Apr 09, 2025

2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog

2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Science Major, B.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

A grade of “D” or better is required for courses in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.

General Studies Course Requirements

Written Communication

ENG 1010 - Composing Arguments Credits: 3
ENG 1020 - Freshman Composition: Analysis, Research, and Documentation Credits: 3

Oral Communication

Select any course that satisfies the Oral Communication requirement.

Quantitative Literacy

MTH 1210 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 4

Arts and Humanities (minimum 6 semester hours)

Select any course that satisfies the Arts and Humanities requirement.

Historical (minimum 3 semester hours)

Select any course that satisfies the Historical requirement.

Natural and Physical Sciences

CHE 1800 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
GEL 1010 - Physical Geology Credits: 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences I (minimum of 3 semester hours)

ECO 1040 - A Citizen’s Guide to Economics Credits: 3
OR
GEG 1000 - World Regional Geography Credits: 3
OR
GEG 1300 - Introduction to Human Geography Credits: 3
OR
PSC 1010 - American National Government Credits: 3
OR
PSC 1020 - Political Systems and Ideas Credits: 3
OR
SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
OR
Select any course that satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences I requirement.

Note: These courses are prerequisites to the social science requirements listed in most concentrations.

Social and Behavioral Sciences II (minimum of 3 semester hours)

ECO 2020 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
OR
Select any course that satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences II requirement.

Note: This course is a prerequisite to the social science requirements listed in most concentrations.

Global Diversity

Students may satisfy the Global Diversity requirement by selecting any course designated as Global Diversity within one of the following General Studies categories: Arts and Humanities; Historical; Natural and Physical Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences I; or Social and Behavioral Sciences II. Students may also use an unrestricted elective to satisfy this requirement. (See General Studies requirements .)

Multicultural Graduation Requirement

Students may satisfy the Multicultural requirement by selecting any course from the approved list. (Some courses can be used to meet General Studies and Multicultural requirements.)

General Studies Total: 36 credits

Environmental Science Core Requirements

(for all concentrations except for Secondary Science Teacher Licensure)

ENV 1200 - Introduction to Environmental Science Credits: 3
ENV 4960 - Global Environmental Challenges Credits: 3
BIO 1080 - General Biology I Credits: 3
BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I Credits: 1
BIO 1081 - General Biology II Credits: 3
BIO 1091 - General Biology Laboratory II Credits: 1
CHE 1810 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHE 1850 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
CET 3320 - Environmental Impact Statements Credits: 3
MTH 3240 - Environmental Statistics Credits: 4
GIS 1220 - Introduction to Geospatial Sciences Credits: 3
GIS 2250 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
MTH 1110 - College Algebra Credits: 4
-or-
MTH 1400 - Precalculus Mathematics Credits: 4 ¹
-or-
MTH 1410 - Calculus I Credits: 4 ¹
Note

¹ ^{MTH 1400 and MTH 1410 have additional prerequisites - check the course descriptions.}
Total for Core Requirements: 37 credits

Multidisciplinary Concentration

Students are required to select courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems, Geology, Meteorology, Mathematics, and Civil Engineering, and elective courses in consultation with an environmental science advisor.

Additional Required Courses

CHE 3100 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 4
MTR 1400 - Weather and Climate Credits: 3
MTR 2020 - Weather and Climate Lab for Scientists Credits: 1

Subtotal: 8

Subtotals:

Total General Studies Course Requirements	36 credit hours
Environmental Science Required Core Courses	37 credit hours
Multidisciplinary Requirements	35 credit hours
Internship Requirement	3 credit hours
Senior Experience Requirement	3 credit hours
Unrestricted Electives	6 credit hours

Total for Environmental Science Degree: Multidisciplinary Concentration: 120 hours

Note: The Multicultural requirement of 3 hours must also be satisfied either in General Studies or Unrestricted Electives.

Water Management and Hydrologic Science Concentration

Additional Required Courses

ENV 2100 - Basic Water Sampling and Analysis Credits: 3
ENV 3400 - Water Resources Credits: 3
ENV 4410 - Water Law Credits: 3
ENV 4440 - Limnology Credits: 3
ENV 4450 - Stream Ecology Credits: 3
ENV 4460 - Advanced Water Quality Analysis Credits: 3
GEL 4150 - Hydrology (Surface Water) Credits: 4
GEL 4250 - Hydrogeology (Groundwater) Credits: 4
Subtotal: 26 credits

Electives

Select at least 15 credits:

