Mar 28, 2024  
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Science, B.S.


Geosciences  
615-904-8019
Clay Harris, program coordinator

Clay.Harris@mtsu.edu

The Environmental Science major is an interdisciplinary degree that integrates knowledge from various scientific fields. It features a strong foundation in the geosciences with support courses from chemistry, physics, biology, and math. Coursework includes such topics as environmental issues and impacts, energy resources and recovery, climate and climate change, and geographic information systems.

Students will find career opportunities within both the private and public sector. Typical employment opportunities exist in various local, regional, and national government agencies, and as environmental consultants in air and water quality oversight, pollution control and mitigation, environmental analysis and resource assessment, and hazardous and sanitary waste management.

The degree program includes a capstone experience with opportunities for academic research, study abroad, field courses to a variety of locations, or an internship in local government or industry. Students can choose the best fit for their career goals with the guidance of their faculty mentor.

Academic Map


Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Environmental Science, B.S., Academic Map  

Degree Requirements


General Education 41 hours
Major Requirements 77 hours
     Major Core    29-30 hours
     Math/Science Cognate    20 hours*
     Capstone Experience    6-8 hours
     ES Mentor-Approved Electives    21-24 hours
Electives 2-13 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the General Education curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill General Education requirements, the number of elective hours will increase.

General Education (41 hours)


General Education  requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following courses required by the program meet General Education requirements:

Math/Science Cognate (20 hours)


NOTE: Students who take CHEM 1110 /CHEM 1111  or BIOL 1110 /BIOL 1111  or PHYS 2010 /PHYS 2011  for General Education credit must take second semester course(s) as part of cognate.

Capstone Experience Courses (6-8 hours)


After earning 90 credit hours toward the Environmental Science program, students must complete a capstone experience including at least 6-8 upper-division credit hours from the courses below. The capstone experience must be approved by the Environmental Science faculty mentor.

Environmental Science Mentor-Approved Electives (21-24 hours)


  • A minimum of 11-14 hours (depending on major courses and capstone experience) must be at 3000/4000 level. NOTE: Mentor-approved electives may not be PGEO or GEOL courses.

Electives (2-13 hours)


Curriculum: Environmental Science


Curricular listings include General Education  requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Students should consult their advisors each semester to plan their schedules.

Freshman Fall


Subtotal: 13 Hours


Freshman Spring


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Sophomore Fall


Subtotal: 13 Hours


Sophomore Spring


Subtotal: 13 Hours


Junior Fall


Subtotal: 17 Hours


Junior Spring


Subtotal: 16-17 Hours


Senior Fall


Subtotal: 16-17 Hours


Senior Spring


  • General or mentor-approved elective 2 credit hours
  • Mentor-approved electives 6 credit hours
  • Capstone experience 3 to 4 credit hours
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 14-16 Hours