The environmental studies program leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree will prepare students to enter the job market as environmental specialists or to continue in their education in a graduate program. Students in environmental studies will complete:
- 34 s.h. of environmental studies courses
- 26-27 s.h. of support courses in science and mathematics
- a prescribed minor of 18 s.h
The minor must include 9 s.h. of upper division courses (3000 level and above) and may be in:
- chemistry
- biological sciences
- environmental geology
- environmental geography
- economics
- political science
Credits may include those required for support science and mathematics, as applicable. The courses for the minor must be offered in one department. The student is welcome to take additional courses in other departments as electives. Students are encouraged to develop teamwork, communication, computer and problem-solving skills. This degree may be earned in eight semesters if students average 15.5 hours per semester.
Majors transferring in from other programs at YSU or from other universities may use up free electives and/or require additional semesters or summers of study. College and university requirements apply (total hours, upper division hours, general education goals, etc.). One writing intensive, oral intensive, critical thinking intensive, and capstone course can be satisfied within this program.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Competencies | 12 | |
| Writing 1 | ||
| Writing 2 | ||
| Communication Foundations | ||
Mathematics Requirement | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 6 | |
| Natural Science | 6 | |
| Social Science | 6 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness | 6 | |
| General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ENST 2600 & 2600L | Foundations of Environmental Studies and Foundations of Environmental Studies Laboratory | 4 |
| ENST 3700 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| ENST 3730 | Air Quality | 3 |
| ENST 3750 | Seminar | 1 |
| ENST 3751 | Water Quality Analysis | 3 |
| ENST 3780 | Environmental Research | 2 |
| ENST 3781 | Environmental Sampling Methods (b) | 3 |
| ENST 3790 | Internship/Cooperative | 4 |
| ENST 5800 | Environmental Impact Assessment (c) | 3 |
| ENST 5810 | Environmental Safety | 1 |
| ENST 5830 | Risk Assessment (d) | 3 |
| ENST 5860 | Environmental Regulations | 3 |
| Support Courses in Science and Mathematics | ||
| BIOL 2601 & 2601L | General Biology: Molecules and Cells and General Biology: Molecules and Cells Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1515 & 1515L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1516 & 1516L | General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Recitation for General Chemistry 1 and Recitation for General Chemistry 2 (optional) | ||
| GEOL 1505 & 1505L | Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory (satisfies GER Science or Lab) 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1571 | Calculus 1 2 | 4 |
| or MATH 1570 | Applied Calculus 1 | |
| Support Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6-7 | |
| Fundamentals of Physics 1 (recommended for Technology minors) 3 | ||
| Weather (recommended for Geography minors) | ||
| Statistical Methods (recommended for upper-division credit) | ||
or STAT 2601 | Introductory Statistics | |
| Total Semester Hours | 99-100 | |
| 1 | Satisfies General Education Science or Science Lab Domain. |
| 2 | Satisfies General Education Mathematics Domain. |
| 3 | Satisfies General Education Science Domain. |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| CHEM 1515 & 1515L |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (R, NS) |
4 |
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 (GE) | 3 |
| ENST 2600 & 2600L |
Foundations of Environmental Studies and Foundations of Environmental Studies Laboratory (R) |
4 |
| GER SS or AH course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 1516 & 1516L |
General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (R, NS) |
4 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 (GE) | 3 |
| Elective Support Course (R) 1 | 3 | |
| GER SS or AH course | 3 | |
| GER SPA Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 1570 or MATH 1571 |
Applied Calculus 1 (GE) or Calculus 1 |
4 |
| BIOL 2601 & 2601L |
General Biology: Molecules and Cells and General Biology: Molecules and Cells Laboratory (R, NS) |
4 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations (GE) | 3 |
| ENST 3730 | Air Quality (R) | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 1505 & 1505L |
Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory (R) |
4 |
| Support Course (R) 1 | 3 | |
| GER SPA Course | 3 | |
| GER SS or AH course | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENST 3700 & 3700L |
Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry Lab (R) |
4 |
| ENST 3781 | Environmental Sampling Methods (R) | 3 |
| ENST 5860 | Environmental Regulations (R) | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENST 5800 | Environmental Impact Assessment (R) | 3 |
| ENST 3751 | Water Quality Analysis (R) | 3 |
| ENST 3750 | Seminar (R) | 1 |
| Minor Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course > 3700 | 3 | |
| GER SS or AH course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENST 5830 | Risk Assessment (R) | 3 |
| ENST 3790 | Internship/Cooperative (R) | 4 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Upper Division Course > 3700 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENST 3780 | Environmental Research (R) | 2-4 |
| ENST 5810 | Environmental Safety (R) | 1 |
| Minor Course > 3700 | 3 | |
| Minor Course > 3700 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Course > 3700 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 12-14 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| 1 | Elective support courses, select two of the following: PHYS 1501 Fundamentals of Physics 1, GEOG 2630 Weather, or STAT 2601 Introductory Statistics or STAT 3717 Statistical Methods. |
Request a Graduation Evaluation after completing 80-85 s.h. from the STEM Advising Center, 2325 Moser Hall, (330) 941-2512.
Learning Outcomes
The student learning outcomes for the BS in environmental studies are as follows:
- Communicate effectively using the language, concepts, and models of environmental science in written, visual, and numerical formats.
- Properly apply the scientific method to research an environmental problem and formulate conclusions.
- Demonstrate ability to apply appropriate field- and laboratory-based methods (of acquiring, quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing and interpreting environmental data and information).
- Demonstrate understanding of pollution sources, pollution prevention strategies, and waste management.