BIO 3200 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
BIO 3260 - Vertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
BIO 4230 - Issues in Conservation Biology Credits: 3
ENV 2000 - Applied Pollution Science Credits: 3
ENV 3700 - Mountain Environments Credits: 3
ENV 3710 - Environmental Remediation Credits: 3
ENV 3720 - Waste Management Credits: 3
ENV 3920 - Directed Study in Environmental Science Credits: 2-6
ENV 4010 - Environmental Hazards and GIS Credits: 3
ENV 4200 - Environmental Policy and Planning Credits: 3
ENV 4420 - Wetlands Credits: 3
ENV 4430 - Habitat Planning Credits: 3
ENV 4500 - Environmental Biogeochemistry Credits: 3
WQM 100 - Introduction to Water Quality Management (offered at Red Rocks CC)
WQM 105 - Specific Calculations for Water Quality Management (offered at Red Rocks CC)
WQM 119 - Basic Water Quality Analysis (offered at Red Rocks CC)
WQM 121 - Environmental Sampling and Volume Measurement (offered at Red Rocks CC)
WQM 200 - Hydraulics for Water Quality Management (offered at Red Rocks CC)
WQM 216 - Biological and Bacteriological Water Quality Analysis (offered at Red Rocks CC)
Subtotal: 15 credits

Internship Requirement

ENV 4950 - Internship in Environmental Science Credits: 2-15
Subtotal: 3 credits

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

ENV 4970 - Environmental Field Studies Credits: 3
-or-
CHE 4950 - Senior Experience in Chemistry Credits: 3 *
*Course has additional prerequisites; check current MSU Denver catalog for requirements.
Subtotal: 3 credits

Total Credits

Total General Studies Course Requirements*	36 credits
Environmental Science Required Core Courses	37 credits
Water Management and Hydrologic Science Requirements	41 credits
Internship Requirement	3 credits
Senior Experience Requirement	3 credits
Unrestricted Electives*	0 credits
Total for Environmental Science Degree: Water Management and Hydrologic Science	120 credits

*The multicultural requirement of 3 credits must also be satisfied.

Ecological Restoration Concentration

Students are required to select courses in Biology, Geology, Environmental Science, and elective courses in consultation with an environmental science advisor.

Biology - Select at least 22 hours

BIO 2100 - General Botany Credits: 5
BIO 2400 - General Microbiology Credits: 5
BIO 3140 - Plant Physiology Credits: 5
BIO 3160 - Plant Anatomy and Morphology Credits: 4
BIO 3180 - Vascular Plant Taxonomy Credits: 4
BIO 3200 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
BIO 3260 - Vertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
BIO 3360 - Animal Physiology Credits: 4
BIO 4450 - Pathogenic Microbiology Credits: 5
BIO 4510 - Microbial Ecology Credits: 4
BIO 4540 - Plant Ecology Credits: 4
BIO 4550 - Animal Ecology Credits: 4

Geology - Select at least 4 hours

ENV 3540 - Advanced Geologic and Environmental Hazards-Denver and Vicinity Credits: 2
ENV 4000 - Environmental Geology Credits: 3
GEL 3420 - Soil Resources Credits: 4
GEL 3050 - Introduction to Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy Credits: 4
GEL 3060 - Stratigraphy and Structure Credits: 4
GEL 3120 - Geomorphology Credits: 4
GEL 3440 - Energy and Mineral Resources Credits: 4
GEL 3510 - Advanced Geology of Red Rocks Park and Vicinity Credits: 1
GEL 3520 - Advanced Garden of the Gods-Front Range Geology Credits: 2
GEL 3530 - Advanced Geology of the Colorado Plateau Field Course: Variable Topics Credits: 2
GEL 3550 - Advanced Geology of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument Credits: 2
GEL 4150 - Hydrology (Surface Water) Credits: 4
GEL 4250 - Hydrogeology (Groundwater) Credits: 4

Environmental Science - Select at least 9 hours

ENV 3700 - Mountain Environments Credits: 3
ENV 3710 - Environmental Remediation Credits: 3
ENV 3720 - Waste Management Credits: 3
ENV 3730 - Environmental Risk Assessment Credits: 3
ENV 3740 - Environmental Health Credits: 3
ENV 4010 - Environmental Hazards and GIS Credits: 3
ENV 4200 - Environmental Policy and Planning Credits: 3
ENV 4420 - Wetlands Credits: 3
ENV 4430 - Habitat Planning Credits: 3
ENV 4500 - Environmental Biogeochemistry Credits: 3
ENV 4980 - Global Environmental Field Problems: Variable Topics (3 credit hours)
ENV 4990 - Topics in Environmental Science: Variable Topics (3 credit hours)
MTR 3100 - Air Pollution Credits: 3

Internship Requirement

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

ENV 4970 - Environmental Field Studies Credits: 3
-or-
BIO 4540 - Plant Ecology Credits: 4

Total Credits

Total General Studies Course Requirements*	36 credits
Environmental Science Required Core Courses	37 credits
Ecological Restoration Requirements	35 credits
Internship Requirement	3 credits
Senior Experience Requirement	3-4 credits
Unrestricted Electives*	5-6 credits
Total for Environmental Science Degree: Ecological Restoration	120 credits

*The multicultural requirement of 3 credits must be met in either General Studies or Unrestricted Elective courses.

