Nov 23, 2024

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog (Edited Version)

Environmental Science and Sustainability, BS

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The environmental science and sustainability major addresses the growing need in our society for persons possessing both a broad scientific background and an understanding of environmental relationships. The curriculum is founded solidly on the traditional sciences of biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics, yet provides considerable breadth of experience in environmental science areas. Required electives are taken in any of the sciences or in civil engineering so students can emphasize an area of particular interest. Since the major does not have a narrow focus, students are prepared for a wide range of jobs or graduate study.

Curriculum

ENVR Electives (10-12 Credits)

Choose Three

ENVR 201 - Environmental Geology 4 Credit(s)
ENVR 209 - Meteorology 4 Credit(s)
ENVR 301 - Introductory Ecology 4 Credit(s)
ENVR 309 - Earth’s Changing Atmosphere and Climate 3 Credit(s)
ENVR 340 - Tropical Ecology 3 Credit(s)
ENVR 342 - Tropical Ecology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
ENVR 401 - Physiological Ecology of Extreme Environments: Life at the Edge 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 261 - Biological Concepts III—Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 308 - General Botany 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 313 - Mechanisms of Evolution 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 345 - Biodiversity: Evolutionary Ecology, Bioinformatics, and Conservation Biology 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 419 - Environmental Microbiology 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 365 - Analytical Chemistry 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 367 - Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (W) 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 366 - Instrumental Analysis 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 368 - Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (W) 1 Credit(s)
CHEM Courses must be taken with corresponding lab

Math (8 Credits)

MATH 131 - Calculus With Review I (Q) 4 Credit(s)
MATH 132 - Calculus With Review II 4 Credit(s)

Physics (10 Credits)

PHYS 141 - College Physics I 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 143 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
PHYS 142 - College Physics II 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 144 - College Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)

Capstone (3-5 Credits)

ENVR 490 - Environmental Science Internship 3-12 Credit(s)
or
Senior Thesis Sequence (5 Credits)
ENVR 408 - Senior Thesis Proposal in Environmental Science 1 Credit(s)
ENVR 409 - Senior Thesis in Environmental Science I 2 Credit(s)
ENVR 410 - Senior Thesis in Environmental Science II 2 Credit(s)
or
ENVR 498 - Research Experience in Environmental Science and Sustainability 1 - 3 Credit(s)

Total Credits: 71-75

The program of study that appears here applies to students who were admitted for the summer session of this catalog year and later. Students admitted prior to that term should select the appropriate catalog year of their admission. Choose previous catalogs from the Home, Graduate, or Undergraduate Catalog Page at http://Catalog.widener.edu.

Curriculum Sequence

Environmental Science and Sustainability BS Curriculum Sequence

Curriculum Sequence

First Year

Fall (14.5 Credits)

ASC 101 - Thinking Through 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 161 - Biological Concepts I—Principles of Evolution and Ecology 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 165 - Biological Concepts I Lab
ENGL 101 - Reading, Thinking and Writing 3 Credit(s)
ENVR 171 - Principles of Environmental Science 3 Credit(s)
ENVR 173 - Investigating Environmental Science 1 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)

Spring (14.5 Credits)

CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 177 - General Chemistry I Lab 1 Credit(s)
BIOL 162 - Biological Concepts II—Plant and Animal Structure and Function 4 Credit(s)
ENVR 172 - Principles of Sustainability Science 3 Credit(s)
Foundations and Transformations Elective 3 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective 0.5 credit(s)

Sophomore

Fall (17 Credits)

CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 257 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Credit(s)
MATH 131 - Calculus With Review I (Q) 4 Credit(s)
ENVR 261 - Geographic Information Systems 4 Credit(s)
ENVR Elective 4 Credit(s)*

Spring (15 Credits)

ENVR 299 - Research Methods and Analysis 4 Credit(s)
MATH 132 - Calculus With Review II 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 178 - General Chemistry Lab II 1 Credit(s)
Foundations and Transformations Elective 3 Credit(s)

Junior

Fall (15 Credits)

PHYS 141 - College Physics I 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 143 - College Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
ENVR Elective 4 Credit(s)*
Two Foundation and Transformations Electives 6 Credit(s)

Spring (16 Credits)

PHYS 142 - College Physics II 4 Credit(s)
PHYS 144 - College Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
ENVR 408 - Senior Thesis Proposal in Environmental Science 1 Credit(s) **
ENVR Elective 4 Credit(s)**
Foundations and Transformations Elective 3 Credit(s)
Elective 3 Credit(s)

Senior

Fall (15 Credits)

ENVR 304 - Environmental Pollution 4 Credit(s)
Foundations and Transformations Elective 3 Credit(s)
Two Electives 6 Credit(s)
ENVR 409 - Senior Thesis in Environmental Science I 2 Credit(s) **

Spring (14 Credits)

ASC 401 - Transformations Capstone 3 Credit(s)
ENVR 410 - Senior Thesis in Environmental Science II 2 Credit(s) **
Foundations and Transformations Elective 3 Credit(s)
Two Electives 6 Credit(s)

Total Credits: 123

*Advanced Electives Include: ENVR 201 , ENVR 209 , ENVR 301 , ENVR 309 , ENVR 332 , ENVR 340 / ENVR 342 , ENVR 401 , BIOL 261 , BIOL 308 , BIOL 313 , BIOL 345 , BIOL 419 , CHEM 365 /CHEM 367 , CHEM 366 /CHEM 368 . Check carefully for prerequisites for these courses.

**Students may replace the 5 credit senior thesis sequence (ENVR 408/409/410) with 3 credits of 498 Research Experience or 3 credits of ENVR 490 Environmental Science Internship.

Environmental Science and Sustainability, BS

Curriculum

ENVR Core (19 Credits)

Biology (8 Credits)

Chemistry (13 Credits)

ENVR Electives (10-12 Credits)

Math (8 Credits)

Physics (10 Credits)

Capstone (3-5 Credits)

Total Credits: 71-75

Curriculum Sequence

Environmental Science and Sustainability BS Curriculum Sequence

Curriculum Sequence

First Year

Fall (14.5 Credits)

Spring (14.5 Credits)

Sophomore

Fall (17 Credits)

Spring (15 Credits)

Junior

Fall (15 Credits)

Spring (16 Credits)

Senior

Fall (15 Credits)

Spring (14 Credits)

Total Credits: 123