Biological Sciences (BSEnvirSci)
This program is designed for students interested in an interdisciplinary scientific perspective on environmental and sustainability issues, analysis, and management. The degree program provides the broad foundation in physical, life, and social sciences needed for a career or graduate study in environmental science and related fields such as climate change, ecology, and conservation. Students who complete the program successfully will be able to assess environmental issues critically from multiple perspectives; to perform field, laboratory, and computer analyses; and to conduct original research. The program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in local, state, and federal government laboratories and nonprofit agencies, environmental consulting firms, environmental education and outreach agencies, and universities and other research settings. The degree is offered by the Natural Sciences with a major in biological sciences, Liberal Arts with a major in geographical sciences, and Geosciences with a major in geosciences. The degree shares common prescribed work, but each major has its own specific requirements.
Admission
Students must be admitted to the program. All students are first admitted to the University as entry-level majors in Liberal Arts with a major in geographical sciences, Geosciences with a major in geosciences, or Natural Sciences with a major in biological sciences. After completing a minimum of 24 hours in residence, students may select the major that best suits their long-term interests and, if necessary, transfer to the appropriate college or school in accordance with the regulations and procedures set forth in General Information.
Geographical Sciences
Students may apply for admission after completing the following requirements: Students must earn a grade of at least C- in BIO 311C, CH 301, and M 408C or M 408N; and a grade of at least B- in GEO 401 or GEO 303. To be competitive for admission, the student must have a grade point average of at least 2.75 in these four courses.
Applications are evaluated after the end of each fall and spring semester. Students whose applications are denied may reapply through the supplemental admission process the following semester. Admission decisions are based on the student’s grade point average in the basic sequence courses, his or her University grade point average, and other factors; these factors include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of the student’s course load, course repetitions, and proven mathematical ability. Students should consult advisors in the Liberal Arts Student Advising Office for information about the application process and application deadlines.
Freshman Admission
Freshmen applicants seeking admission must meet the calculus readiness requirement by the official admissions application deadline. More information about the calculus readiness requirement is available through the University Admissions Office or online.
Freshmen applicants must follow the application instructions outlined on the Office of Admissions website. Applicants should apply to the EVS program in the college that best suits their anticipated area of concentration (geological sciences, geographical sciences, or biological sciences, respectively).
External Transfer Admission
Students who wish to transfer to the university from another college or university must apply to the Office of Admissions as described in General Information. External transfer applicants seeking admission must demonstrate calculus readiness by the official admissions application deadline. Details regarding transfer calculus readiness are available through the University Admissions Office or online.
External transfer applicants must follow the application instructions outlined on the Office of Admissions website. Applicants should apply to the program in the college that best suits their anticipated area of concentration (geological sciences, geographical sciences, or biological sciences, respectively).
Internal Transfer Admission
All internal transfer applicants should use the online EVS Program Transfer Application and must meet requirements for internal transfer given in General Information.
To be competitive for admission, internal transfer applicants should have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in Biology 311C, Chemistry 301, Mathematics 408C or 408N or 408K, and Geological Sciences 401 or 303.
Entry-level admission is offered as space is available to the students who are best qualified. Decisions are based on the student's grade point average in the introductory science and math courses listed above, University grade point average, and other factors including, but not limited to, difficulty of course load, course repetitions, proven mathematical ability, and interest in the field of Environmental Science.
Additional Information for all internal transfer applicants:
- Application Deadline: May 1 for fall entry and December 1 for spring entry.
- Only currently enrolled students in good academic standing with their college of residence may apply.
- Students may apply during the semester they are completing the minimum requirements to be eligible for consideration.
Students should consult with an academic advisor for additional information on the application process and deadlines.
