Check out the courses available for Spring 2025! The Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies majors are interdisciplinary, which allows students to take courses across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Case studies are used to explore the complexity of a set of environmental issues from multiple perspectives. This course serves as the introductory course for both the Environmental Science and Environmental Studies majors.
Required for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
This course will critically investigate the causes and consequences of climate change, both in the past as well as what is unfolding today. This introduction to climate science allows us to understand first order controls over climate on our planet and consider the controls over rate and magnitude of climate fluctuations. We will explore dynamics of climate in the past, as well as investigate predictive models of how climate will change in the future. We will consider how climate change impacts society with focus on policy, climate justice, and effective mitigation practices. Prerequisites: HMXP 102 or HXCT 301; ENVS 101 or GEOG 101 or GEOL course or BIOL course.
Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. Crosslisted with GEOG 355 and GEOL 355
Experience subarctic coastal, boreal forest, & tundra landscapes on the Hudson Bay in the polar bear and beluga whale capital of the world. We will investigate boreal and tundra ecology, northern soil development, both natural and human adaptations to extreme climates, and consider the future of places like this under a changing climate.
Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. Optional travel to Churchill, Manitoba August 2025. Special course fees required for travel portion.
Student groups will examine selected environmental issues from multiple perspectives. Prerequisites: ENVS 101, ENVS 220, CRTW 201, Environmental Studies/Sciences major with senior standing. Notes: Intensive Writing Course. ENSC and ENST majors only. Offered in spring.
Required for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies.
An examination of core concepts in biology that focuses on the molecular basis of life, genetic principles, and fundamental cellular processes that underlie all forms of life and all levels of biological organization. Co-requisite: BIOL 222 or BIOL 270. Notes: Offered in fall, spring, and summer.
Required for Environmental Science
An introduction to ecological concepts, the theory of evolution, and the diversity, structure, and function of microbes, plants, and animals. Co-requisite: BIOL 223 or BIOL 271. Notes: Offered in fall, spring, and summer.
Required for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
The application of scientific method to investigations in biology, including hypothesis formulation, experimental design, data analysis, and report preparation. Notes: Lab Fee: $50. Intensive Writing course. Offered in fall and spring. Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 204, 205, and 206, OR BIOL 220, 221, 222 or 270, and 223 or 271; WRIT 101; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and a minimum grade of C- or S in CHEM 105 and WRIT 101.
Recommended for Environmental Science
The course will demonstrate the relationships of geology, paleontology, and biology across space and time in the relatively poorly studied Carolina Piedmont province. Prerequisite: BIOL 220 and 221; BIOL 222 or 270, BIOL 223 or 271; CHEM 105, 201, or 211; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105, 201, or 211. Or permission of the instructor. Notes: Offered in spring.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A comprehensive study of fundamental structures and functions of plants with detailed consideration of representatives of the major divisions. Prerequisites: BIOL 220 and 221; BIOL 222 or 270, BIOL 223 or 271; CHEM 105, 201, or 211; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105, 201, or 211. Notes: Offered in fall and spring. Offered as BIOL 205 prior to Fall 2020.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A comparison of representatives of the major animal phyla with emphasis on anatomy, physiology, lifestyle and life history. Prerequisite: BIOL 220, 221, 222 or BIOL 270, and 223 or BIOL 271; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105. Notes: Offered in fall and spring. Previously offered as BIOL 206. Lab fee $55
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
An introductory survey of microbial activities, environment, diversity and economic importance. Bacterial and viral activities are emphasized. Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 204, 205, and 206, OR BIOL 220, 221, 222 or 270, and 223 or 271; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105. Notes: Lab Fee: $75. Offered in fall and spring.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
