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Columbus State University

Columbus State University

Bachelor of Science/Master of Science
BS Earth and Space Science, Environmental Science Track<br />MS Natural Sciences, Environmental Science Track

College of Letters and Sciences

Department of Earth and Space Sciences

Program Description

Environmental Science has emerged as one of the fastest growing career fields and its importance becomes ever more apparent with the rapid environmental changes occurring world-wide in the twenty-first century. It is an interdisciplinary science that relies on knowledge and techniques synthesized from the disciplines of Geology, Biology, Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics. Environmental scientists seek to solve complex human caused environmental problems associated with air and water pollution, natural habitat loss and degradation, and global change and as such their research has the potential to influence the future sustainability of our planet. As these issues grow in importance, the demand for these inter-disciplinary scientists, trained to understand and solve complex environmental problems and their consequences, will only continue to grow. The Environmental Science program at Columbus State University is structured to train scientists to address the existing challenges and those yet realized in the future. Columbus State University's Environmental Sciences program is the only one in Georgia that offers this breadth of background. The program is designed to educate a new generation of interdisciplinary Environmental Scientists who will have the knowledge and experiences need to solve the increasingly complex and multi-faceted environmental issues.

Career Opportunities

Admission Requirements

Learning Outcomes

Additional Program Requirements

Program Of Study

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
MATH 1113 or MATH 1131*
*Extra hour applied to Area F

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4
COMM 1110
Select one of the following courses:

ITDS 2726
ITDS 2727
ITDS 2735
ITDS 2746
ITDS 2748
ITDS 2749
ITDS 2755
OR
Select one of the following courses:
EURO 2105
LEAD 1705
LIBR 1105
POLS 2401
HIST 1111
HIST 1112
Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, or 2002
Any Area C-E course with a study abroad component.

Note: the two extra hours may be used as electives.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

ENGL 2111
ENGL 2112
ITDS 1145*
ITDS 1155
ITDS 2125 *(Historical perspectives on the Philosophy of Science and Mathematics)
PHIL 2010
Select one of the following fine arts courses:
ARTH 1100
ITDS 1145*
MUSC 1100
THEA 1100
ARTH 2125
ARTH 2126
*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 11
Select two lab science courses from below:
CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry 1
CHEM 1211L Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab
CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry 2
CHEM 1212L Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab
Take one of the following courses:
MATH 1131* or MATH 1132*
*Extra hour applied to Area F

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112
Take the following course:
POLS 1101
Select one behavioral science course from the following courses:

ECON 2105
ECON 2106
PHIL 2030
PSYC 1101
SOCI 1101
Select one world cultures course from the following courses:
ANTH 1105
ANTH 1107
ANTH 2105
ANTH 2136
ENGL 2136
GEOG 1101
HIST 1111
HIST 1112
ITDS 1156

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3
PHED 1205
Select any one PEDS course.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18
“C”or better required in each course
GEOL 1121 Intro Geo 1: Physical Geology
GEOL 1121L Intro Geo 1: Physical Geology 1 Lab
Take the following physics sequence:
PHYS 1111 Introductory Physics 1
PHYS 1112 Introductory Physics 2
PHYS 1311 Introductory Physics 1 Lab
PHYS 1312 Introductory Physics 2 Lab
OR
PHYS 2211 Principles of Physics 1
PHYS 2212 Principles of Physics 2
PHYS 2311 Principles of Physics 1 Lab
PHYS 2312 Principles of Physics 2 Lab

Select 3 or more hours from the following:
ASTR 1105 Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
ASTR 1305 Descriptive Astronomy Lab
ASTR 1106 Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies
BIOL 1215K Principles of Biology
ENVS 1105 Environmental Studies
ENVS 1205K Sustainability and the Environment
GEOL 1110 Natural Sciences

Up to 3 can be added from Areas A, B and/or D with advisor approval.

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 36
 "C" or better required in each course

BIOL 3217K Ecology
CHEM 2115 Quantitative Chemical Analysis
CHEM 2315 Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lab
ENVS 3105 Foundations of Environmental Science
ENVS 4206 Water Resource Management
ENVS 5405U Topics in Conservation(credit hours above 3 will count in area H)
GEOG 2215 Introduction to GIS
GEOL 5117U Climate and Global Change
GEOL 5255U Environmental Geology
STAT 1401 Elementary Statistics


Take one of the following:
ENVS 5125U Human Ecology
ENVS 5226U Culture and the Environment

Area H Program Electives Required Hours: 24

Area H1 Undergraduate Required Hours: 15

Any 3000+ BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, or GEOL course.
With advisor approval, any 3000+ ANTH or GEOG course.

Area H2: combined Requirements:9 hours

Any Group B course from Area 2 of the graduate program, or with advisor approval, any 5000G+ ANTH, BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, GEOG, or GEOL course.

Area 1 Graduate Program Core Required Hours: 3

ENGL 5149G Grant Writing

Area 2 Program Electives Required Hours: 21- 22 hours

Group A: Take the following course: 9 hours

ENVS 5207G Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
ENVS 5715G Environmental Science Seminar (repeated twice for credit)
ENVS 6106 Environmental Law and Regulations

Group B: Take one of the following. Courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be taken for graduate credit: 3 - 4 hours

ANTH 5125G Human Ecology
ENVS 5165G Introduction to Hydrology
ENVS 5226G Culture and Environmental
ENVS 5315G Stream Ecology
ENVS 5405G Topics in Conservation
ENVS 6235 Introduction to Geographic
Information and Global Positioning Systems
ENVS 7115 Environmental Chemistry
GEOL 5135 Introduction to Oceanography
GEOL 5215G Geomorphology

 
*Add 9 hours from Area H2

Area 3: Program Requirements: 11- 12 hours

Thesis Required Hours:
ENVS 7000 Thesis Defense
ENVS 7999 Research in Environmental Science

Total Graduate Hours Required: 36

Total Hours Required: 150

5 Year Course Schedule

5 Year Program Map