Total Hours Required: 126
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| EVS 301 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EVS 311 | Field Seminar in Sustainability | 3 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| GEO 303 or GEO 301 |
Introduction to Geology or Physical Geology |
3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| GEO 416W | Climate, Water, and the Environment | 4 |
| GRG 412E | Digital Earth | 4 |
| PHY 317K | General Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Foreign Language Culture | 3 | |
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| BIO 325 | Genetics | 3 |
| Environment and Sustainability Course | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Additional Earth Systems Course | 3 | |
| GRG 460G | Environmental Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| INB 370 | Evolution | 3 |
| Foreign Language Culture | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Additional Computational Science Course | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| INB 373 | Ecology | 3 |
| INB 373L | Ecology Laboratory | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Conservation and Environmental Biology | 3 | |
| Physiology, Neurobiology, and Behavior | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| EVS 271 | Topics in Research Experience | 2 |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Upper-division BIO Lab Course | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Taxon/Systems Based Diversity Course | 3 | |
| EVS 371 | Topics in Research Experience | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major | ||
| Select one of the following foreign language/culture options: | 6 | |
Beginning level proficiency coursework, or the equivalent, in a foreign language | ||
First course in a foreign language and a three-semester-hour course in the culture of the same language area | ||
Two three-semester-hour courses in one foreign culture area; the courses must be chosen from an approved list available in the dean’s office and the college advising centers | ||
| Hours chosen from: conservation and environmental biology | 3 | |
| Economic Botany | ||
| Marine Conservation Biology | ||
| Marine Fisheries Ecology | ||
| Ecosystem Oceanography | ||
| Topics in Principles of Marine Science (Requires prior approval of the faculty advisor to count.) | ||
| BIO 325 | Genetics (for students completing BIO 315H) | 3 |
| or BIO 325H | Genetics: Honors | |
| INB 370 | Evolution | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: taxon/systems-based diversity | 3 | |
| Aquatic Entomology | ||
| Biology of Birds | ||
| Invertebrate Biology | ||
| Field Entomology | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Field Herpetology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Estuarine Ecology | ||
| Marine Botany | ||
| Marine Invertebrates | ||
| Biology of Fishes | ||
| Aquatic Microbiology | ||
| Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays | ||
| Marine Phytoplankton Diversity | ||
OR choose a single sequence below | ||
Sequence 1 | ||
| Survey of the Plant Kingdom | ||
| Survey of the Plant Kingdom Laboratory | ||
Sequence 2 | ||
| Structure, Physiology, and Reproduction of Seed Plants | ||
| Structure, Physiology, and Reproduction of Seed Plants Laboratory | ||
| Hours chosen from: physiology, neurobiology, and behavior | 3 | |
| Introductory Plant Physiology | ||
| Animal Communication | ||
| Microbial Biochemistry | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Principles of Animal Behavior | ||
| Human Infectious Diseases | ||
| Comparative Animal Physiology | ||
| Human Systems Physiology | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Bases of Neural Development | ||
| Experimental Physiology | ||
| Physiology of Fishes | ||
OR the sequence below: | ||
| Structure, Physiology, and Reproduction of Seed Plants | ||
| Structure, Physiology, and Reproduction of Seed Plants Laboratory | ||
| Additional upper-division laboratory hours (lab hours taken to fulfill the major's physiology, neurobiology, and behavior hours may be counted toward this requirement) | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 61 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 11 | |
| Subtotal | 72 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 33 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 33 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 126 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
- Biological Science majors must take Statistics and Data Sciences 320E, 320H, or 321 to fulfill the degree's required computational science hours.
- Biological Science majors must choose Integrative Biology 373 and 373L to fulfill the degree's required ecology hours.
- Statistics and Data Sciences 320E, 320H, and 321 may not be used in the capstone research experience by Natural Sciences students.
Students must earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00.
