Fledgling Environmental Science Degree at Florida State University
Program Design & Assessment
Overview
Environmental Science is the interdisciplinary study of environmental systems from a scientific perspective. Drawing principally from the areas of oceanography, geology, meteorology, biology and chemistry, the Environmental Science program will prepare students in the broader area of geosciences and is an attractive option for students seeking a broader interdisciplinary major with the rigor of mathematics and the physical sciences at its core.
Impetus
An environmental studies degree in the department of geography had more than two hundred majors and an environmental science degree had discussed for some time. The need for an environmental science degree based in the interdisciplinary earth sciences was self evident. A home department for the degree seemed an insurmountable issue until the departments of geology, oceanography, and meteorology were merged.
Program Goals
The degree prepares students broadly in the geosciences with a program that has the rigor of mathematics and physical sciences at its core.
Alumni Careers
Our curriculum is designed with flexibility to allow students develop a path consistent with their individual career goals. There are tracks for environmental engineering and graduate school that are listed on the course website. Advisers also have tracks that prepare students to sit for the Professional Geologist exam, or graduate school in meteorology.
Fewer than 20 students have graduated with the major. We have not started to collect data on graduates.
Program Assessment
We will begin collecting information from our graduates this summer.
Courses and Sequencing
Entry into the program
All of the geology, oceanography, and meteorology courses listed below might serve as entries.Core courses
Applied Statistics, or Research MethodsCalculus I
Biological Science I w/ Lab
General Physics A w/ Lab or College Physics A w/Lab
Chemistry I w/Lab
Biological Science II w/Lab or Chemistry II w/Lab
Physical Geology w/Lab
Proficiency in foreign language (2220 level)
Environmental Science
Introduction to the Atmosphere or General Meteorology
Current Issues in Environmental Science or Energy, Resources, and the Environment
Introduction to Remote Sensing or Geographical Information Processing and Systems
Senior Capstone
Electives
Students are required to take 21 hours (about 7 courses) of electives, chosen from the following list:
Historical Geology
Earth Materials
Principles of Hydrology
Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
Paleontology
Environmental Science Modeling
Marine Pollution
Estuarine and Coastal Ecology
Earth Systems
Marine Microbial Ecology
Marine Conservation Biology
Geomicrobiology
Environmental Science II (Habitable Planet)
Introduction to Physical Oceanography
Climate Change Science or Global Change or Physical Climatology
Meteorological Computations
Introduction to Atmospheric Dynamics
Selected Topics in Meteorology
Introduction to Environmental Engineering Science
Environmental Engineering Science Lab
Engineering Graphics
Civil Engineering Graphic Lab
Site Investigation
Engineering Mechanics
Calculus II
Organic Chemistry
Biological Science II w/Lab, Chemistry II w/Lab (in addition to prerequisite)
Capstone
Senior capstone