Nov 03, 2025

2024-2025 General Catalog

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2024-2025 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Science, B.S.

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General Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements (124 Cr.)

Major Requirements (Minimum 52 Cr.)

Environmental Science Core: 30 Cr.

GEO 260 - Environmental Conservation Credits: 3
BIO 171 - Unity of Life Credits: 4
BIO 172 - Diversity of Life Credits: 4
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
GEO 104 - Intro to Geomorphlgy in Earth Syst Sci Credits: 4
GEO 215 - Intro to Geographic Info Systems, Systems Credits: 4

One of the following:

BUS 205 - Business Statistics Credits: 3
GEO 460 - Data Analysis Credits: 3 OR
MET 460 - Data Analysis Credits: 3
PSY 201 - Statistical Methods Credits: 3
STAT 140 - General Statistics Credits: 3
STAT 240 - Statistical Analysis Credits: 3

Environment and Society Elective: 3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

Any new or topic course approved by the coordinator of the Environmental Science Administrative Committee

GEO 265 - Sustainability: Envrnmnt, Ecnmy, Socty Credits: 3
GEO 321 - Urban and Regional Planning Credits: 3
ECON 210 - Environmental Economics and Policy Credits: 3
SOC 240 - Food Systems Credits: 3

Environmental Meanings and Values Elective: 3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

Any new or topic course approved by the coordinator of the Environmental Science Administrative Committee

GEO 475 - Culture, Nature, Landscape Credits: 3
PHIL 230 - Environmental Philosophy and Ethics Credits: 3

Environmental Science Electives: 14 Cr.

Minimum of 14 credit hours from the following options, including at least one Writing in the Discipline (WID) course (marked with *):

BIO 215 - Fundamental Microbiology for Engineers Credits: 3
BIO 350 - Field Biology: Spring Credits: 3
BIO 430 - Plant Biology Credits: 4 *
BIO 435 - Insect Biology Credits: 4 *
BIO 440 - Ecology Credits: 4 *
CHEM 221 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHEM 222 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHEM 230 - Quantitative Analysis Credits: 4
CHEM 341 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
CE 364 - Environmental Engineering I Credits: 4 *
ENVS 290 - Topics in Environmental Science Credits: 1
ENVS 490 - Advanced Topics in Environmental Science Credits: 1
GEO 264 - Soils and the Environment Credits: 3
GEO 266 - River Systems and Landforms Credits: 3
GEO 304 - Process Geomorphology & Terrain Analysis Credits: 4
GEO 315 - Environmental Applications of GIS Credits: 3
GEO 365 - Biogeography Credits: 3
GEO 385 - Field Study Credits: 1 (when an environmental field study)
GEO 415 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEO 240 - Introduction to Climate Change Credits: 3 OR
MET 240 - Introduction to Climate Change Credits: 3
MET 440 - Global Climate Change Credits: 3
Or any new or topic course approved by the coordinator of the Environmental Science Administrative Committee

These must include at least 11 hours at a level of 300 or higher.

Capstone Experience: 2-4 Cr.

ENVS 499 - Colloquium on Environmental Science and, Management Credits: 1

One additional course from the following options

(ENVS 495 and ENVS 499 can be repeated for credit):

ENVS 381 - Co-Operative Education in Environmental, Science Credits: 1
ENVS 386 - Internship in Environmental Science Credits: 0.5
ENVS 495 - Independent Research in Environmental, Science Credits: 0.5
ENVS 499 - Colloquium on Environmental Science and, Management Credits: 1

Degree Map

Credits: 124

2022-2023

Freshman Year

Fall: Semester 1

BIO 171 - Unity of Life Credits: 4
PSY 201 - Statistical Methods Credits: 3
GEO 104 - Intro to Geomorphlgy in Earth Syst Sci Credits: 4
VUE 101 - Valparaiso University Experience: Exploring Values Credits: 4

Total Credits: 15

Spring: Semester 2

BIO 172 - Diversity of Life Credits: 4
GEO 260 - Environmental Conservation Credits: 3
Humanities Credits: 3
VUE 102 - Valparaiso University Experience: Finding Your Voice Credits: 4
XS 101 - Wellness and Stress Credits: 1

Total Credits: 15

Sophomore Year

Fall: Semester 3

CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
Environment and Society Elective Credits: 3
Writing Intensive Course Credits: 3
THEO 100 - The Christian Tradition Credits: 3
Cultural Diversity Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Spring: Semester 4

CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
GEO 215 - Intro to Geographic Info Systems, Systems Credits: 4
Humanities Credits: 3
Elective/Minor Requirement Credits: 3
ENVS 499 - Colloquium on Environmental Science and, Management Credits: 1

Total Credits: 15

Junior Year

Fall: Semester 5

Environmental Meanings Elective Credits: 3
Environmental Science Elective Credits: 4
ENVS Writing in the Discipline (WID) Credits: 4
Elective/Minor Requirement Credits: 3
Humanities Credits: 3

Total Credits: 17

Spring: Semester 6

Environmental Science Elective Credits: 4
GEO 300-level Elective Credits: 3
Upper-level Theology Credits: 3
Elective/Minor Requirement Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
ENVS 499 - Colloquium on Environmental Science and, Management Credits: 1

Total Credits: 17

Senior Year

Fall: Semester 7

Environmental Science Elective Credits: 4
Elective/Minor Requirement Credits: 3
Elective/Minor Requirement Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Spring: Semester 8

ENVS 381 - Co-Operative Education in Environmental, Science Credits: 1 OR
ENVS 386 - Internship in Environmental Science Credits: 0.5 OR
ENVS 495 - Independent Research in Environmental, Science Credits: 0.5
GEO 496 - Research in Geography Credits: 1
Elective/Minor Requirement Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 2
ENVS 499 - Colloquium on Environmental Science and, Management Credits: 1

Environmental Science, B.S.

General Degree Requirements

Major Requirements (Minimum 52 Cr.)

Environmental Science Core: 30 Cr.

One of the following:

Environment and Society Elective: 3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

Environmental Meanings and Values Elective: 3 Cr.

One course from the following options:

Environmental Science Electives: 14 Cr.

These must include at least 11 hours at a level of 300 or higher.

Capstone Experience: 2-4 Cr.

One additional course from the following options

Degree Map

Freshman Year

Fall: Semester 1

Total Credits: 15

Spring: Semester 2

Total Credits: 15

Sophomore Year

Fall: Semester 3

Total Credits: 16

Spring: Semester 4

Total Credits: 15

Junior Year

Fall: Semester 5

Total Credits: 17

Spring: Semester 6

Total Credits: 17

Senior Year

Fall: Semester 7

Total Credits: 16

Spring: Semester 8

Total Credits: 13