May 17, 2026

2026-2027 General Catalog

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2026-2027 General 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 104 - Environmental Earth Science Credits: 4
GEO 215 - Intro to Geographic Info Systems, Systems Credits: 4
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

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
DATA 140 - General Statistics Credits: 3
DATA 240 - Statistical Analysis Credits: 3

Environmental Policy and Values Elective: 6 Cr.

Take six (6) credits from the following:

ECON 210 - Environmental Economics and Policy Credits: 3
GEO 204 - National Parks and Public Lands Credits: 3
GEO 265 - Sustainability: Envrnmnt, Ecnmy, Socty Credits: 3
GEO 321 - Urban and Regional Planning Credits: 3
GEO 475 - Culture, Nature, Landscape Credits: 3
SOC 240 - Food Systems Credits: 3
Any new or topic course approved by the Department Chair

Environmental Science Electives: 14 Cr.

Take at least fourteen (14) credits from the following options:

Must include courses in at least two different subjects (identified by the 3-4 letter code preceding each course number).

Must include at least eleven (11) credits at 300-level or higher.

Must include at least one (1) Writing in the Discipline (WID) course marked with *.

BIO 215 - Fundamental Microbiology for Engineers Credits: 3 OR
BIO 345 - Intermediate Microbiology Credits: 4
BIO 310 - Evolution 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
ENE 330 - Environmental Soils Credits: 3
ENVS 290 - Topics in Environmental Science Credits: 1
ENVS 490 - Advanced Topics in Environmental Science Credits: 1
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 364 - Wetlands Credits: 3 *
GEO 360 - Soils and the Environment Credits: 3
GEO 365 - Biogeography Credits: 3
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
Any new or topic course approved by the Department Chair

Capstone Experience: 2-4 Cr.

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

At least one (1) additional credit from the following options:

GEO 385 - Field Study Credits: 1
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

2026

Freshman Year

Fall: Semester 1

BIO 171 - Unity of Life Credits: 4
PSY 201 - Statistical Methods Credits: 3
GEO 104 - Environmental Earth Science 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
Environmental Policy and Values Elective Credits: 3
Writing Intensive Course Credits: 3
REL 100 - Religion and Society 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 Policy and Values 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
Second Religious Studies Course 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

GEO 385 - Field Study Credits: 1 OR
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:

Environmental Policy and Values Elective: 6 Cr.

Environmental Science Electives: 14 Cr.

Capstone Experience: 2-4 Cr.

At least one (1) additional credit 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