THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units
See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major adviser or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.
Please see General Education, Cultural Diversity, American Institutions, and Literacy Requirements under the BS in Geosciences.
Course Requirements for the Major: 69-72 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.
DEGREE CORE PROGRAM: 50 units
Lower-Division Requirements: 36 units
8 courses required:
| BIOL | 151 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 152 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
| CHEM | 111 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
| CHEM | 112 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
| GEOS | 102 | Physical Geology | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: High school chemistry or physics is recommended; students with no previous science courses are advised to enroll in GEOS 101. No college credit for those who have passed GEOS 101.
| GEOS | 250 | Computer Apps in Geoscience | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Prior or concurrent enrollment in MATH 120, or consent of instructor.
| MATH | 120 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
| MATH | 121 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; MATH 120 with a grade of C- or higher.
2 courses selected from:
| PHYS | 202A | General Physics | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
AND (Both the above and following course must be taken)
| PHYS | 202B | General Physics | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.
Or two of the following three courses may be substituted for PHYS 202A and PHYS 202B.
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 121 (second semester of calculus) or equivalent.
| PHYS | 204B | Electricity and Magnetism | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.
| PHYS | 204C | Heat/Wave Motion/Sound/Light | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.
Students who are considering attending graduate school should consult with an adviser before selecting lower-division core courses. We recommend PHYS 204A, PHYS 204B, and PHYS 204C.
Upper-Division Requirements: 14 units
5 courses required:
| BIOL | 400 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission. Some taxonomic background is recommended.
| GEOS | 300 | Earth System Science | 3.0 | FA WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; CHEM 107 or equivalent; PHYS 202A, PHYS 202B.
| GEOS | 330 | Environmental Science | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: One course from Breadth Area B1 and one course from Breadth Area B2 of the General Education requirements.
| GEOS | 331 | Environmental Science Lab | 2.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: Either CHEM 107 or CHEM 111, one course from Breadth Area B2.
| GEOS | 575 | Senior Project | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: Senior standing in Hydrology or Environmental Science Options.
Major Option Course Requirements: 19-22 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
THE OPTION IN APPLIED ECOLOGY: 22 units
Lower-Division Requirements: 2 units
1 course required:
| GEOS | 270 | California Water | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: One course from Breadth Area B1 of General Education.
Upper-Division Requirements: 20 units
6 courses required:
| BIOL | 402 | Microbial Ecology | 4.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152. Recommended: BIOL 211.
| BIOL | 404 | Aquatic Ecology | 4.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, CHEM 112.
| CHEM | 440 | Environmental Chemistry | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| GEOG | 427 | Environmental Impact Analysis | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: GEOG 320 or equivalent.
| GEOS | 535 | Pollution Ecology | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: Chem 038.
| GEOS | 536 | Applied Ecology | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: BIOL 400.
THE OPTION IN EARTH RESOURCE SCIENCE: 19 units
Upper-Division Requirements: 19 units
6 courses required:
| GEOS | 306 | Mineralogy and Lithology | 4.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent; or faculty permission.
Prerequisites: GEOS 203 and GEOS 306 (both may be taken concurrently), or faculty permission.
| GEOS | 360 | Field Methods | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: GEOS 306, GEOS 307.
| GEOS | 361 | Preparing Geological Reports | 1.0 | SP WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, GEOS 360.
Prerequisites: GEOS 270; PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently).
| GEOS | 570 | Environmental/Engineering Geol | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: GEOS 102, GEOS 203, GEOS 306. For majors in related sciences and technical fields, GEOS 102.
1 course selected from:
| GEOS | 390 | Surficial Processes | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: MATH 120; either PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A.
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 306, MATH 120; either PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A; either GEOS 270 or GEOS 380. Recommended: GEOS 307.
| GEOS | 545 | Applied Geophysics | 3.0 | S2 |
Prerequisites: One year of physics, GEOS 102, or faculty permission.
THE OPTION IN ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY: 19-20 units
Lower-Division Requirements: 4 units
1 course required:
| CHEM | 270 | Organic Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
Upper-Division Requirements: 15-16 units
3 courses required:
| CHEM | 320 | Quantitative Analysis | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| CHEM | 440 | Environmental Chemistry | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| CHEM | 445 | Environmental Toxicology | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
6-7 units selected from:
| CHEM | 370 | Organic Chemistry | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
| CHEM | 370L | Organic Chem Laboratory | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 370 may be taken as a prerequisite or concurrently with CHEM 370L.
| CHEM | 425 | Basic Instrumental Analysis | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, CHEM 112.
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 102. Recommended: GEOS 306.
NOTE: If CHEM 370 is selected, CHEM 370L must also be taken.
THE OPTION IN WATERSHED SCIENCE: 20 units
Lower-Division Requirements: 2 units
1 course required:
| GEOS | 260 | Environmental Soil Science | 2.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently).
Upper-Division Requirements: 18 units
6 courses required:
| GEOG | 427 | Environmental Impact Analysis | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: GEOG 320 or equivalent.
Prerequisites: GEOS 270; PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently).
| GEOS | 390 | Surficial Processes | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: MATH 120; either PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A.
| GEOS | 410 | Intro to Watershed Hydrology | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: GEOS 380 or concurrent enrollment in GEOS 415 or prior hydrology course work and consent of instructor.
| GEOS | 460 | Water Resources Management | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GEOS 330 or GEOS 380.
| GEOS | 535 | Pollution Ecology | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: Chem 038.
Students should consult with an adviser regarding selection of courses which will apply to a Biological Science or Chemistry minor.
Please see the Electives, Grading, and Advising Requirements under the BS in Geosciences.