Biological & Environmental Sciences

Environmental Science Courses & Requirements

Degrees Offered:

  • B.A.: Environmental Science
  • B.S.: Environmental Science, Environmental Science with AYA Integrated Science Education Licensure
  • Minor: Environmental Studies

Course Listings

Degree Overview:

Environmental Science Major

Students interested in a B.A. or B.S. can complete course and independent research or applied project work focused on:

  • climate change
  • conservation biology
  • aquatic ecosystems
  • stream resources
  • water resources
  • environmental justice
  • wildlife management

Students work with their advisor and the program director to discuss interests and develop a plan of study.

Environmental Studies Minor

Students need a broad range of courses to understand thoroughly and work successfully on environmental problems that are inherently interdisciplinary. This minor gives an environmental focus to any major and offers the breadth of knowledge that complements the in-depth study required of a traditional discipline. Our graduates develop the problem-solving skills and critical-thinking ability that make them more appealing to prospective employers and graduate schools. Many of our minors have interest in environmental education, urban sustainability, or other issues that draw from many disciplines.

Interdepartmental Major

With the approval of the provost and the Environmental Science Program Committee, students can create an interdepartmental major composed of courses selected from several departments but all contributing to some unified purpose or theme. For students interested in a major in environmental studies or sustainability, where the focus of the major shifts from environmental science to policy-related, economic or social dimensions of the environment, an interdepartmental major would be appropriate.

3-2 Program with Duke University

For exceptional students, Wittenberg has a cooperative program with Duke University's School for the Environment. Students spend three years at Wittenberg completing the courses required for a major concentration and Wittenberg's general education program. After two additional years of study in an environmental program at Duke, students receive a B.A. from Wittenberg and an M.A. from Duke.

Degree Requirements:

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Science – 50 credits

Complete 50 credits of coursework, including core environmental science courses, cognate courses, foundational and advanced courses focused on a theme of study, and a capstone experience. Students develop a theme of study in consultation with their advisor. Examples of themes include conservation biology, aquatic ecosystems, stream resources, water resources, and wildlife management.

        Required in Environmental Science – 14 credits

  • ESCI 101 Introduction to Environmental Science – 5 credits
  • ESCI 160 Environmental Geology – 5 credits
  • ESCI 250 Environmental Science Research Methods – 5 credits
  • ESCI 295 Introduction to GIS – 4 credits
  • ESCI 494 Senior Seminar – 2 credits

        Required in Social Sciences or Humanities – 8 credits from:

  • CMDM 363 Environmental Communication – 4 credits
  • ECON 350 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics – 4 credits
  • ENGL 180TQ ST: Wilderness Writers – 4 credits
  • ENGL 342TA ST: Rivers: Writing & Running – 2 credits
  • ENGL 342TD ST: Outdoor & Nature Writing – 4 credits
  • HIST 171 Trade, Religion, and Environment in Ancient Africa – 4 credits
  • PHIL 207 Science in Social Context – 4 credits
  • PHIL 210 Biomedical Ethics – 4 credits
  • POLI 103 International Relations – 4 credits
  • POLI 209TB ST: Poli Developing Countries – 4 credits
  • POLI 221 State and Local Government – 4 credits
  • POLI 254 Global Environmental Politics – 4 credits
  • POLI 320 Public Administration – 4 credits
  • POLI 321 Public Policy – 4 credits
  • POLI 332 Political Parties and Interest Groups – 4 credits
  • RELI 310 Religion, Nature, and Environment – 4 credits
  • Additional courses as approved by the program

        Required in Statistics – 4 credits from:

  • DATA 227 Introductory Statistics – 4 credits
  • BUSN 210 Business and Economic Statistics – 4 credits

        Foundational Courses – at least 7 credits from 2 or more departments from the list of approved courses below:

Courses will be selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on a theme of study.

