2014-2015 University Catalog

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2014-2015 University Catalog

Environmental Science, BS

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Banner Code: SC-BS-EVSC

The BS in environmental science provides students with rigorous training in the fundamental science of the environment, and the application of the key scientific principles to the analysis of environmental processes and problems and to the development of practical responses to those problems. The program covers ecological systems, environmental policy and the fundamental techniques of environmental science and engineering, protection and improvement of environmental quality, environmental policy. Graduates of the program are prepared to undertake careers in a variety of environmental science fields, and are also qualified to pursue advanced scientific/professional education.

Students select a concentration in conservation, ecological science, environmental health, human and ecosystem response to climate change or marine, estuarine and freshwater ecology. Through the course work below, environmental science majors satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science, quantitative reasoning, and synthesis. Students can fulfill the writing intensive requirement for this major by taking BIOL 308 .

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees including the Mason Core .

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see the Academic Policies section of the catalog.

This has been designated a Green Leaf program. For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses .

This program of study is offered by the Department of Environmental Science and Policy in the College of Science .

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements

Environmental Science (35-37 credits)

EVPP 110 - The Ecosphere: An Introduction to Environmental Science I Credits: 4
EVPP 111 - The Ecosphere: An Introduction to Environmental Science II Credits: 4
or
BIOL 213 - Cell Structure and Function Credits: 4
PHYS 101 - Light and Sound in Our World Credits: 3
EVPP 305 - Environmental Microbiology Essentials Credits: 3
EVPP 306 - Environmental Microbiology Essentials Laboratory Credits: 1
EVPP 361 - Introduction to Environmental Policy Credits: 3
EVPP 377 - Applied Ecology Credits: 3
EVPP 430 - Fundamentals of Environmental Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
BIOL 214 - Biostatistics for Biology Majors Credits: 4
BIOL 308 - Foundations of Ecology and Evolution Credits: 5
one of the following four courses:
EVPP 336 - Human Dimensions of the Environment Credits: 3 *
EVPP 337 - Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries Credits: 3
EVPP 338 - Economics of Environmental Policy Credits: 3
EVPP 362 - Intermediate Environmental Policy Credits: 3
one of the following six courses which fulfill the Mason Core synthesis requirement:
EVPP 335 - People, Plants, and Culture Credits: 3
EVPP 480 - Sustainability in Action Credits: 4
GEOL 420 - Earth Science and Policy Credits: 3
GGS 303 - Conservation of Resources and Environment Credits: 3
GGS 304 - Populations Dimensions of Global Change Credits: 3
CONS 490 - Integrated Conservation Strategies Credits: 3 (only to students attending the Mason-Smithsonian semester)
PHIL 343 - Topics in Environmental Philosophy Credits: 3
* Students in the Human and Ecosystem Response to Climate Change concentration may not take EVPP 336 to fulfill this portion of the core. They must take EVPP 337.

Chemistry (8 credits)

CHEM 211 - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHEM 212 - General Chemistry Credits: 4

Mathematics (7-8 credits)

MATH 111 - Linear Mathematical Modeling Credits: 3
MATH 113 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credits: 4
MATH 114 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II Credits: 4

Geology (4 credits)

GEOL 102 - Introductory Geology II Credits: 4

Information Technology (3 credits)

CDS 130 - Computing for Scientists Credits: 3 (fulfills Mason Core requirement for information technology)

Concentrations (24 credits)

Students select a concentration in aquatic ecology, conservation, ecological science, environmental health, human and ecosystem response to climate change. Students take 24 credits of course work as indicated below for the selected concentration.

▲ Concentration in Conservation (CNSV)

Students must take at least 24 credits from the list below. CONS courses (except CONS 498 and CONS 499 ) are offered exclusively through the Mason-Smithsonian Semester

EVPP 318 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3
EVPP 378 - Ecological Sustainability Credits: 4
EVPP 395 - Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-3
EVPP 396 - Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-4
EVPP 419 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 420 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Field Course Credits: 1
EVPP 421 - Marine Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 427 - Disease Ecology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 440 - Field Environmental Science Credits: 0-4
EVPP 490 - Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 0-4
BIOL 310 - Biodiversity Credits: 5
BIOL 435 - Selected Topics in Biology Credits: 0-4
CONS 320 - Conservation in Practice Credits: 3
CONS 401 - Conservation Theory Credits: 3
CONS 402 - Applied Conservation Credits: 4
CONS 403 - Ecology and Conservation Theory Credits: 3
CONS 404 - Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Credits: 4
CONS 410 - Human Dimensions in Conservation Credits: 3
CONS 411 - Science Communication for Conservation Credits: 3
CONS 420 - Human-Wildlife Conflict Credits: 3
CONS 490 - Integrated Conservation Strategies Credits: 3
CONS 491 - Comprehensive Conservation Planning Credits: 3
CONS 497 - Special Topics in Conservation Credits: 1-3
CONS 498 - Internship Credits: 1-3
CONS 499 - Independent Study/Research Credits: 1-3
GGS 303 - Conservation of Resources and Environment Credits: 3
GGS 307 - Sustainable Development Credits: 3
NCLC 311 - The Mysteries of Migration: Consequences for Conservation Credits: 6
PRLS 300 - People with Nature Credits: 3
PRLS 402 - Human Behavior in Natural Environments Credits: 3
additional courses approved by the program coordinator
NOTE: all CONS courses (except CONS 498 and CONS 499 ) are offered through the Smithsonian-Mason semester

