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 science will complete:

  • 36-39 s.h. of environmental studies courses
  • 30-31 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:

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

Credits may include those required for support science and mathematics, as applicable.  The minor must be approved by the University. 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.). One writing intensive, oral intensive, critical thinking intensive, and capstone course can be satisfied within this program.

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
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement (met with MATH in major)
Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.)6
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.)0
Requirement met through science courses in major
Social Science (6 s.h.)6
Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.)6
Core Requirements
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory
4
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 3780Environmental Research2
or ENST 3784 Research Experience in Environmental Science
ENST 3790Internship/Cooperative4
ENST 5810Environmental Safety3
Core Options, select 1
ENST 4822Water Pollution Control3
or ENST 5800 Environmental Impact Assessment
or ENST 5830 Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Select 3 ENST Electives (any >3700). One course may come from these electives:
GEOL 5817Environmental Geochemistry3
BIOL 3780General Ecology5
GEOL 5815Geology and the Environment 23
GEOG 3703Human Impacts on the Environment3
CEEN 3717Hydraulic Design4
BIOL Course >3700
Support Courses in Science and Mathematics
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 2602
2602L
General Biology 2: Organisms and Ecology
and General Biology: Organisms and Ecology 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
STAT 2601Introductory Statistics3
or STAT 2625 Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning
or STAT 3717 Statistical Methods
or STAT 3743 Probability and Statistics
PHYS 1501Fundamentals of Physics 14
or PHYS 2610 General Physics 1
Minor
Select 17 s.h. from approved minors; 1/3 must be at the 3700 level or higher17
Total Semester Hours120-121
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500 Success Seminar 1
CHEM 1515
1515L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (R, NS)
4
ENGL 1550
Writing 1 (GE)
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory (R)
4
GER SS or AH course 3
 Semester Hours15-16
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 Hours16
Year 2
Fall
MATH 1570
Applied Calculus 1 (GE)
or Calculus 1
4
BIOL 2601
2601L
General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory (R, NS)
4
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations (GE) 3
ENST 3730 Air Quality (R) 3
 Semester Hours14
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 Hours16
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 Hours16
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 Hours16
Year 4
Fall
ENST 5830 Toxicology and Risk Assessment (R) 3
ENST 3790 Internship/Cooperative (R) 4
Minor Course 3
Minor Course 3
Upper Division Course > 3700 3
 Semester Hours16
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 Hours12-14
 Total Semester Hours121-124

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 science 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.