The Environmental Science major at Saint Joseph’s University emphasizes a strong core in the natural sciences, which is necessary for understanding many issues of environmental relevance. This solid training in the natural sciences is paired with the opportunity to select upper-level courses in a student’s specific area of environmental interest, thus helping our students prepare for a wide range of career opportunities. Students take fifteen core courses in the sciences, in addition to any five upper-level courses from a range of environmentally relevant courses offered in the areas of biological sciences, the physical sciences, and environmental policy.
Requirements for the Environmental Science Major
Due to the implementation of the new General Education Program, there are currently two programs of study for the Environmental Science major.
For students who entered SJU in the fall of 2010, or transfer students who entered SJU in the fall of 2010 with 14 or fewer credits:
GEP Signature Courses (See Curricula): six courses
GEP Variable Courses (See Curricula): six to nine courses, including
Mathematics
MAT 155 OR MAT 161 Fundamentals of Calculus or Calculus I
Natural Science
BIO 101 Biology I: Cells
GEP Overlays (See Curricula): three courses
GEP Integrative Learning Component: three courses
Biology:
BIO 102 Biology II: Genetic and Evolutionary Biology
Chemistry:
CHM 120 General Chemistry I
CHM 120L General Chemistry I Laboratory
History:
HIS 386 American Environmental History
GER Electives: six courses
Major Concentration: fifteen courses
Biology:
BIO 201 Biology III: Organismic Biology
Environmental Science:
ENV 101 Environmental Science
ENV 102 Environmental Theory and Ethics Seminar
Chemistry:
CHM 125 General Chemistry II
CHM 125L General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHM 210 Organic Chemistry I
CHM 210L Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
Mathematics:
MAT 128 Applied Statistics
Physics:
PHY 101 General Physics I
PHY 101L General Physics Laboratory I
or
PHY 105 University Physics I
PHY 105L University Physics Laboratory I
Internship:
ENV 490 Environmental Science Internship
One course from each of the following groups:
GROUP A: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIO 401 Animal Behavior
BIO 405 BioMechanics
BIO 409 Ecology
BIO 413 Plant Physiological Ecology
BIO 414 Plant Systematics
BIO 416 Microbiology
GROUP B: PHYSICAL SCIENCES
CHM 420 Environmental Chemistry
ENV 301 Environmental Chemistry
ENV 302 Environmental Geology
PHY 102 General Physics II
PHY 102L General Physics II Laboratory
PHY 106 University Physics II
PHY 106L University Physics II Laboratory
CHM 215 Organic Chemistry II
CHM 215L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
GROUP C: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
POL 327 Environmental Politics in America
SOC 330 Urban Society
SOC 344 Populations
Four additional upper level environmental science courses