Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences - Environmental Science Emphasis, B.S.
Program Description
The Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences major is an interdisciplinary study of the relevant natural science disciplines, with emphases in either the Geosciences or the Environmental Sciences. This program provides knowledge and experience through lecture, laboratory, and field courses that immerse the students into the world around them. Students will analyze and solve problems associated with use of energy, water, and mineral resources; in protection of the environment; in planning for the impact of natural hazards; and in sustainable approaches to societal development. The region and ecosystems that surround Utah Tech University provide the ideal laboratory to apply concepts to the earth, energy, and environmental issues that impact the future of humanity. Emphases in the Geosciences and the Environmental Sciences are available depending on the student interests.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
General Education Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
Earth, Energy, & Environmental Science Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 1210 & ENVS 1215 | Introduction to Environmental Science and Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENVS 2210 | Environmental Pollution and Remediation Techniques | 3 |
| ENVS 3110 | Scientific Writing | 3 |
| or BIOL 3110 | Scientific Writing | |
| ENER 3310 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| ENER 4310 | Energy Technology and Sustainability | 3 |
| GEO 1110 & GEO 1115 | Physical Geology (PS) and Physical Geology Lab (LAB) | 4 |
| GEO 2050 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEO 3400 | Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOG 3600 & GEOG 3605 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | 4 |
| GEOG 3410 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I (PS) and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| CHEM 1220 & CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615 | Principles of Biology I (LS) and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| MATH 1060 | Trigonometry (MA) | 3 |
| PHYS 2010 & PHYS 2015 | College Physics I (PS) and College Physics I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| ENGL 2201 | Literature and the Land (HU, GC) | 3 |
Environmental Science Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 2700R | Field Methods in Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENVS 2990R | Career Seminar in Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENVS 3510 | Waste Management | 3 |
| ENVS 4080 | Environmental Monitoring and Characterization | 4 |
| ENVS 4800R | Independent Research | 1 |
| ENVS 4910 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
Required travel based course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 1 of the following travel based courses: | ||
| ENVS 3910 | Costa Rica Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3920 | Peruvian Amazon Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3930 | South Africa Natural History | 3 |
| GEO 3000 | Advanced Geologic Investigation of Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce National Parks | 3 |
| GEO 3910 | Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland | 3 |
| GEOG 3930 | Remote Sensing of Landscape: China | 3 |
upper division elective requirements
Choose at least 15 upper division elective credits from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 3410 | Air Quality and Control Technologies | 3 |
| ENVS 3210 | Soil Science | 3 |
| ENVS 3280 | Environmental Law, Management and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 4099R | Special Topics in Environmental Science | 1-3 |
| GEOG 4140 | Advanced GIS Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG 4180 | Geoprocessing with Python | 3 |
| GEO 3710 | Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO 3550 | Sedimentology & Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GEO 3200 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEO 3600 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GEO 3500 | Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEO 3700 | Structural Geology and Tectonics | 4 |
| GEO 4600 | Field Geology | 5 |
additional elective requirements
Choose 4 elective credits from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 3040 & BIOL 3045 | General Ecology and General Ecology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 3150 | Biostatistics and the Scientific Method | 3 |
| BIOL 4200 & BIOL 4205 | Plant Taxonomy (ALPP) and Plant Taxonomy Lab (ALPP) | 4 |
| BIOL 4260 & BIOL 4265 | Herpetology and Herpetology Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 4270 & BIOL 4275 | Ichthyology and Ichthyology Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 4280 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 4350 & BIOL 4355 | Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 4380 & BIOL 4385 | Ornithology and Ornithology Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 4440 & BIOL 4445 | General Entomology and General Entomology Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 4200 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| COMM 3250 | Professional Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentations | 3 |
| COMM 3550 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMM 4020 | Integrated Oral Presentations | 3 |
| BUS 3000 | Intermediate Career Strategies | 1 |
| SCI 4700 | Secondary Science Teaching Methods | 3 |
| SCI 4710 | Innovative Solutions - Research and Design | 1 |
| SCI 4720 | Innovative Solutions - Product Development | 1 |
| SCI 4730 | Innovative Solutions - Entrepreneurship | 1 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
- Grade C- or higher in all required courses.