Environmental Science

  • ENVS

    What is Environmental Science?

    Environmental Science is a broad and interdisciplinary field primarily concerned with the interrelationships between the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere. It integrates diverse scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, hydrology, atmospheric science, oceanography, and toxicology. Environmental science also touches on many other disciplines such as engineering, psychology, economics, communications, business, and public policy. Environmental science is very inclusive, because we all interact with the environment every single day and it is so critical to our survival.
    Kennesaw State University’s Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Environmental Science provides students a truly interdisciplinary program drawing on faculty expertise and existing courses in the natural sciences, engineering technology, policy, and law. Students completing this program are prepared to enter into industry, consulting, state agencies, or advanced professional programs in the environmental sciences. Graduates will be educated in assessment and control of pollutants, remediation and restoration of toxic sites, sustainable development, management and conservation of natural resources, and conducting environmental research.

    College of Science and Mathematics

    Learn More about Environmental Science

    Admission Requirements

    None.

    Any student admitted to KSU as a degree-seeking undergraduate may declare this major directly in Owl Express.

    Special General Education Requirements

    Area A2: Students must take MATH 1113 or higher.

    Area D1: Students must take MATH 1190 or higher.

    Area D2:  Students must take two four-hour laboratory sciences in Area D2. Students must choose from CHEM 1211/L, CHEM 1212/L, PHYS 1111/L*, PHYS 1112/L, PHYS 2211/L*, PHYS 2212/L, BIOL 1107/L, or BIOL 1108/L.

    *Students cannot take both PHYS 1111/L and PHYS 2211/L nor PHYS 1112/L and PHYS 2212/L.

    Related Minors or Certificates Available

    Sample Classes

    • This course will provide an overview of soil and water science including study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of each and how these properties relate to soil health and water quality. Students will consider human activities that impact soil and water resources, learn how to assess those impacts and apply management approaches towards them. Laboratory exercises will involve the application of techniques for monitoring soil and water quality and methods for remediation.

    • This course will cover fundamental principles of conservation biology. Students will learn about the history and development of the conservation movement, learn how to examine human impacts on plants and wildlife, delve into interaction of conservation and society, and determine how to manage and conserve endangered species. Class exercises will cover quantitative techniques used to evaluate and predict the status of plant and animal populations and ecological methods for monitoring and maintaining biodiversity in ecosystems.

    • This is an introductory course designed to provide students with a basic foundation for an understanding of the importance of natural resource conservation within the context of a variety of local, regional, national, and global resource and environmental concerns. This course examines the effects various natural resource management practices have on the quality of life for both present and future generations with much of the material focusing on the concept of sustainable development.

    • This course is designed to extend the traditional boundaries of the ethical relationships between humans to the nonhuman world in the natural environment. Philosophical and social issues have surfaced in the twenty-first century emerging as environmental ethical dilemmas demanding resolution. Case studies and a variety of interdisciplinary literature pieces are incorporated which allow students to consider the impact of ethical dilemmas and evaluate their social influences.

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