Total: 24 credits

▲ Concentration in Ecological Science (ECSI)

Students must take 24 credits from the following:

EVPP 350 - Freshwater Ecosystems Credits: 4
EVPP 355 - Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Restoration Credits: 4
EVPP 378 - Ecological Sustainability Credits: 4
EVPP 395 - Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-3
EVPP 396 - Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-4
EVPP 408 - Mushrooms, Molds and Society Credits: 3
EVPP 427 - Disease Ecology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 440 - Field Environmental Science Credits: 0-4
EVPP 490 - Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 0-4
BIOL 310 - Biodiversity Credits: 5
BIOL 345 - Plant Ecology Credits: 4
BIOL 435 - Selected Topics in Biology Credits: 0-4
BIOL 449 - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
BIOL 459 - Fungi and Ecosystems Credits: 3
GEOL 305 - Environmental Geology Credits: 3
GEOL 306 - Soil Science Credits: 3
GEOL 309 - Introduction to Oceanography Credits: 3
GGS 307 - Sustainable Development Credits: 3
additional courses approved by the program coordinator

Total: 24 credits

▲ Concentration in Environmental Health (EVHL)

EVPP 445 - Principles of Environmental Toxicology Credits: 3
and 21 credits from the following:
EVPP 395 - Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-3
EVPP 396 - Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-4
EVPP 409 - Medical Mycology Credits: 3
EVPP 427 - Disease Ecology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 440 - Field Environmental Science Credits: 0-4
EVPP 490 - Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 0-4
EVPP 515 - Molecular Environmental Biology I Credits: 3
BIOL 402 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology Credits: 3
BIOL 404 - Medical Microbiology Credits: 3
BIOL 465 - Histology Credits: 4
CHEM 505 - Hazardous Materials Waste Management Credits: 1-3
CEIE 555 - Principles of Environmental Engineering Credits: 3
GCH 205 - Global Health Credits: 3 (fulfills Mason Core requirement for global understanding)
GCH 360 - Health and Environment Credits: 3
GCH 560 - Environmental Health Credits: 3
GGS 302 - Global Environmental Hazards Credits: 3
GGS 304 - Populations Dimensions of Global Change Credits: 3
GGS 307 - Sustainable Development Credits: 3
GGS 319 - Air Pollution Credits: 3
GGS 322 - Issues in Global Change Credits: 3
additional courses approved by the program coordinator

Total: 24 credits

▲ Concentration in Human and Ecosystem Response to Climate Change (HERC)

EVPP 336 - Human Dimensions of the Environment Credits: 3
CLIM 101 - Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society Credits: 3
GGS 121 - Dynamic Atmosphere and Hydrosphere Credits: 4
and choose either
GGS 309 - Meteorology and Climate Credits: 3
or
CLIM 314
or GGS 314 - Severe and Extreme Weather Credits: 3
Also, select 8 credits from the following:
EVPP 355 - Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Restoration Credits: 4
EVPP 378 - Ecological Sustainability Credits: 4
EVPP 395 - Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-3
EVPP 396 - Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-4
EVPP 427 - Disease Ecology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 436 - The Human Dimensions of Global Climate Change Credits: 3
EVPP 440 - Field Environmental Science Credits: 0-4
EVPP 490 - Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 0-4
CLIM 111 - Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science Credits: 3
CLIM 112 - Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science Lab Credits: 1
CLIM 312
or GGS 312 - Physical Climatology Credits: 3
CLIM 319
or GGS 319 - Air Pollution Credits: 3
CLIM 412 - Physical Oceanography Credits: 3
GEOL 309 - Introduction to Oceanography Credits: 3
GGS 302 - Global Environmental Hazards Credits: 3
GGS 304 - Populations Dimensions of Global Change Credits: 3
GGS 307 - Sustainable Development Credits: 3
GGS 321 - Biogeography: Space, Time and Life Credits: 3
GGS 322 - Issues in Global Change Credits: 3
GGS 353 - Observations of the Earth and its Climate Credits: 3
GGS 354 - Data Analysis and Global Change Detection Techniques Credits: 3
GGS 456 - Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation Credits: 3
additional courses approved by the program coordinator

Total: 24 credits

▲ Concentration in Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Ecology (MEFC)

EVPP 350 - Freshwater Ecosystems Credits: 4
EVPP 421 - Marine Conservation Credits: 3
GEOL 309 - Introduction to Oceanography Credits: 3
BIOL 449 - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
and at least 11 credits from the following:
EVPP 318 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3
EVPP 363 - Coastal Morphology and Processes Credits: 4
EVPP 380 - Wetlands of the World Credits: 4
EVPP 395 - Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-3
EVPP 396 - Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy Credits: 1-4
EVPP 419 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 420 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Field Course Credits: 1
EVPP 427 - Disease Ecology and Conservation Credits: 3
EVPP 440 - Field Environmental Science Credits: 0-4
BIOL 331 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
BIOL 480 - The Diversity of Fishes Credits: 3
GEOL 364 - Marine Geology Credits: 3
GEOL 458 - Chemical Oceanography Credits: 3
GGS 307 - Sustainable Development Credits: 3
CLIM 412 - Physical Oceanography Credits: 3
NCLC 318 - Exploring Virginia's Watersheds Credits: 4
additional courses approved by the program coordinator

Total: 24 credits

Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits

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