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

  11:375:301  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)

Environmental science majors may also complete a joint degree leading to a B.S. in environmental science and a master's degree in public health (M.P.H.). To apply for admission to the master's program, students must have junior status in the environmental science program (64 credits) and a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. Fifteen of the 45 credits required for the M.P.H. may be applied to the 128 credits required for the B.S. in environmental science.  Students interested in this opportunity should discuss specific course requirements with Dr. Robert Tate, Undergraduate Program Director for Environmental Science (tate@aesop.rutgers.edu) or Dr. Mark Robson, Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (robsonma@umdnj.edu).

I. College Mission: Interdisciplinary Critical Analysis (5-6 credits)

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

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

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

A. Life Sciences (8 credits)

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

B. Physical Sciences (9 credits)

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

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

III. Humanities and the Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Multicultural and International Studies (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Human Behavior, Economic Systems, and Political Processes (9 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. Proficiency in the Environmental Sciences   (60-71 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (26-31)

Quantitative Skills

See VIII B, Option requirements.

Computer and Information Technology Competence (0-3)

Computer applications are required for environmental sciences courses. Students unfamiliar with basic computer procedures should complete an introductory computer course.

Professional Ethics

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

Additional Requirements (26-28)

  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)

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

  11:375:312  Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (2)

  11:704:351  Principles of 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

B. OPTIONS (34-40)

1. Environmental Science (34-36)

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 (12):

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

  11:375:407  Environmental Toxicology (3)

  11:375:411  Environmental Microbiology (3)

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

  11:375:444  Water Chemistry (3)

  11:375:453  Soil Ecology (3)

Electives (6-8)

  11:115:301Introductory Biochemistry (3)

  01:160:323-324 Physical Chemistry (3,3) or  01: 160:327-328 Physical Chemistry (4,4)

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

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

  11:375:360  Soils and Water (4)

  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)

  11:670:201  Elements of Meteorology (3)

  11:680:390  General Microbiology (4)

2. Applied Environmental Science (35-40)

Required courses (26-31)

  01:160:209Elementary 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  Environmental Microbiology (3) or  11: 375:453 Soil Ecology (3)

  11:375:430  Hazardous Wastes (3)

  01:640:1__  CALC1 (4)

  11:680:390  General Microbiology (4) or equivalent

Electives (9)

 At least 9 credits in one of the following concentrations:

Concentration in Pollution Science

  11:375:334  Environmental Law II (3)

  11:375:360  Soils and Water (4)

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

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

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

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

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

  11:375:444  Water Chemistry (3)

  01:640:1__  CALC2 (4)

   Concentration in Environmental Health

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

  11:375:334  Environmental Law II (3)

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

  11:375:360  Soils and Water (4)

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

  11:375:403  Principles of Epidemiology (3) *

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

  11:375:407  Environmental Toxicology (3)

  11:375:421  Air Pollution (3)

  11:375:422  Air Sampling and Analysis (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

  11:372:231  Fundamentals of Environmental Planning (3) or 10: 975:306 Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning (3)

  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)

  11:375:334  Environmental Law II (3)

  11:375:403  Principles of Epidemiology (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: Policy Making (3)

  01:790:362   International Law (3)

IX. Unspecified Electives (5-17 credits)