Degree: B.S.

Undergraduate Program Director: Robert L. Tate III (tate@aesop.rutgers.edu)

The environmental sciences program is designed to provide students with an understanding of the application of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences to problems in the environment. Options emphasize the chemical, physical, or biological aspects, and electives allow specialization in the study of air, water, or soils, as well as pollution and treatment sciences, and environmental or occupational health studies.

With the consultation of a faculty adviser, students can design a program to meet requirements for graduate study and provide the basis for a professional career in government, education, consulting, or industry.

Students also may meet the requirements for the New Jersey License Examination for Sanitarians by including the following courses in their program:

11:375:301 The Environment and Health (3)

11:375:406  Public Health Practice and Administration (3)

11:375:409  Environmental Statement and Impact (3)

11:375:455,456  Internship in Environmental Health (2,2)

Recommended

11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

11:375:430  Hazardous Wastes (3)

Please see the Programs of Study Summary on page 272 for information regarding changes in degree requirements.

I. Interdisciplinary/Ethical Analysis (5 credits)

  11:015:101  Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment (2)

  11:015:400  Junior/Senior Colloquium (3)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

Specific courses that meet the introductory life and physical sciences requirement are listed under VIII A, required courses for competence in environmental sciences.

III. The Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Human Diversity (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Economic and Political Systems

A. Economic Systems (3 credits)

   11:373:101  Economics, People, and Environment (3) or equivalent

B. Political Systems (3 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)

   01:355:101  Expository Writing I (3)

   01:355:201  Research in the Disciplines (3) or 01:355: 302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3)

VII. Experience-Based Education (2-6 credits)

   11:375:431,432  Special Problems in Environmental Science/Studies (BA,BA) or 11:375:455,456 Internship in Environmental Health (2,2) or an appropriate cooperative education placement or an independent research project

VIII. Competence in the Environmental Sciences   (89-98 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (55-58)

Quantitative Methods (8)

See VIII B, Option requirements.

Computer Competence (3)

  11:375:303  Numerical Methods in Environmental Science (3)

Professional Ethics

Ethical problems in environmental and regulatory fields are addressed throughout the program in both introductory- and advanced-level courses.

Other Required Courses (44-47)

  01:119:101-102  General Biology (4,4)

  01:160:161-162  General Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

  11:375:101  Introduction to Environmental Sciences (3)

  11:375:201  Biological Principles of Environmental Sciences (3)

  11:375:202  Chemical Principles of Environmental Sciences (3)

  11:375:203  Physical Principles of Environmental Sciences (3)

  11:704:351  Principles of Applied Ecology (4)

  01:750:193-194   Physics for the Sciences (4,4) or 01: 750:203-204 General Physics (3,3)

  01:960:211  Statistics I (3) or equivalent

At least one of the following laboratory courses:

  11:375:310  Analytical Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (2)

  11:375:312  Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (2)

  11:375:422  Air Sampling and Analysis (3)

B. OPTIONS (34-40)

1. Environmental Science (34)

Required courses (28)

  01:160:307-308  Organic Chemistry (4,4)

  01:640:1__-1__  CALC1 and CALC2 (4,4)

At least four of the following:

  11:375:346  Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry (3)

  11:375:407  Environmental Toxicology (3)

  11:375:411  Pollution Microbiology (3)

  11:375:423  Environmental Fate and Transport (3)

  11:375:444  Water Chemistry (3)

  11:375:453  Soil Fertility(3)

Electives (6)

  11:115:301  Introductory Biochemistry (3)

  01:160:323-324  Physical Chemistry (3,3)

  11:375:251  Soils and Water (4)

  11:375:307  Elements of Solid Waste Management and Treatment (3)

  11:375:333-334  Environmental Law I,II (3,3)

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

  11:375:430  Hazardous Wastes (3)

  11:375:445  Problems in Aquatic Environments (3)

  11:375:451  Soil Chemistry (3)

  11:375:454  Soil Biological Processes (3)

  11:375:459  Physical Properties of Soils (3)

  01:447:390  General Microbiology (4)

  11:670:201  Elements of Meteorology (3)

2. Applied Environmental Science (35-40)

Required courses (26-31)

  01:160:209  Elementary Organic Chemistry (3) or 01: 160:307-308 Organic Chemistry (4,4) [recommended for those considering graduate study]

  11:375:302  Elements of Water and Wastewater Treatment (3)

  11:375:307  Elements of Solid Waste Management and Treatment (3)

  11:375:333  Environmental Law I (3)

  11:375:411  Pollution Microbiology (3) or 11:375: 453 Soil Fertility (3)

  11:375:430  Hazardous Wastes (3)

  01:447:390  General Microbiology (4) or equivalent

  01:640:1__  CALC1 (4)

Electives (9)

At least 9 credits in one of the following concentrations:

Concentration in Pollution Science

  11:375:251  Soils and Water (4)

  11:375:334  Environmental Law II (3)

  11:375:399  Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response (1)

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

  11:375:423  Environmental Fate and Transport (3)

  11:375:434  Principles of Industrial Hygiene (3)

  11:375:444  Water Chemistry (3)

  11:375:4__  Pollution Prevention, Environmental Assessments, and Industrial Ecology (3)

  01:640:1__  CALC2 (4)

  11:670:201  Elements of Meteorology (3) or 11:670: 202 Elements of Climatology (3)

  11:670:431  Physical Meteorology (3)

an additional environmental science laboratory (2-3)

   Concentration in Environmental Health

  11:375:251  Soils and Water (4)

  11:375:301  The Environment and Health (3)

  11:375:334  Environmental Law II (3)

  11:375:336  Occupational and Community Noise Control (3)

  11:375:399  Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response (1)

  11:375:403  Environmental and Public Health Epidemiological Aspects (3)*

  11:375:406  Public Health Practice and Administration (3)*

  11:375:407  Environmental Toxicology (3)

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

  11:375:434  Principles of Industrial Hygiene (3)

  11:375:435  Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health (3)

  11:375:455,456  Internship in Public Health (2,2)*

   Concentration in Environmental Science Policy

  11:373:363  Environmental Economics (3)

  11:374:301  Environment and Development (3)

  11:374:313  Environmental Policy and Institutions (3)

  11:374:315  International Environmental Policy (3)

  11:374:322  Environmental Behavior (3)

  11:375:231  Fundamentals of Environmental Planning (3) or 10: 975:306 Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning (3)

  11:375:334  Environmental Law II (3)

  11:375:403  Environmental and Public Health Epidemiological Aspects (3) or 11:375:406 Public Health Practice and Administration (3)

  01:790:305  Public Policy Formation (3) or 01:790:341 Public Administration: American Bureaucracy (3) or 01:790:342 Public Administration: Policymaking (3)

  01:790:362   International Law (3)

IX. Unspecified Electives (0-8 credits)

* Required for New Jersey license examination for sanitarians.