for assessing the impact of human activities on ecosystems and organisms. The biology track requires additional chemistry because of the importance of understanding the effect of chemical pollution on living systems.

Biology Track Requirements (19 hours)

Choose two of the following taxonomic courses (8 hours)

NOTE: These courses cannot be from the same taxonomic grouping (vertebrate, invertebrate, plant)

Choose two of the following theory courses (8 hours)

Biology Track Electives (15 hours)

[2.3] Chemistry Track (51 hours)

The emphasis of the chemistry track is to give students an appreciation for the critical balance of natural chemical phenomena and the perturbations induced by pollution. The environmental science core courses provide the chemistry track student a context in which environmental chemistry work is conducted and aid in understanding the importance of the chemical and biological data on which policy decisions are based.

Chemistry Track Requirements (41 hours)

Chemistry Track Electives (10 hours from the following)

[2.4] Planning and Administration Track (48 hours)

The Planning and Administration track bridges the gap between scientists gathering environmental data and administrators who formulate and implement programs and policies. This track will train students to work with numerous experts from diverse fields, to examine complex human-environment interactions and spatial relationships; synthesize various, often conflicting, perspectives; and to arrive at viable and practical solutions. Students will also learn to communicate scientific research to diverse audiences including government agencies, citizen committees, corporate decision-makers, and the public at large.

Graduates often find employment in both public and private agencies with environmental concerns. An especially effective and marketable skill developed in this track is the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which allows scientists and planners to map, analyze, and model environmental data, based on location.

The Planning and Administration track requires the completion of the Environmental Sciences common core curriculum (34 hours), plus required courses for the track (36 hours) and electives for the track (12 hours).

Planning and Administration Track Required Courses (36 hours)

Planning and Administration Track Electives (12 hours)

[3] Course Links

Follow this link for ENVR course descriptions: course link.
See the Courses Index for other courses.