Environmental Chemistry Concentration

Students are required to select courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Science, and elective courses in consultation with an environmental science advisor.

Additional Required Courses:

BIO 2400 - General Microbiology Credits: 5
CHE 3000 - Analytical Chemistry Credits: 3
CHE 3010 - Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 2
CHE 3050 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
CHE 3100 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHE 3120 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 2
CHE 3110 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 3
CHE 3130 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 2

Environmental Science and Geology - Select at least 9 hours

GEL 3050 - Introduction to Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy Credits: 4
GEL 3060 - Stratigraphy and Structure Credits: 4
GEL 3120 - Geomorphology Credits: 4
GEL 3420 - Soil Resources Credits: 4
GEL 3440 - Energy and Mineral Resources Credits: 4
GEL 4250 - Hydrogeology (Groundwater) Credits: 4
ENV 3710 - Environmental Remediation Credits: 3
ENV 3720 - Waste Management Credits: 3
ENV 3730 - Environmental Risk Assessment Credits: 3
ENV 4000 - Environmental Geology Credits: 3
ENV 4010 - Environmental Hazards and GIS Credits: 3
ENV 4200 - Environmental Policy and Planning Credits: 3
ENV 4400 - Landscape Ecology Credits: 3
ENV 4420 - Wetlands Credits: 3
ENV 4430 - Habitat Planning Credits: 3
ENV 4500 - Environmental Biogeochemistry Credits: 3
ENV 4980 - Global Environmental Field Problems: Variable Topics
ENV 4990 - Topics in Environmental Science: Variable Topics
MTR 3100 - Air Pollution Credits: 3

Internship Requirement

ENV 4950 - Internship in Environmental Science Credits: 2-15
-or-
CHE 4650 - Chemistry Work Experience/Cooperative Education Credits: 4

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

ENV 4970 - Environmental Field Studies Credits: 3
-or-
BIO 4510 - Microbial Ecology Credits: 4
-or-
CHE 4950 - Senior Experience in Chemistry Credits: 3

Subtotals

Total General Studies Course Requirements	36 credits
Environmental Science Required Core Courses	37 credits
Environmental Chemistry Requirements	33 credits
Internship Requirement	3-4 credits
Senior Experience Requirement	3-4 credits
Unrestricted Electives	5-7 credits
Total for Environmental Science Degree: Environmental Chemistry Concentration	120 credits

Environmental Science Major with Teacher Licensure

Please see the Teacher Education Licensure portion of this catalog at: Secondary Education Licensure

Environmental Science Major, B.S.

General Studies Course Requirements

Written Communication

Oral Communication

Quantitative Literacy

Arts and Humanities (minimum 6 semester hours)

Historical (minimum 3 semester hours)

Natural and Physical Sciences

Social and Behavioral Sciences I (minimum of 3 semester hours)

Social and Behavioral Sciences II (minimum of 3 semester hours)

Global Diversity

Multicultural Graduation Requirement

Environmental Science Core Requirements

Multidisciplinary Concentration

Additional Required Courses

Subtotal: 8

Biology - Select at least 8 hours

Chemistry - Select at least 3 hours

Environmental Science - Select at least 9 hours

Geographic Information System - Select at least 3 hours

Geology - Select at least 4 hours

Internship Requirement

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

Subtotals:

Total for Environmental Science Degree: Multidisciplinary Concentration: 120 hours

Water Management and Hydrologic Science Concentration

Additional Required Courses

Electives

Internship Requirement

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

Total Credits

Ecological Restoration Concentration

Biology - Select at least 22 hours

Geology - Select at least 4 hours

Environmental Science - Select at least 9 hours

Internship Requirement

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

Total Credits

Environmental Chemistry Concentration

Additional Required Courses:

Environmental Science and Geology - Select at least 9 hours

Internship Requirement

Senior Experience Graduation Requirement

Subtotals

Environmental Science Major with Teacher Licensure