Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

The environmental science program leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) prepares students for graduate school or careers in health and safety, natural resource management, public health, environmental consulting, environmental regulations, environmental education, and other related fields:

  • 42-44 s.h. of environmental science courses
  • 30-31 s.h. of support courses in science and mathematics
  • a prescribed minor of 12-19 s.h

The minor must include 9 s.h. of upper division courses (3000 level and above) and may be in:

  • biology or biomathematics
  • biological or forensic anthropology
  • biological or forensic anthropology
  • chemistry
  • economics
  • environmental engineering
  • environmental geography or geography
  • environmental health and safety
  • forensic science
  • geographic information science
  • geoscience or environmental geology
  • law enforcement
  • mathematics or statistics
  • mechanical engineering
  • public health

Credits may include those required for support science and mathematics, as applicable.  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 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.).

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement (met with MATH 1570 or 1571 in major)
Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.)6
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.)(Requirement met through science courses in major)0
Social Science (6 s.h.)6
Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.)6
Major Core Requirements
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory
4
ENST 2620Freshman/Sophomore Seminar1
ENST 3700
3700L
Environmental Chemistry
and Environmental Chemistry Lab
4
ENST 3730Air Quality3
ENST 3750Seminar1
ENST 3751Water Quality Analysis3
or ENST 3752 Soil Quality and Analysis
ENST 3780
ENST 3775
Environmental Research
and Research Methods for Undergraduate
4-5
or ENST 3784 Research Experience in Environmental Science
ENST 3790Internship/Cooperative4
ENST 5810Environmental Safety3
ENST 5860Environmental Regulations3
Upper Division Electives
Select 12 credit hours from ENST 3700 level courses or higher. 3-4 credit hours of a 3700 or higher level course may come from Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Civil/Environmental Engineering or select Geography courses.12-14
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)
BIOL 2601
2601L
General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory
4
GEOL 1505
1505L
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Laboratory (satisfies GER Science or Lab) 1
4
MATH 1571Calculus 1 24
or MATH 1570 Applied Calculus 1
GEOG 2611Geospatial Foundations3
PHYS 1501Fundamentals of Physics 14
or PHYS 2610 General Physics 1
Statistics--Take one of the following:
STAT 2601Introductory Statistics3-4
or STAT 2625 Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning
or STAT 3717 Statistical Methods
or STAT 3743 Probability and Statistics
Minor12
Electives to reach 1208
Total Semester Hours120-126
1

Satisfies General Education Science or Science Lab Domain.

2

Satisfies General Education Mathematics Domain.

3

 Satisfies General Education Science Domain.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500 Success Seminar 1
CHEM 1515
1515L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
4
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory
4
GER SS or AH Course 3
Additional Math if needed 0-4
 Semester Hours15-20
Spring
CHEM 1516
1516L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
4
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
ENST 2620 Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 1
Additional Math if needed 0-4
GER SS or AH course 3
GER SPA Course 3
 Semester Hours14-18
Year 2
Fall
MATH 1570
Applied Calculus 1
or Calculus 1
4
BIOL 2601
2601L
General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory
4
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
ENST 3730 Air Quality 3
 Semester Hours14
Spring
GEOL 1505
1505L
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Laboratory
4
GEOG 2611 Geospatial Foundations 3
ENST 3700 Environmental Chemistry 4
GER SPA Course 3
GER SS or AH Course 3
 Semester Hours17
Year 3
Fall
ENST 3781 Environmental Sampling Methods 3
ENST 5860 Environmental Regulations 3
ENST 3751
Water Quality Analysis
or Soil Quality and Analysis
3
Minor Course 3
GER SS or AH Course 3
 Semester Hours15
Spring
ENST 5800 Environmental Impact Assessment 3
ENST 3751 Water Quality Analysis 3
ENST 3750 Seminar 1
Minor Minor Course 3
Major Course > 3700 3
PHYS 1501
Fundamentals of Physics 1
or General Physics 1
4
 Semester Hours17
Year 4
Fall
ENST 5830 Toxicology and Risk Assessment 3
ENST 3790 Internship/Cooperative 4
Minor Course 3
Minor Course 3
Major Course > 3700 3
 Semester Hours16
Spring
ENST 3780
ENST 3775
Environmental Research
or Research Experience in Environmental Science
4-5
ENST 5810 Environmental Safety 1
Major Course > 3700 3
Major Course > 3700 3
Elective 1
 Semester Hours12-13
 Total Semester Hours120-130
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 Environmental Science Program educates students in the fundamental knowledge about the environment, its resources, processes, and the changes and problems that have occurred and potential solutions to those problems. The student learning outcomes for the BS in environmental science are:

Interdisciplinary: Demonstrate an understanding of basic environmental processes and the contributions of different scientific and social disciplines to environmental issues.

Research: Properly apply the scientific method to research an environmental question including design of experiments, acquisition of data (qualitative and quantitative), and articulate results in discussions and conclusions.

Communicate: Effectively converse using the language, concepts, and models of environmental science in written, visual, and numerical formats for specific and general audiences.

Problem Solving: Demonstrate the ability to identify and apply appropriate field, laboratory, or modeling methods to address environmental problems and propose sustainable solutions.

Critical Thinking: Students will utilize their understanding of pollution and environmental systems and published information to systematically, creatively, and analytically examine current issues.