Mission Statement

Environmental and Resource Sciences is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interaction of processes that shape our natural environment.  Environmental Science studies the interplay among humankind and other species and the physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate the function of both natural and engineered environments. Environmental science seeks to model and describe environmental processes to understand their effects upon humankind and consider the reciprocal effects of human activities on these

The degree program in Environmental and Resource Sciences allows students to develop the skills and interdisciplinary understanding needed to deal with environmental issues by building on a foundation in mathematics, natural sciences, and social policy.  The environmental and resource science program is designed to provide the broad general and scientific knowledge appropriate to a variety of careers in resource management.  The program prepares students for advanced professional degrees in environmental science.   And, the program also serves students who would like to teach natural science in secondary schools and prefer an interdisciplinary approach.

Learning Outcomes

Every environmental science student will be assisted in mastering the outcomes below.

Critical Thinking and Environmental Knowledge

1. Students will learn the principles of scientific experimentation, observation, quantification, data analysis, and reproducibility.
2. Students will be able to objectively comprehend and analyze data, extrapolate data and developed conclusions. They will also be able to constructively criticize all scientific works.
3. Students will become well versed in laboratory and field protocols and equipment. 
4. Students will increase their understanding of the scientific context of environmental problems and solutions.  By consideration of political and economic issues, students will understand the history and decision-making processes of environmental policies and processes.

Communication

1. The environmental science student at NSC will be able to effectively communicate ideas, both orally and written.
2. Students will analyze the way in which language shapes environmental debates.
3. Students will learn the language and protocols of environmental writing for a variety of audiences.

Effective Citizenship

1. Students will better understand the political and economic issues that lead to policy.
2. Students will consider the social and racial issues related to environmental policies.
3. By increasing their comprehension of environmental issues, students can become informed leaders in their community on current and future debates on the state of the environment, and in the development of fair and equitable policies related to the environment and resource use.

Curriculum

I.       College Core Curriculum ....................................................................... 33-42

A.      English (3-6 credits)

1. ENG 101 – Composition I ................................................................. 3
2. ENG 102 – Composition II ................................................................ 3

Note: Students who place in ENG 102 are not required to complete ENG 101.

B.     Study and Technology Skills (2 credits)

1. CEP 121 – Introduction to the College Experience ................................................................... 1
2. CEP 122 – Enhancing Academic Success......................................................................................1

C. Mathematics (4-5 credits)

1. MATH 128 – Pre-calculus and Trigonometry or higher (MATH 181 recommended) ........................................ 5

D. Natural Sciences (6-8 credits)

1. CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I....................................................................... 4
2. CHEM 122 – General Chemistry II.................................................................. 4

E. Social Sciences (3 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

F. Fine Arts (3 credits) - Refer to the Fine Arts section of the Core Curriculum

G.     Humanities (6 credits) - Refer to the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum

H.     Constitution (3-6 credits) - Refer to the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum

I.       Community Based Learning Capstone (3 credits) - Refer to the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum

II.     Major Requirements................................................................................63

1. BIOL 122 – Desert Plants......................................................................... 3
2. BIOL 196 – Principles of Modern Biology I.................................................................... 4
3. BIOL 197 – Principles of Modern Biology II................................................................... 4
4. BIOL 305 – Introduction to Conservation Biology.......................................... 3
5. BIOL 341 – Principles of Ecology..................................................................... 3
6. ENV 101 – Intro to Environmental Sciences................................................................... 3
7. ENV 260 – Environmental Measurements & Analysis..................................................................... 4
8. ENV 345 – Environmental Regulations, History, Law & Methods.................................................................... 3
9. ENV 480 – Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Management........................................................................... 4
10. GEOL 101 – Geology: Exploring Planet Earth.......................................................................... 4
11. GEOL 117 – Introduction to Meteorology............................................................................. 3
12. NRES 210 – Environmental Pollution.................................................................... 3
13. NRES 304 – Principles of Hydrology.................................................................................. 3
14. NRES 322 – Soils........................................................................... 3
15. NRES 416 – Internship.................................................................................. 1-3
16. NRES 467 – Regional and Global Issues in Environmental Science..................................................................... 3
17. NRES 485 – Special Topics........................................................................ 1-3
18. PHYS 151 – General Physics I.................................................................... 4
19. STAT 391 – Statistics for Biological Sciences................................................................... 3

 

Summary of credit requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

 

College Core Curriculum ........................................................................... 33-42

Major Requirements ......................................................... 59-63

Electives................................................................................. 23-36

Total Credits....................................................................... 128

 

Bachelor of Science in Environmental & Resource Science with a Graduate School Concentration

Curriculum

I.       College Core Curriculum ....................................................................... 33-42

A.      English (3-6 credits)

1. ENG 101 – Composition I ................................................................. 3
2. ENG 102 – Composition II ................................................................ 3

Note: Students who place in ENG 102 are not required to complete ENG 101.

B. Study and Technology Skills (2 credits)

1. CEP 121 – Introduction to the College Experience ................................................................... 1
2. CEP 122 – Enhancing Academic Success.......................................................................................1
   Note: MATH 283 - Calculus II recommended. Students who have taken a more advanced
   mathematics course than MATH 182 will have fulfilled the Mathematics requirement.