  • BIOL 170 Concepts of Biology: Biological Information, Reproduction, and Evolution – 5 credits
  • BIOL 180 Concepts of Biology: Energy and Resources in Biology – 5 credits
  • BIOL 202 Principles of Evolution – 2 credits
  • CHEM 121 Models of Chemical Systems – 5 credits
  • CHEM 162 Chemical Structure and Analysis – 5 credits
  • ESCI 100 Climate Change – 4 credits
  • Approved ESCI 104 Topics in Environmental Science 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 104TA Natural Hazards and Disasters – 4 credits
  • Approved ESCI 280 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 280TG Environmental Data Science in R – 2 credits
  • MRSC 200 Oceanography – 4 credits
  • MRSC 250TD Sustainable Fisheries – 4 credits
  • PHYS 201 Physics I – 5 credits
  • Additional courses as approved by the program.

Advanced Courses – at least 10 credits, including one course at the 300-level or higher, from the list of approved courses below:

Courses will be selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on a theme of study.

  • BIOL 230 Woody Plants – 4 credits
  • BIOL 232 Herpetology – 5 credits
  • BIOL 233 Ornithology – 5 credits
  • BIOL 235 Morphology of Vascular Plants – 5 credits
  • BIOL 244 Conservation Biology – 4 credits
  • BIOL 346 Ecology – 5 credits
  • CHEM 201 Introduction to Organic Chemistry – 5 credits
  • CHEM 281 Analytical Chemistry – 5 credits
  • ESCI 245 Introductory Wildlife Management – 5 credits
  • Approved ESCI 280 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 280TH Great Lakes of North American – 4 credits
  • ESCI 350 Biogeochemistry – 5 credits
  • Approved ESCI 380 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 380TB Air Pollution – 4 credits
  • Additional courses as approved by the program.

 

Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science – 67 credits

Complete 67 credits of coursework, including core environmental science courses, cognate courses, foundational and advanced courses focused on a theme of study, and a capstone experience. Students develop a theme of study in consultation with their advisor. Examples of themes include conservation biology, aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemistry, water resources, and wildlife management.

        Required in Environmental Science – 22 credits

  • ESCI 101 Introduction to Environmental Science – 5 credits
  • ESCI 160 Environmental Geology – 5 credits
  • ESCI 250 Environmental Science Research Methods – 5 credits
  • ESCI 295Introduction to GIS – 4 credits
  • ESCI 494 Senior Seminar – 2 credits
  • At least one additional credit from -1 credit:
    • ESCI 490 Independent Study – 1-4 credits
    • ESCI 491 Internship – 1-4 credits
    • ESCI 492 Directed Research – 1-4 credits

        Required in Social Sciences or Humanities – 8 credits from:

  • CMDM 363 Environmental Communication – 4 credits
  • ECON 350 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics – 4 credits
  • ENGL 180TQ ST: Wilderness Writers – 4 credits
  • ENGL 342TA ST: Rivers: Writing & Running – 2 credits
  • ENGL 342TD ST: Outdoor & Nature Writing – 4 credits
  • HIST 171 Trade, Religion, and Environment in Ancient Africa – 4 credits
  • HONR 300TR Religion, Animals & Being “Human” – 4 credits
  • PHIL 207 Science in Social Context – 4 credits
  • PHIL 210 Biomedical Ethics – 4 credits
  • POLI 103 International Relations – 4 credits
  • POLI 209TB ST: Poli Developing Countries – 4 credits
  • POLI 221 State and Local Government – 4 credits
  • POLI 254 Global Environmental Politics – 4 credits
  • POLI 320 Public Administration – 4 credits
  • POLI 321 Public Policy – 4 credits
  • POLI 332 Political Parties and Interest Groups – 4 credits
  • RELI 310 Religion, Nature, and Environment – 4 credits
  • Additional courses as approved by the program

        Required in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistics – 8 credits

            4 credits from:

  • BUSN 210 Business and Economic Statistics – 4 credits
  • DATA 227 Introductory Statistics – 4 credits

            At least 4 credits from:

  • MATH 131 Essentials of Calculus – 4 credits
  • MATH 201 Calculus I – 4 credits and MATH 202 Calculus II – 4 credits
  • COMP 150 Programming & Problem Solving – 5 credits

        Foundational Courses – at least 15 credits from 2 or more departments from the list of approved courses below:

Courses will be selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on a theme of study.

