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Undergraduate Catalog Archive: Fall 2011 - Summer 2012
Base Catalog

Undergraduate Catalog F11-S12 Base Archive

Environmental Sciences MajorB.S. in Environmental Sciences

The general requirements, including university core curriculum and college requirements, shall apply. In addition to the general requirements, students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences must complete the following:

Degree Requirements

Geology Requirements (6-7 hours):
Course
Course Name
GEOL 1330 and GEOL 1130
or
GEOL 1340
Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory
or
Introduction to Earth Systems
GEOL 1302
or
GEOL 1350
Introduction to Global Climate Change
or
Introduction to Meteorology
Course
Course Name
Biology Requirements (8 hours):
BIOL 1361
Introduction to Biological Science
BIOL 1161
Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory
BIOL 1362
Introduction to Biological Science
BIOL 1162
Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory
Course
Course Name
Computer Science Requirements (4 hours):
COSC 1410
Introduction to Computer Science
Course
Course Name
Chemistry Requirements (8 hours):
CHEM 1331
Fundamentals of Chemistry
CHEM 1111
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 1332
Fundamentals of Chemistry
CHEM 1112
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory
Course
Course Name
Mathematics Requirements (15 hours):
MATH 1431
Calculus I
MATH 1432
Calculus II
MATH 2331
Linear Algebra
MATH 2433
Calculus III
Course
Course Name
Physics Requirements (8 hours):
PHYS 1321
University Physics I
PHYS 1121
Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1322
University Physics II
PHYS 1122
Physics Laboratory II
Course
Course Name
ENVS Electives Requirements (at least 9 hours):
ENVS 3301
Data Analysis in Environmental Science
ENVS 4301
Environmental Science and Public Policy
ENVS 4302
Legislative and Regulatory Aspects of Environmental Science
ENVS 4351
Environmental Mathematics and Differential Equations
ENVS 4352
Environmental Fluid Dynamics

Group 1 Electives:

Group 1 Electives (at least 12 hours):
Course
Course Name
MATH 3331
Differential Equations
COSC 3361
Numerical Methods I
GEOL 3331
Environmental Geology
GEOL 3342
Introduction to Air Pollution
GEOL 3377
Oceanography
GEOL 3378
Principles of Atmospheric Science

Group 2 Electives (at least 12 hours from one of the following Options 1, 2, 3a or 3b):

Course
Course Name
Option 1: Environmental Chemistry (12 hours):
CHEM 3119
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 3221
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 3222
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 3331
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
CHEM 3332
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
CHEM 3369
Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 4229
Instrumental Methods of Analysis Laboratory
CHEM 4369
Instrumental Methods of Analysis
CHEM 4373
Survey of Physical Chemistry
4000-level
Approved elective
Course
Course Name
Option 2: Environmental Modeling (12 hours):
MATH 3338
Probability
MATH 3339
Statistics
MATH 3363
Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
MATH 4364
Numerical Analysis
4000-level
Approved elective
Course
Course Name
Option 3a: Environmental Geosciences (12 hours):
GEOL 3338
Environmental Hydrogeology
GEOL 3340
Geologic Field Methods
GEOL 3370
Mineralogy
GEOL 3383
Remote Sensing
GEOL 4331
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GEOL 4366
Groundwater Modeling
Upper division
Approved elective
Course
Course Name
Option 3b: Atmospheric Sciences (12 hours):
GEOL 3380
Physical Meteorology
GEOL 3381
Micrometeorology
GEOL 3382
Atmospheric Chemistry
GEOL 3383
Remote Sensing
GEOL 4333
Mesoscale Meteorology
GEOL 4341
Dynamic Meteorology
Upper division
Approved elective
  • Other Core requirements, excluding capstone (30 hours):
  • Electives, including course(s) required for capstone (8-9 hours):
  • TOTAL (minimum number of hours): 120

The Bachelor of Science degree requires completion of a minimum of 120 hours, at least 36 of which are to be advanced hours. Students must earn a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in all courses attempted at the university. In addition, students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all courses in the major and in Core courses attempted at the university. Students must have no more than 6 semester hours with grades below C- in all courses attempted in the major, which includes all the ENVS Electives and Group 2 Electives. Any student exceeding that limit must retake sufficient courses and obtain acceptable grades so that they do no exceed the two-course limit.

Capstone Requirement

All students in NSM must complete the Capstone requirement. Students may satisfy the Capstone in a number of ways, e.g. by completing an approved minor, a double major, a senior research project, a senior honors thesis, or 6 hours of NSM-designated interdisciplinary capstone courses (e.g. GEOL 3355-3360).

Departmental Requirements

No GEOL course with a grade below C- can be used as a prerequisite for a more advanced GEOL course.

Students with more than 6 hours in GEOL courses with grades below C- are not allowed to enroll in subsequent GEOL courses without written permission from the undergraduate advisor.

