Major in Environmental Management

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in environmental management.

The major in environmental management prepares students to plan, implement and control all facets of environmental management. Focus is on the knowledge and skills students need to be effective environmental managers. The curriculum provides an interdisciplinary approach to environmental management that includes management of air, land, and water; pollution control; policies; regulations; and environmental health and safety. Students are prepared for careers in the fields of public safety, occupational health, pollution remediation, hazard control, risk management, risk assessment, and environmental health policy and regulation.

Intended Program Outcomes

The student who graduates with a major in environmental management will be able to

• Identify and evaluate current and future air, water, land, and energy resource needs to make appropriate recommendations and advocate regarding environmentally sustainable solutions and practices.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, and environmental laws, regulations, and policies for the protection of humans and the environment in every activity and aspect of an environmental management plan, procedure, and operation.
• Apply scientific knowledge and principles, quantitative methods, and technology tools to think critically and solve complex environmental management problems in a variety of settings.
• Communicate orally and in writing on environmental issues, principles, and practices in a clear, well-organized manner that effectively persuades, informs, and clarifies ideas, information, plans, and procedures to stakeholders and other interested parties.
• Develop and implement management plans that incorporate scientific principles and comply with environmental laws and ethical principles.
• Evaluate and use information obtained through field inspections, monitoring, and sampling to assess the safety of environments.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in environmental management requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 30 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 49 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Requirements for the Environmental Management Major

Coursework for a major in environmental management includes the following:

• Required core courses (18 credits): ENMT 301, 303, 321, 322 (or 405), 340, and 390
• Required statistics course (3 credits): STAT 200 or 230
• Supplemental major courses (6 credits): Any ENMT courses
• Required capstone course (3 credits): ENMT 495
• Required related courses (9 credits), which may be applied anywhere in the degree: BIOL 301, CHEM 297, and MATH 115 (or MATH 107–108)

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BS in environmental management. Coursework for the major is indicated by . Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Environmental Management Degree Courses

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

• EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3)
  (strongly recommended as first course)
• LIBS 150 Introduction to Research (1)
• WRTG 101 Introduction to Writing (3)
• MATH 115 Pre-Calculus (3)
  or both MATH 107 College Algebra and MATH 108 Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry (related requirement for the major)

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

• Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)
  and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1)
  or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology or other biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory course(s)
• IFSM 201 Concepts and Applications of Information Technology (3)
  or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software
• GVPT 170 American Government (3)
  or other behavioral and social sciences course
• CHEM 297 Environmental Chemistry (3)
  (related requirement for the major and prerequisite to major courses; fulfills the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement)
• WRTG 291 Research Writing (3)
  or other communications/writing course
• STAT 230 Introductory Business Statistics (3)
  or STAT 200 Introduction to Statistics
• PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
  or a foreign language course or other arts and humanities course

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

• PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or other behavioral and social sciences course (discipline must differ from first)
• HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)
  or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other arts and humanities/historical perspective course (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
• WRTG 293 Introduction to Professional Writing (3)
  or other communication, writing, or speech course
• IFSM 300 Information Systems in Organizations (3)
  or other interdisciplinary issues/computing course
• BIOL 301 Human Health and Disease (3)
  (related requirement for the major and prerequisite to major courses)
• ENMT 301 Environment and Ecosystems Management (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

• WRTG 394 Advanced Business Writing (3)
  or other communications/upper-level advanced writing course
• ENMT 303 Environmental Regulations and Policy (3)
• ENMT 321 Environmental Health (3)
• ENMT 322 Occupational Health and Safety (3)
  or ENMT 405 Pollution Prevention Strategies
• ENMT 340 Environmental Technology (3)
• ENMT 390 Environmental Health Risk Assessment (3)
• ENMT 315 Environmental Audits and Permits (3)
  or other supplemental major course
• ENMT 380 Air Quality Management (3)
  or other supplemental major course

Capstone Course for Major (to be taken in the last 15 credits)

• ENMT 495 Global Environmental Management Issues (3)

Minor and/or Elective Courses (43)
(to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses)

Recommended Electives

• ANTH 344 Culture and Language
• CMIS 111 Social Computing and Cybersecurity Best Practices
• WRTG 490 Writing for Managers

Total credits for BS in environmental management: 120

• Environmental Management Degree Planning Worksheet