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.

    This program does not have specific admission requirements. Only admission to Kennesaw State University is required to declare this major.

    General Education Core IMPACTS Curriculum Requirements Specific to This Major

    M: Students must take MATH 1113 or higher.

    T: Students must take MATH 1179 or higher.

    T:  Select two course pairs from the following (8 Credit Hours): 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

    • Biology Minor
    • Environmental Science Minor
    • Environmental Studies Minor

    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.

    • Students in this course will learn how plate tectonics affect the positioning of our continents, how the physical and chemical makeup of seawater affects the ocean’s properties, and how air-sea interactions, ocean circulation, waves and tides all affect our climate. Finally, students will explore the biological richness of the ocean ecosystem by studying coastal habitats, biological productivity, pelagic and benthic marine organisms, marine pollution and the exploitation of marine resources.

    • 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 course covers wetlands as components of natural landscapes. Students will learn to characterize the biogeochemistry, hydrology, geomorphology, and soil properties of wetlands. Students will learn how to classify wetlands by considering soil and hydrologic factors important to wetland delineation and jurisdictional determination. Finally, students will learn how to mitigate impacts on wetlands with an emphasis on wetland restoration and creation.

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