C. Mathematics (4-8 credits)

1. MATH 181 – Calculus I.......................................................................... 4
2. MATH 182 – Calculus II......................................................................... 4

D. Natural Science (8 credits)

1. CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I....................................................................... 4
2. CHEM 122 – General Chemistry II.................................................................. 4

E.      Social Sciences (3 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

F.      Fine Arts (3 credits) - Refer to the Fine Arts section of the Core Curriculum

G.     Humanities (6 credits) - Refer to the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum

H.     Constitution (3-6 credits) - Refer to the Constitution section of the Core Curriculum

I.       Community Based Learning Capstone (3 credits) - Refer to the Community Based Capstone of Core Curriculum

II.     Major Requirements......................................................................................................63

1. BIOL 122 – Desert Plants......................................................................... 3
2. BIOL 196 – Principles of Modern Biology I.................................................................... 4
3. BIOL 197 – Principles of Modern Biology II................................................................... 4
4. BIOL 305 – Introduction to Conservation Biology.................................................................. 3
5. BIOL 341 – Principles of Ecology..................................................................... 3
6. ENV 260 – Environmental Measurements & Analysis..................................................................... 4
7. ENV 345 – Environmental Regulations, History, Law & Methods.................................................................... 4
8. ENV 480 – Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Management........................................................................... 3
9. GEOL 101 – Geology: Exploring Planet Earth.......................................................................... 4
10. GEOL 117 – Introduction to Meteorology............................................................................. 3
11. NRES 210 – Environmental Pollution.................................................................... 3
12. NRES 304 – Principles of Hydrology.................................................................................. 3
13. NRES 322 – Soils........................................................................... 3
14. NRES 416 – Internship.................................................................................. 1-3
15. NRES 467 – Regional and Global Issues in Environmental Science................. 3
16. NRES 485 – Special Topics........................................................................ 1-3
17. PHYS 151 – General Physics I.................................................................... 4
18. STAT 391 – Statistics for Biological Sciences................................................................... 3

III.    Grad School Concentration

1. CHEM 241 – Organic Chemistry I................................................................................ 4
2. CHEM 242 – Organic Chemistry II............................................................................... 4
3. ENV 201 – Environmental Toxicology................................................................................ 3
4. NRES 432 – Advanced Environmental Toxicology.................................................................. 3
5. NRES 435 – Conservation of Natural Resources.............................................................. 3

Summary of credit requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Graduate School)

 

College Core Curriculum ........................................................................... 33-42

Major Requirements ......................................................... 59-63

Graduate School Concentration..........................................17

Electives................................................................................. 6-19

Total Credits....................................................................... 128

Bachelor of Science in Environmental
& Resource Science with a Secondary Education Concentration

Curriculum

I.       College Core Curriculum ....................................................................... 33-42

A.      English (3-6 credits)

1. ENG 101 – Composition I ................................................................. 3
2. ENG 102 – Composition II ................................................................ 3

Note: Students who place in ENG 102 are not required to complete ENG 101.

B. Study and Technology Skills (2 credits)

1. CEP 121 – Introduction to the College Experience ................................................................... 1
2. CEP 122 – Enhancing Academic Success.........................................1

C. Mathematics (4 -5 credits)

1. MATH 128 – Pre-calculus and Trigonometry or (MATH 181 recommended)................................................ 5

D. Natural Science (8 credits)

1. CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I....................................................................... 4
2. CHEM 122 – General Chemistry II.................................................................. 4

E.      Social Sciences (3 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

F.      Fine Arts (3 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

G.     Humanities (6 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

H.     Constitution (3-6 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

I.       Community Based Learning Capstone (3 credits) - Refer to the Social Sciences section of the Core Curriculum

II.     Major Requirements................................................................................................47-49

1. BIOL 122 – Desert Plants......................................................................... 3
2. BIOL 196 – Principles of Modern Biology I.................................................................... 4
3. BIOL 197 – Principles of Modern Biology II................................................................... 4
4. BIOL 305 – Introduction to Conservation Biology................................................ 3
5. BIOL 341 – Principles of Ecology..................................................................... 3
6. ENV 101 – Intro to Environmental Sciences................................................................... 3
7. GEOL 101 – Geology: Exploring Planet Earth.......................................................................... 4
8. GEOL 117 – Introduction to Meteorology............................................................................. 3
9. NRES 210 – Environmental Pollution.................................................................... 3
10. NRES 304 – Principles of Hydrology.................................................................................. 3
11. NRES 322 – Soils........................................................................... 3
12. NRES 416 – Internship.................................................................................. 1-3
13. NRES 467 – Regional and Global Issues in Environmental Science..................................................................... 3
14. PHYS 151 – General Physics I.................................................................... 4
15. STAT 391 – Statistics for Biological Sciences................................................................... 3

III.     Secondary Education Concentration .................................................................................42

1. CI 350 – Secondary Pedagogy I.............................................................. 3
2. CI 370 – Methods in Environmental & Resource Science.............................................................. 3
3. CI 409 – Students with Disabilities in the Classroom......................................................... 3
4. CI 450 – Secondary Pedagogy II............................................................. 3
5. CI 456 – Second Language Instruction in Secondary School....................................................................... 3
6. CI 467 – Teaching Writing Throughout The Curriculum..................................................................... 3
7. CI 551 – Supervised Internship in Secondary Education..................................................................... 3
8. EDU 202 – Introduction to Secondary Education............................................................................ 3
9. EL 401 – Law & Ethics for Educators................................................................. 3
10. PSY 307 – Principles of Educational Psychology......................................................................... 3
11. PSY 441 – Development Psychology: Adolescence through Adulthood................................................................ 3

Summary of credit requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with the Concentration in Secondary Education

College Core Curriculum ........................................................................... 33-42

Major Requirements .........................................................47-49

Education Concentration ..................................................................... 42

Electives................................................................................. 0-6

Total Credits....................................................................... 128

 

Environmental & Resource Science Minor

ENV 101 - Introduction to Environmental Sciences....................................................... 3

ENV 345 - Environmental Regulations, History, Law, & Methods................................................. 3

ENV 410 – Environmental Policy.......................................................................................... 3

GEOG 117 - Introduction to Meteoroogy........................3

NRES 210 - Environmental Pollution...................3

Upper Division ENV or NRES elective course..............3