  • BIOL 170 Concepts of Biology: Biological Information, Reproduction, and Evolution – 5 credits
  • BIOL 180 Concepts of Biology: Energy and Resources in Biology – 5 credits
  • BIOL 202 Principles of Evolution – 2 credits
  • CHEM 121 Models of Chemical Systems – 5 credits
  • CHEM 162 Chemical Structure and Analysis – 5 credits
  • ESCI 100 Climate Change – 4 credits
  • Approved ESCI 104 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 104TA Natural Hazards and Disasters – 4 credits
  • Approved ESCI 280 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 280TG Environmental Data Science in R – 2 credits
  • MRSC 200 Oceanography – 4 credits
  • MRSC 250TD Sustainable Fisheries – 4 credits
  • PHYS 201 Physics I – 5 credits
  • Additional courses as approved by the program.

Advanced Courses – at least 14 credits, including one course at the 300-level or higher, from the list of approved courses below:

Courses will be selected in consultation with an advisor in the Environmental Science Program and focused on a theme of study.

  • BIOL 230 Woody Plants – 4 credits
  • BIOL 232 Herpetology – 4 credits
  • BIOL 233 Ornithology – 5 credits
  • BIOL 235 Morphology of Vascular Plants – 5 credits
  • BIOL 244 Conservation Biology – 4 credits
  • BIOL 346 Ecology – 5 credits
  • CHEM 201 Introduction to Organic Chemistry – 5 credits
  • CHEM 281 Analytical Chemistry – 5 credits
  • ESCI 245 Introductory Wildlife Management – 5 credits
  • Approved ESCI 280 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 280TH Great Lakes of North American – 4 credits
  • ESCI 350 Biogeochemistry – 5 credits
  • Approved ESCI 380 Topics in Environmental Science – 1-4 credits
  • ESCI 380TB Air Pollution – 4 credits
  • Additional courses as approved by the program.

Capstone Experience:

A significant capstone experience in environmental science is required prior to ESCI 494: Senior Seminar. For students pursuing the B.A. degree, extended field studies, field seminars, or project-based courses provide ample opportunities for students to satisfy this requirement. For students pursuing the B.S. degree, the capstone experience must be from an independent study, directed research, or internship, including summer research or internship opportunities. These students are required to present the results of their work at a campus or professional research symposium (separate from the Senior Seminar poster presentation). Either the experience or its presentation must be credit-bearing (1-4 credits). Students will work in consultation with their advisors and the program director to determine appropriate capstone experiences.

 

Relationship to Other Majors and Minors 
Environmental science provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and examining environmental problems.

 

Licensure for Teaching in Life Science or Integrated Science

Students interested in pursuing a course of study leading to a license to teach integrated science should contact their advisor or the Education Department for specific requirements.

 

Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Studies – 20 credits

The Environmental Studies minor consists of a minimum of 20 credits distributed along a theme of study to ensure coherence and depth of study related to the environment.  Students develop a theme of study in consultation with their minor advisor. Courses are distributed according to the following levels:

  • Level 1: Introductory core course from either ESCI 100, ESCI 101, or ESCI 160 – 4-5 credits
  • Level 2: Introductory topical course from the list of approved courses – 4-5 credits
    • One course from: BIOL 230, BIOL 233, BIOL 239, BIOL 244, BIOL 247, BIOL 248, MRSC 200, 
      POLI 221, POLI 223, or POLI 254
  • Level 3: Advanced topical or methods course from ESCI 250 or the list of approved courses – 4-5 credits
    • One course from: BIOL 346, CMDM 363, ECON 350, ESCI 250, PHIL 305, POLI 320, 
      POLI 321, POLI 322, or RELI 310
  • Level 4: ESCI 295: Introduction to GIS – 4 credits
  • Level 5: Application through independent study or internship from ENVS 490 or ENVS 491 or ESCI 490 or ESCI 491 – 1-4 credits

 

Within each level, students select one or more courses. To ensure breadth of study, at least 16 credits of coursework beyond the core course will be from outside the student's major department.