2009-2010 Catalog
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
To educate students in the study of environmental problems such as global warming and contaminants in the ecosystem, Russell Sage College offers the BS in Environmental Science. This degree program provides a scientifically rigorous program of study to train women to think and act responsibly in an ever-changing, technologically challenging world. The BS in Environmental Science, which emphasizes biological investigation supported by a solid background in chemistry and public policy, prepares a student for graduate study, for state or federal government employment, or for a private sector position in the environmental or a related field. Students also complete an internship and a senior research project, making them highly competitive as they enter the job market or apply to graduate programs.
| Degree Requirements | Credits |
|
| Biology Courses | ||
| Core Courses | 20-22 |
|
| BIO 104 | Foundations of Biology I (w/lab) (NS) | 4 |
| BIO 105 | Foundations of Biology II (w/lab) (NS) | 4 |
| BIO 358 | Proseminar: Biological Communications | 3 |
| BIO 359 | Explorations in Research Methodology | 3 |
| BIO 401 | Senior Independent Project (2 semesters) | 6-8 |
| Foundational Courses | ||
| BIO 110 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
| BIO 208 | Microbiology (w/lab) | 4 |
| BIO 326 | Principles of Ecology (w/lab) | 4 |
| BIO 357 | Environmental Toxicology (w/lab) | 4 |
| BIO 309 | Environmental Internship/Practicum | 3-6 |
| Biology elective courses | ||
| Select three additional courses in Biology | 11-12 |
|
| The following are recommended: | ||
BIO 211 |
The Plant Kingdom (w/lab) | |
BIO 217 |
Invertebrate Zoology (w/lab) | |
BIO 312 |
Evolution | |
BIO 321 |
Biology of Algae (w/lab) | |
BIO 336 |
Animal Behavior (w/lab) | |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| CHM 111 | General Chemistry I (w/lab) | 4 |
| CHM 112 | General Chemistry II (w/lab) | 4 |
| CHM 201 | Organic Chemistry I (w/lab) | 5 |
| CHM 202 | Organic Chemistry II (w/lab) | 5 |
| PHY 101 or 107 | General Physics I or Physics I (w/lab) | 4 |
| PHY 102 or 108 | General Physics II or Physics II (w/lab) | 4 |
| MAT 220 | Applied Statistics I (QR) | 3 |
| POL 218 | Introduction to Public Policymaking (SS) | 3 |
MAT 201 |
Calculus I | 3 |
General Education Requirements – not fulfilled by Major or required Supporting Courses |
||
| Core Requirements | ||
| FYE 101 | First Year Experience | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Language and Community | 3 |
| ENG 220 | College Research and Writing |
3 |
| WLD 120 | Women in the World | 3 |
| WLD 420 | Women Changing the World | 3 |
| Humanities/Arts | ||
| Language (may include cross-cultural requirement) | 6 |
|
| Other humanities (may include cross-cultural requirement) | 6 |
|
| Social Science (may include cross-cultural requirement) | 3 |
|
| Cross-Cultural Course | 0-3 |
|
| Electives | 0-11 |
|
| Total credits required for degree | 120 |
|
Note: If the Language Requirement is satisfied through proficiency or waived, then an additional 6 credits of other humanities must be taken.
Suggested Course Sequence for BS in Environmental Science
The following is a general schedule for the Environmental Science major. Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning your course schedule. Other course sequences are possible. Consult your advisor or the Biology Program Coordinator. Note also that one can introduce flexibility into this recommended sequence by shifting elective and/or general education slots around to allow one to pursue other courses of personal interest or compensate for scheduling conflicts.
Semester |
||||
First Year |
1st |
2nd |
||
| FYE 101 | First Year Experience | 1 | ||
ENG 101 |
Language and Community |
3 |
|
|
WLD 120 |
Women in the World |
|
3 |
|
BIO 110 |
Environmental Issues (odd springs) |
3 |
||
| BIO 104/105 | Foundations of Biology I & II (w/lab) | 4 |
4 |
|
| CHM 111/112 | General Chemistry I & II (w/lab) | 4 |
4 |
|
|
Humanities: Language |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
17 |
||
Second Year |
1st |
2nd |
||
ENG 220 |
College Research and Writing |
3 |
|
|
CHM 201 |
Organic Chemistry I (w/lab) |
5 |
|
|
CHM 202 |
Organic Chemistry II (w/lab) |
|
5 |
|
BIO 208 |
Microbiology (w/lab) |
|
4 |
|
BIO 326 |
Ecology (w/lab) |
4 |
|
|
BIO 357 |
Environmental Toxicology (w/lab) |
4 |
||
| MAT 201 | Calculus I | 3 |
||
MAT 220 |
Applied Statistics |
3 |
||
|
|
15 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Third Year |
1st |
2nd |
||
BIO |
Biology Elective (w/lab) |
4 |
||
BIO 358 |
Proseminar |
|
3 |
|
BIO 359 |
Explorations in Research Methodology |
|
3 |
|
PHY 101 or 107 General Physics I or Physics I (w/lab) |
4 |
|
||
PHY 102 or 108 General Physics I or Physics II (w/lab) |
|
4 |
||
POL 218 |
Intro to Public Policymaking |
3 |
||
BIO 309 |
Environmental Practicum/Internship |
3 |
0-3 |
|
|
Humanities: Cross-Cultural |
3 |
|
|
|
General Education: Social Science |
3 |
||
|
17 |
13-16 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Year |
1st |
2nd |
||
BIO 401 |
Senior Independent Project |
3-4 |
3-4 |
|
BIO |
Biology Elective |
3-4 |
3-4 |
|
WLD 420 |
Women Changing the World |
3 |
|
|
|
General Education: Humanities |
3 |
||
|
Electives |
3 |
3 |
|
|
12-14 |
12-14 |
||
Total for BS in Environmental Science ........................................... 120
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MINOR
| Requirements: Minor in Environmental Science | Credits |
|
| BIO 104/105 | Foundations of Biology I and II (w/lab) | 8 |
| BIO 110 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
| BIO 357 | Environmental Toxicology (w/lab) | 4 |
| Select two additional courses in biology | 6-8 |
|
| Total credit hours required | 21-23 |
|
