BA in Environmental Science
A major in environmental science requires the completion of 16 courses with the grade of C or higher, as approved by the student’s advisor. Those 16 courses comprise seven required principal courses, five required related math and science courses, and four approved elective courses.
Principal Courses
These seven required courses provide disciplinary foundations in biology, earth sciences, and geography relevant to interdisciplinary study in environmental science: CAS GE 100, GE 310, and GE 375; BI 107 and BI 306; and ES 105 and ES 317.
Required Related Courses
Five related math and science courses are required: CAS MA 123 and MA 124 (or MA 127 or MA 129); CAS CH 171 and CH 172 (or approved equivalent); and one of the following three: CAS PY 211, PY 241, or PY 251. Environmental science majors are strongly encouraged to take CAS EC 101. As appropriate and in consultation with their advisor, students majoring in environmental science are encouraged to take additional math and science courses including CAS PY 212 (or PY 242 or PY 252), CH 273, MA 213, MA 225, and MA 226.
Electives
Four courses are selected by the student in collaboration with the advisor from the following list. Students may also petition to fulfill this requirement through the Boston University Marine Program. No more than two electives can be “Techniques” courses.
Biology
CAS BI 305, BI 407, BI 414, BI 417, BI 423, BI/ES 443, BI 448, BI 486, BI 508, GE/BI 525.
Earth Sciences
ES 331, ES 333, ES 351, ES 371, BI/ES 423, ES 440, BI/ES 443, ES 483, ES 533, ES 534.
Geography
GE/BI 307, GE 503, GE 504, GE 507, GE 510, GE 514, GE/ES 517, GE/BI 525, GE 599.
Techniques in Environmental Analysis
GE 302, GE 365, GE 440, GE 448, GE 502, GE 505, GE 516, GE 550, ES 573.
Tropical Ecology Program in Ecuador
Students may choose to fulfill all four electives with CAS BI/GE 438, BI/GE 439, BI/GE 440, and BI/GE 441.
Unless a student has chosen the Ecuador program option, any two of the following courses may be applied as electives:
School for Field Studies
Kenya Wildlife Management Studies: CAS BI/EE 371, BI/EE 372, EE 491, EE 492.
Costa Rica Sustainable Development Studies: CAS EE 374, EE 377, EE 491, EE 492.
Mexico Conserving Marine Mammals & Coastal Ecosystems: CAS BI 374, BI 379, EE 491, EE 492.
Australia Tropical Rainforest Management: CAS BI/EE 369, EE 370, EE 491, EE 492.
Turks & Caicos Marine Resource Management Studies: CAS BI/EE 373, EE 374, EE 491, EE 492.