An in-depth study of cellular structure, function and chemical composition. The laboratory seeks to develop skills in standard laboratory techniques in cellular, molecular, physiological and environmental studies. Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 204, 205, and 206, OR BIOL 220, 221, 222 or 270, and 223 or 271; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105. Notes: Lab Fee: $75. Offered in fall and spring.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A study of the principles of genetics with an emphasis on human genetics. Topics to be covered include: modes of inheritance, the human genome, medical genetics, and genetics ethics. Prerequisite: BIOL 203, 204, 205, and 206, OR BIOL 220, 221, 222 or 270, and 223 or 271; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105. Notes: Students may not get course credit for both BIOL 316 and BIOL 317.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A study of the historical and contemporary aspects of the science of heredity including patterns and modes of inheritance, fundamental aspects of molecular genetics, and recent advances in the genetics field. The laboratory aims to provide hands-on experience in Mendelian genetics and molecular genetics. Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 204, 205, and 206, OR BIOL 220, 221, 222 or 270, and 223 or 271; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with MATH 150 or 151 as a prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all 200-level BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105. Notes: Lab Fee: $75. Offered in fall. Students may not get course credit for both BIOL 316 and BIOL 317.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
BIOL 320 is an in-depth study of cellular structure, function and chemical composition. Prerequisite: BIOL 203, 204, 205, and 206, OR BIOL 220, 221, 222 or 270, and 223 or 271; CHEM 105; MATH 101, 150, or 151 or any MATH course with a MATH 150 or 151 prerequisite; students must have a minimum grade of C- or S in all of the listed BIOL courses taken and in CHEM 105. Notes: Offered in fall and spring.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A study of the nomenclature, structure, physical properties, and reactions of several important classes of organic compounds. Notes: Offered in fall, spring, and summer. Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 301 and 310. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better will be required in CHEM 105.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A course in chemical hygiene and safety. Topics covered include chemical storage, chemical hygiene plans, labeling, response procedures, MSDS's, clean-up techniques, right-to-know requirements, TLV's, chemical hazards, and lab safety procedures. Notes: Offered in fall and spring. Prerequisites: C or better in each of the following: CHEM 105, 108.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Designed for non-business majors, the course uses basic economic concepts to explore a variety of current issues. Topics such as unemployment, inflation, education, healthcare and pollution might be discussed along with the constitutional foundation of the U.S. economy.
Fulfills Economics requirement for Environmental Studies; Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science
The economic behavior of individual decision-making units in society with development of the concepts of consumer choice and business firm behavior under different market conditions.
Fulfills Economics requirement for Environmental Studies; Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science
Human adjustment to the physical environment. The geographic factors in the distribution of population and the growth of civilization. Notes: Offered in fall, spring, and summer.
Fulfills Geography requirement for Environmental Studies; Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science
Course will give an introduction to the three primary geospatial technologies: Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Remote Sensing. Prerequisite: GEOG 101, Sophomore status, or permission of instructor. Lab fee: $50
Fulfills Geospatial Methods requirement for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
An introduction to the major geologic processes which shape the earth. Notes: A student may not receive credit for GEOL 110 and 101, 102, or 120. Offered in fall, spring and summer. Corequisites: GEOL 113.
Required for Environmental Science; Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Studies
A survey of earthquakes, volcanoes, and other catastrophic natural disasters with emphasis on causes, effects, and human adjustments. Notes: Offered as needed.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A study of the origin and evolution of the earth's crust, its major features and its occupants.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A comprehensive overview of dinosaurs including their biology, behavior, ecology, evolution, and extinction, including a history discovery. With dinosaurs as focal point, this course serves as an introduction to science and the scientific method, specifically how hypotheses are formulated and tested.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
An investigation into the natural factors that influence soil formation and development in diverse environments and how soil characteristics influence overall sustainability and land use. Pre-requisite: HMXP 102 or HXCT 301.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
The study of algebraic and trigonometric skills needed for single variable calculus. Topics include equations, graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and trigonometry. Notes: Lab Fee: $15. Credit will not be allowed for MATH 101 and MATH 104. Offered in fall, spring, and as needed in summer. Prerequisites: Satisfactory score on Mathematics placement exam or a C- or better in MATH 151.
Fulfills Math requirement for Environmental Science; Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Studies
A study of the algebraic skills needed to perform computations in applied settings. Topics include: equations, inequalities, functions, graphs, and financial mathematics. Notes: Lab Fee: $15. Offered fall, spring and summer. Prerequisites: Satisfactory score on Mathematics placement exam.