Note that all undergraduate majors should meet with the Faculty Advisor prior to registration each semester.

Suggested Program Plan for Environmental Chemistry Option (1) or Environmental Modeling Option (2)

First Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1303. First Year Writing I 3
CHEM 1331 and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
BIOL 1361 and 1161. Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory 4
MATH 1431. Calculus I 4
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1304. First Year Writing II 3
CHEM 1332 and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
BIOL 1362 and 1162. Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory 4
MATH 1432. Calculus II 4
Total 15

Second Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours

GEOL 1350. Introduction to Meteorology
or
GEOL 1302. Global Climate Change

 3
HIST 1377. The United States to 1877 or equivalent 3
MATH 2331. Linear Algebra 3
Social and Behavioral Science Core 3
Humanities Core 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
GEOL 1330 and 1130. Physical Geology and Laboratory
or
GEOL 1340. Introduction to Earth Systems		 3-4
COSC 1410. Introduction to Computer Science 4
PHYS 1321 and 1121. University Physics I and Laboratory 4
HIST 1378. The United States Since 1877
 3
Total 14-15

Third Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
MATH 2433. Calculus III 4
PHYS 1322 and 1112. University Physics II and Laboratory 4
Group 1 elective 3
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 1 or Option 2) 3
Elective 1-2
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 1 electives 6
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 1 or Option 2) 3
Visual and Performing Arts Core Course 3
Writing in the Discipline Core Course 3
Total 15

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 1 elective 3
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 1 or Option 2) 3
ENVS electives 6
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or equivalent 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 1 or Option 2) 3
ENVS electives 6
NSM Capstone Course 3
POLS 1337. US Government: Congress, President, and Courts or equivalent 3
Total 15

Suggested Program Plan for Environmental Geology Option (3a)

First Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1303. Freshman Composition I 3
CHEM 1331 and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
BIOL 1361 and 1161. Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory 4
MATH 1431. Calculus I 4
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1304. Freshman Composition II 3
CHEM 1332 and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
BIOL 1362 and 1162. Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory 4
MATH 1432. Calculus II 4
Total 15

Second Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours

GEOL 1350. Introduction to Meteorology
or
GEOL 1302. Global Climate Change

 3
HIST 1377. The United States to 1877
 3
MATH 2331. Linear Algebra 3
Social and Behavioral Science Core 3
Humanities Core 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
GEOL 1330 and 1130. Physical Geology and Laboratory
4
COSC 1410. Introduction to Computer Science 4
PHYS 1321 and 1121. University Physics I and Laboratory 4
HIST 1378. The United States Since 1877
 3
Total 15

Third Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
MATH 2433. Calculus III 4
PHYS 1322 and 1112. University Physics II and Laboratory 4
Group 1 elective 3
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3a) 3
Elective 1
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 1 electives 6
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3a) 3
Visual and Performing Arts Core Course 3
Writing in the Discipline Core Course 3
Total 15

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 1 elective 3
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3a) 3
ENVS electives 6
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or equivalent 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3a) 3
ENVS electives 6
NSM Capstone Course 3
POLS 1337. US Government: Congress, President, and Courts or equivalent 3
Total 15

Suggested Program Plan for Atmospheric Science Option (3b)

First Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1303. Freshman Composition I 3
CHEM 1331 and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
BIOL 1361 and 1161. Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory 4
MATH 1431. Calculus I 4
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1304. Freshman Composition II 3
CHEM 1332 and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
BIOL 1362 and 1162. Introduction to Biological Science and Laboratory 4
MATH 1432. Calculus II 4
Total 15

Second Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours

GEOL 1350. Introduction to Meteorology

 3
HIST 1377. The United States to 1877
 3
MATH 2331. Linear Algebra 3
Social and Behavioral Science Core 3
Humanities Core 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
GEOL 1330 and 1130. Physical Geology and Laboratory
4
COSC 1410. Introduction to Computer Science 4
PHYS 1321 and 1121. University Physics I and Laboratory 4
HIST 1378. The United States Since 1877
 3
Total 15

Third Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
MATH 2433. Calculus III 4
PHYS 1322 and 1112. University Physics II and Laboratory 4
Group 1 elective 3
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3b) 3
Elective 1
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 1 electives 6
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3b) 3
Visual and Performing Arts Core Course 3
Writing in the Discipline Core Course 3
Total 15

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 1 elective 3
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 3b) 3
ENVS electives 6
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or equivalent 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Group 2 elective (selected from Option 13b) 3
ENVS electives 6
NSM Capstone Course 3
POLS 1337. US Government: Congress, President, and Courts or equivalent 3
Total 15

Catalog Publish Date: August 18, 2011
This Page Last Updated: June 30, 2011
Effective Date of Archive: December 19, 2011