Co-requisites for the B.S. Degree in Environmental Sciences

major requirements worksheet >

The following courses or their equivalents (Advanced Placement or transfer credit) are required for the B.S. degree. Approval of substitute courses taken at other universities must be obtained from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department offering the course. Please note that some of these courses are prerequisite to some upper-level courses in this major.

Major Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Environmental Sciences

1. Five Core Courses selected from the following six courses or course lists:
   EOS 102 (formerly EOS 160), Atmosphere and Oceans
   ENVIRON 160, Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
   EOS 107 (formerly EOS 172), Evolution of the Earth and Life
   EOS 123, Hydrology
        
   One ecology course from this list: Bio 110/ Env 110, Ecology; Bio 129, Marine Ecology; Bio 114/ Env 114 , Biological Oceanography; Bio 123/ Env 123, Analysis of Ocean Ecosystems; Bio 128L, Estuarine Ecology.
        
   One course on the interface between humans and the environment from this list: ENVIRON 101, Integrating Environmental Sciences and Policy; ENVIRON 105, Global Environmental Geography; ENVIRON 128, Conservation and Management of Protected Ares S. Africa; ENVIRON 129, Environmental Sciences and Policy of the Tropics (Costa Rica); ENVIRON 122, Climate-related Hazards and Humanity (Bermuda); ENVIRON 140, Scientist’s Perspective on Environmental Principles, Policy, Legislation (Bermuda); ENVIRON 149, U.S. Environmental Policy; BIO 109/ENV 209, Conservation Biology and Policy (Beaufort); ENVIRON 185, Senior Capstone Course.
        
2. Probability and Statistics: One course from the following approved list of courses dealing with statistical inference and probability theory: STA 101, 102, 103 or 112.
      
3. Focused Study: Three upper-level natural science, engineering or mathematics courses proposed by the student in consultation with his or her advisor form a concentration area. Students will submit to their advisora written rationale for the courses selected, which describes the general theme of the Focused Study, explains how the three proposed upper-level courses weave together to create a unified theme and shows how the Focused Study relates to career and/or graduate school interests.
   The final Focused Study essay must be approved by the advisor and filed in the Undergraduate Program Office by spring registration of the junior year. Students in the B.S. major are encouraged, but not required, to complete an independent study or field experience, which may or may not include course credit toward the Focus Study requirements. Many students choose to spend a semester abroad or at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC, taking courses toward their Focus Study requirement