Fulfills Math requirement for Environmental Science; Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Studies
An introduction to the calculus of one variable and techniques used to solve problems in a variety of disciplines. The course will provide prerequisite material for a continued study of calculus and other mathematics. Topics will include: limits, continuity, the definition of the derivative, techniques of differentiation, graphing, maximum/minimum, related rate problems, definite integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, logarithmic functions, exponential functions, and other transcendental functions. Notes: Lab Fee: $15. Credit will not be allowed for MATH 105 and MATH 201. Offered in fall, spring and as needed in summer. Prerequisites: A grade of C- or better in MATH 101 or satisfactory score on Mathematics Department Placement Test. Corequisites: Math 104. A grade of C- or better in MATH 101, or a satisfactory score on the trigonometry portion of the Mathematics Department Placement Test, replaces this corequisite.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A continuation of the calculus in one variable. Methods from calculus I, in addition to new techniques, will be applied to the study of integration, differential equations, sequences and series. Applications will be given in a variety of disciplines. The course will provide prerequisite material for a continued study in both mathematical topics and related scientific disciplines. Specific topics include: applications of integration, techniques of integration, improper integrals, sequences, series, power series, elementary differential equations, conic sections, and polar coordinates. Notes: Offered in fall, spring and as needed in summer. Prerequisites: A grade of C- or better in MATH 201.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Introduction to various numeration systems, including binary and hexadecimal; elementary set theory, logic and combinatorics; recursion, mathematical induction, elementary matrix operations and Boolean algebra. Notes: Offered in fall and spring. Prerequisites: MATH 101, MATH 151, or MATH 201; and CSCI 151 or CSCI 207
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Matrices and the solution of systems of linear equations; elementary theory of vector spaces and linear transformations; determinants, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors. Graphing calculators and/or Mathematica will be utilized. Notes: Offered in fall and spring. Prerequisites: MATH 201. Corequisites: MAED 200 (may be taken as a corequisite or prerequisite).
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Basic nutrition concepts applied to the needs of individuals, families and communities. Notes: Lab Fee: $10. Offered in fall, spring and summer.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Nutritional studies of groups and community resources and programs providing nutritional services. Cultural diversity and how food choices are impacted by religion, health beliefs economics and social-cultural norms. Prerequisites: NUTR 380, NUTR 427 (grade of C- or higher). NUTR 427 may be taken as a corequisite. Notes: Offered in fall. Lab Fee: $50.
Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
A calculus-based introductory physics course primarily intended for students in the physical and mathematical sciences. The course is three lecture hours, three lab hours, and one recitation hour.The course covers mechanics, wave motion, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics and some modern physics. Notes: A student may not receive credit for both PHYS 201 and 211 and for both PHYS 202 and 212. Offered in fall. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MATH 201.
Fulfills Physics requirement for Environmental Science; Fulfills Science/Math Elective for Environmental Studies
National governmental institutions and the political processes which shape public policy. Meets state requirements for course on the U.S. Constitution. Notes: Offered in fall, spring and summer.
Required for Environmental Studies
A study of the creation and implementation of major national and international environmental policies, and the varied social and political movements engaged environmental politics. Notes: Offered variable times.
Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Study of descriptive and inferential statistics as they apply to the behavioral sciences. Notes: Offered in fall, spring and summer. Lab Fee: $40. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 with a grade of C- or higher, and General Education Quantitative Skills requirement.
Fulfills Quantitative Methods requirement for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
An applied quantitative methods course intended for business and related majors. Topics cover exploratory data analysis and data visualization, introduction to probability theory, sampling and sampling distributions, foundations of inferential statistics, and use of Microsoft Excel tools for data analysis. Notes: Offered fall, spring and summer. Prerequisites: A C- or better in MATH 151, 101, 105, or 201. Corequisite: CSCI 101B or 101E or 151.
Fulfills Quantitative Methods requirement for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
This course introduces students to the theory, principles, and practices of sustainability.
Fulfills Environmental Elective for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