Degree-Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (BSEnvirSci)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| Introductory Coursework | ||
| EVS 301 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| Field Experience and Research Methods | ||
| EVS 311 | Field Seminar in Sustainability | 3 |
| Environment and sustainability | ||
| Hours chosen from: Environment and Sustainability | 3 | |
| Social and Ethical Responsibility of Business | ||
| Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility | ||
| Topics in Finance (any topic) | ||
| Creating the Sustainable Society | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Sustainable Landscapes and Seascapes | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Hours chosen from: Geographic information systems | 3 | |
| Environmental Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Geographic Information System and Global Positioning System Applications in Earth Sciences | ||
| Earth Systems | ||
| GEO 416W | Climate, Water, and the Environment (Earth system course) | 4 |
| Additional Earth system Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Water and Watersheds | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Global Warming | ||
| Ecohydrology and Biometeorology | ||
| Groundwater Hydrology | ||
| Aqueous Geochemistry | ||
| Physical Hydrology | ||
| Physical Climatology | ||
| Computational Science Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Liberal Arts and Geosciences majors may select: | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Advanced Remote Sensing and Pattern Analysis | ||
| Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems | ||
| GIS Applications in Social and Environmental Science | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Spatial Reasoning with Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Computational Applications in the Geosciences | ||
| Python for Geoscience Research | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing for Geoscientists | ||
| Geostatistics and Data Analysis | ||
| Natural Sciences honors students must select: | ||
| Elements of Statistics: Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted) | ||
| All majors may select: | ||
| Elements of Statistics (natural sciences majors must take SDS) | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics (natural sciences majors must take SDS) | ||
| Environmental Science Areas | ||
| Geological Sciences | ||
| GEO 401 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| or GEO 403 | Introduction to Geology | |
| Geography | ||
| GRG 412E | Digital Earth | 4 |
| Ecology Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
Liberal Arts and Geosciences majors: | ||
| Marine Ecology | ||
| Laboratory Studies in Marine Ecology | ||
All majors: | ||
| Ecology (required for natural sciences majors) | ||
| Ecology Laboratory (required for natural sciences majors) | ||
| Capstone Research Experience Hours chosen from: a single sequence below | 5 | |
| Sequence 1 | ||
| Topics in Research Experience | ||
| Topics in Research Experience | ||
| Sequence 2 | ||
| Topics in Research Experience | ||
| Topics in Research Experience | ||
| Sequence 3 | ||
| Senior Research Proposal in Environmental Science | ||
| Senior Research in Environmental Science | ||
| Sequence 4: | ||
| Senior Research Proposal in Environmental Science | ||
| Senior Research in Environmental Science | ||
| Sequence 5: | ||
| Topics in Research Experience | ||
or MNS 270 | Special Studies in Marine Science | |
& Hours chosen from: | ||
All majors: | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Environmental Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Geographic Information System and Global Positioning System Applications in Earth Sciences | ||
| Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | ||
| Multivariable Calculus | ||
Liberal Arts and Geosciences majors only: | ||
| Elements of Statistics (may not be counted for natural sciences majors)) | ||
| Elements of Statistics: Honors (may not be counted for natural sciences majors)) | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics (may not be counted for natural sciences majors)) | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 4 | |
| Sequence 1 | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus | ||
| Sequence 2 | ||
| Differential Calculus for Science | ||
| Integral Calculus for Science | ||
| Sequence 3 | ||
| Differential Calculus | ||
| Integral Calculus | ||
| Sequence 4: Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted) | ||
Hours chosen from: Honors mathematics | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 6 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I | ||
| Principles of Chemistry II | ||
| Sequence 2: Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted) | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry I | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry II | ||
| Physics Hours chosen from: a single sequence below | 4 | |
| Sequence 1 | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | ||
| Sequence 2 | ||
| Engineering Physics I | ||
| Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | ||
| Sequence 3 Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted) | ||
| Mechanics | ||
| Laboratory for Physics 301 | ||
| Biological Sciences Hours chosen from: a single sequence below | 3 | |
| Sequence 1 | ||
| Introductory Biology I | ||
| Introductory Biology II | ||
| Sequence 2 Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted) | ||
| Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | ||
| Total Hours | 61 | |
Additional Requirements and policy
- Students may not use the same coursework to satisfy both the degree's environment and sustainability requirement and the degree's capstone research experience.
- Students may earn only one Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree from the University.
-
A course in one prescribed work area may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of another prescribed work area.
The following courses may substitute for Environmental Science 271 and 371 with prior approval of the faculty advisor: