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  • Environmental Sciences BS

School of Earth & Sustainability

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SES.Admin​@nau.edu
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See also

  • Compare all SES Bachelor's programs
  • Resources for current students

Add a graduate degree with an extra year

  • 4+1 MA in Sustainable Communities
  • 4+1 MS in Climate Science & Solutions


Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Science

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Environmental Geology - Emphasis
  • Applied Statistics - Emphasis
  • Environmental Administration and Policy - Emphasis
  • Biology - Emphasis
  • Chemistry - Emphasis
  • Climate - Emphasis
  • Environmental Communication - Emphasis
  • Environmental Management - Emphasis

Please note that not all emphases are available online. Check with your adviser for additional information.

This degree encourages students to explore the many faces of the environmental sciences, including living and non-living components. Students will receive an overall grounding in essential sciences, with options to delve into the human dynamics of the environment, such as policy and management.

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Requirements Accordion Open

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's liberal studies, diversity, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
    The full policy can be viewed here.

     

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 84 units of major requirements including at least 37 units of emphasis requirements
  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Please note that students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion120
Major GPA2.0
Highest Mathematics RequiredSTA 275
ResearchOptional
University Honors ProgramOptional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-SRecommended
Progression Plan LinkView Progression Plan
Emphasis Required

An emphasis is required for this major.

Purpose Statement

The Environmental Science program at NAU constructs an interdisciplinary base of knowledge and skills to explore and develop real-world solutions to environmental problems.

Our program provides a firm grounding in the natural and social sciences to ensure all students understand how chemical, physical and biological processes maintain life, and the complex relationships among humans and the environment. Students work together and individually in the classroom, field and laboratory to practice applying the scientific method to address environmental problems and explore creative solutions that apply cutting-edge technologies.

The broad range of emphases available within our program allows students to delve deeper into a specific knowledge base, then work individually and often together in Environmental Science courses to solve problems by applying the perspectives and knowledge they developed in their emphasis with students from other emphasis areas. To culminate the learning in the program, students develop an individually designed research project or internship addressing an environmental issue of importance to them, which in turn, is expected to further prepare students for a range of professional or graduate opportunities.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Examine how the Earths’ natural systems interact and change over time and the effects of anthropogenic resource use and management on these systems, including feedbacks and impacts to ecosystem services, through the use of basic ecological experimental design and data collection.
  • Apply the scientific method and critical thinking to address environmental problems, integrate historical perspectives, and explore solutions across a range of spatial-temporal scales.
  • Use statistics and models to analyze environmental data with the following goals:  quantitatively describe processes, assess uncertainties, test hypotheses, measure trends; reveal spatial and temporal patterns, explore relations among variables, and create sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
  • Analyze topographic maps and remote sensing images using GIS tools to identify the geologic framework, ecological community types, and human environments and make recommendations to resource managers.
  • Apply information about basic reservoirs and fluxes of the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, rock, and water cycles to develop recommendations for resource management that would reduce human impacts on climate change.
  • Use basic water, air and soil sampling methods to explore various management methods to improve water, air, and soil quality.
  • Identify and effectively communicate environmental issues and sustainable solutions using both natural science and social science principles.
  • Investigate the effects of resource management within linked natural and social systems and develop potential ecosystem service solutions that resolve imbalances.
  • Apply knowledge of the policy cycle, official and unofficial policymakers, the science-policy interface and important environmental legislation (such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, General Mining Law, Kyoto Protocol, NEPA, Endangered Species Act, and others) to strengthen the use of data in policy decisions.
  • Participate in community, NGO, or business environmental activities, or in environmental research.  Learn the skills to apply environmental science concepts to advance science and to facilitate the development of science and policy decisions to better address and resolve environmental issues.
  • Incorporate environmental science data into interdisciplinary policy decision-making endeavors, with the goal of generating innovative ideas that go beyond obvious and predefined solutions.
Climate Change Emphasis
  • Examine and understand how climate has changed in the past and how climate is anticipated to change into the future in response to both natural and human factors. 
  • Understand and be able to explain natural climate dynamics and the modes of variability within the climate system. 
  • Explore and understand the social, political, and/or cultural factors that shape how society understands and responds to climate change. 
  • Explore and analyze potential pathways to mitigate climate change and minimize the impacts of a changing climate system. 
Environmental Geology Emphasis
  • Quantify selected aspects of the Earth system using foundations of mathematics and physics.
  • Explore Earth system concepts, such as plate tectonics, the rock cycle, and geologic hazards on geologic time scales, and through collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
Applied Statistics Emphasis
  • Apply statistical techniques to find innovative ways of understanding environmental problems.
  • Explore advanced math, computer programming, bioinformatics, and geographic information systems, and through collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate solutions to environmental problems.
Biology Emphasis
  • Quantify selected aspects of biological systems using foundations of mathematics and physics.
  • Explore core concepts in biological sciences such as the unifying molecular, cellular, ecological and evolutionary principles for life on Earth. Gain appreciation for the importance of multiple scales of biological diversity. Understand the foundations of ecology and the principles of conservation biology. Practice collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
Chemistry Emphasis
  • Understand the composition of air, water, and soil to determine how chemicals enter and cycle through the environment, what effects they have, and how human activity affects their cycling.
  • Explore natural phenomena that may transport and alter chemicals from human sources including processes causing as air, soil, and water pollution, which result in environmental contamination, ozone depletion, and ocean acidification.
  • Understand the sources and extent of pollution, and ways to promote sustainability, conservation, and protection of public health and the environment in the private and public sectors.
Environmental Administration and Policy Emphasis
  • Explore the basic principles of the organization and management of public organizations, policy-making, theories and practices of human resource management, environmental movements, and political ecology, and through collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
Environmental Communication Emphasis
  • Understand environmental processes and problems as well as the nature, concepts, and process of communication.
  • Learn how to communicate environmental concepts in written and oral form, through diverse media, to audiences of diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, and perspectives. 
Environmental Management Emphasis
  • Explore the basic principles of conservation of biological diversity and ecology, multicultural perspectives on environmental management, adaptive management, and the implementation of environmental regulations and through collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

Details Accordion Closed

Major Requirements
  • This major requires 84-98 units distributed as follows:

    • Environmental Sciences Common Course Requirements: 47 units
    • Select an Emphasis: 39-51 units
      • Applied Statistics Emphasis: 39 units
      • Biology Emphasis: 40-41 units
      • Chemistry Emphasis: 37-38 units
      • Cimate Emphasis: 41-43 units
      • Environmental Administration and Policy Emphasis: 39 units
      • Environmental Communication Emphasis: 42-43 units
      • Environmental Geology Emphasis: 51 units
      • Environmental Management Emphasis: 40 units


    Take 84 - 98 units with a Grade of "C" or better in the following courses:

    Environmental Sciences Common Course Requirements

    • CHM 151, CHM 151L, CHM 152, CHM 152L (9 units)
    • ENV 115, ENV 120, ENV 171, ENV 181, ENV 226, ENV 226L, ENV 360 (19 units)
    • ENV 385W which meets the junior-level writing requirement (4 units)
    • ENV 408 or ENV 485 (3 units)
    • ENV 490C which meets the senior capstone requirement (3 units)
    • POS 359 and (STA 270 or STA 275) (6 units)
    • One additional upper-division ENV course (3 units)

    Emphasis Requirements (Select One):

    Courses in the selected emphasis must be completed with a "C" average. 

    • Applied Statistics Emphasis (39 units)
      • BIO 182, BIO 182L (4 units)
      • CS 126, CS 126L (4 units)
      • ENV 440, ENV 440L (4 units)
      • GSP 239, GSP 406 (7 units)
      • MAT 136, MAT 137 (8 units)
      • STA 371, STA 471 (6 units)
      • Select from (6 units): 
        • Advanced Statistics: STA 473, STA 477, STA 570
        • Bioinformatics:  BIO 344, BIO 450
        • Computation:  CS 136, CS 136L CS 249
        • GIS and Remote Sensing: GSP 420, GSP 331, GSP 433, GSP 435, GSP 437, GSP 438
        • Additional mathematics, statistics, and/or science courses chosen with your advisor's approval; (excluding BIO 226, BIO 226L, any recitation ("R") courses).

    • Biology Emphasis (40-41 units)

      Please note that Biology is the only emphasis available at the Yuma campus. Check with your adviser for additional information.
      • BIO 181, BIO 181L, BIO 182, BIO 182L, BIO 205, BIO 205L (12 units)
      • (CHM 230 or CHM 235), CHM 360 (6-7 units)
      • ENV 440, ENV 440L (4 units)
      • MAT 136 (4 units)
      • Select 14 additional ENV, BIO, CHM, FOR, or GLG courses; (excluding BIO 100, BIO 100L, BIO 226, BIO 226L, CHM 130, ENV 101, ENV 101L, GLG 100, GLG 100L, or any recitation ("R") courses. At least 7 units must be at the 300-level or above. (14 units)

    • Chemistry Emphasis (37-38 units)
      • (CHM 230, CHM 230L) or (CHM 235, CHM 235L) (4-5 units)
      • CHM 320, CHM 320L, CHM 341, CHM 425C, CHM 425LC (12 units)
      • ENV 430 (3 units)
      • MAT 136, MAT 137 (8 units)
      • PHY 161, PHY 262 (PHY 262L is not required) (7 units)
      • One additional upper-division ENV course (3 units)

    • Climate Emphasis (41-43 units) 
      • INF 110, INF 205 (6 units) 
      • (MAT 125 or MAT 136) (4 units) 
      • (PHY 161, PHY 262) or (PHY 111, PHY 112) (7-8 units) 
      • GSP 362 (3 units) 
      • ENV 415, ENV 595 (6 units) 
      • Select one from (3-4 units)
        • (GLG 102, GLG 104L), GLG 107 
      • Select one from (3-4 units): 
        • STA 371, (STA 444, STA 445), (STA 473, STA 475)
      • Select one from (3 units): 
        • POS 224, POS 250, POS 344
        • ECO 284, ECO 324
      • Select one from (3 units): 
        • ENV 435, ENV 450, ENV 460
        • BIO 426C
      • Select one from (3 units): 
        • EES 580
        • ENV 591

    • Environmental Administration and Policy Emphasis (39 units)
      • BIO 181, BIO 181L, BIO 182, BIO 182L (8 units)
      • COM 150 (3 units)
      • GLG 101, GLG 103L (4 units)
      • PHI 331 (3 units)
      • POS 224, POS 250, POS 325, (9 units)
      • One additional upper-division ENV course (3 units)
      • One budgeting and/or economics course, chosen from a departmental list (may include POS, STA, ECO, and FOR) (3 units)
      • Select from (6 units):
        • Environmental Sciences: ENV 440, FOR 445
        • Geography, Planning, and Recreation: GSP 201, GSP 206, GSP 401, GSP 499
        • Humanities: COM 250, CST 370
        • International and Comparative Politics: POS 260, POS 361, POS 362, POS 364, POS 366, POS 370, POS 372, POS 374, POS 380, POS 480
        • Politics: POS 314, POS 315, POS 316, POS 317, POS 335, POS 421C, POS 428
        • Social Sciences: CCJ 312, ECO 324, SOC 414
        • Additional related coursework with your advisor's approval.

    • Environmental Communication Emphasis (42-43 units)
      • BIO 181, BIO 181L, BIO 182, BIO 182L (8 units)
      • COM 131, COM 150, COM 200, CST 111 (12 units)
      • GLG 101, GLG 103L (4 units)
      • JLS 131, JLS 231 (6 units)
      • One additional 200-level or higher CHM, GLG, PHY, or BIO course; excluding recitation ("R") courses (3 units)
      • One additional upper-division ENV course (3 units)
      • Select from (11 units):
        • COM 250, COM 400
        • CMF 129, CMF 235
        • CST 323, CST 361, CST 472, CST 477
        • GSP 239
        • JLS 284, JLS 335W, JLS 382
        • PHO 303
        • STR 307

    • Environmental Geology Emphasis (51 units)

      • Select one of the following combinations (4 units):
        • GLG 101, GLG 103L (Recommended)
        • GLG 100, GLG 100L with grades of "B" or better
        • GLG 112, GLG 112L with grades of "B" or better
      • GLG 102, GLG 104L, GLG 240, (GLG 259 and GLG 259L), GLG 309, GLG 324, GLG 360, GLG 435, GLG 451 (31 units)
      • GSP 239 (4 units)
      • MAT 136 MAT 137 (8 units)
      • PHY 161 (4 units)

    • Environmental Management Emphasis (40 units)
      • BIO 181, BIO 181L, BIO 182, BIO 182L (8 units)
      • ECO 284 (3 units)
      • MAT 125 or MAT 136 (4 units)
      • ENV 440 (3 units)
      • FOR 230 (3 units)
      • GSP 239 (4 units)
      • Select one from: FOR 360W, FOR 445, PRM 346W (3 units)
      • One additional upper-division ENV course (3 units)
      • In consultation with your advisor select three courses from the following list, with no more than one from each group (9 units)
        • (ANT 370; MGT 303, or SOC 319)
        • (COM 150; CST 271, or CST 323)
        • (ECO 285, ECO 324, or ECO 486)
        • (GSP 420, GSP 331)
        • PHI 105, PHI 331 
        • POS 250
General Electives
  • Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit. 

    You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)

Additional Information
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.
     

  • Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

    This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan. Accelerated Programs provide the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates working on their bachelor’s degree to simultaneously begin work on a master’s degree. Departments may allow students to complete both degrees in an accelerated manner by approving up to 12 units applicable toward both degrees. Students must apply to the accelerated program and the master’s program by the application deadline, and meet all requirements as listed on the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year. Be sure to speak with your advisor regarding your interest in Accelerated Programs.
     

Availability Accordion Closed

  • Flagstaff

School of Earth & Sustainability
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Room A108 Building 11
Ashurst
624 S Knoles Dr
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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928-523-9333
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