Environmental Science
Charles A. Dana Professor Richard K. Dunn; Associate Professors Laurie D. Grigg and G. Christopher Koteas (Chair); Lecturer John Gartner; Research Assistant Professor George E. Springston
This major is interdisciplinary, designed for those with environmental interests and career goals. The program emphasizes experiential learning, commonly through field studies and outdoor education. Courses include real projects and original research participation. Students begin their curriculum with the development of a firm base in the sciences and mathematics. Each student develops an area of specialization by selecting a Concentration from one of two Options. Option I Concentrations lead to a heavier emphasis in science and engineering, and include Environmental Biology, Environmental Geology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, and Climate Science. Option II Concentrations result in a stronger emphasis in the social sciences, humanities, business, and include Environmental Policy & Management, Environmental Law & Protection, Environmental Writing, Green Design, and Environmental Education.
All Environmental Science majors take a pair of capstone courses involving an original research project and a seminar designed to synthesize their education and tie scientific thought to issues in society. The Department houses a number of instruments for environmental monitoring and analysis, and students also have access to resources in their area of Concentration.
Goals:
- To provide an interdisciplinary Liberal Arts degree program in Environmental Science having a strong foundation in the physical and life sciences with a focus on relationships connecting society and nature.
- To provide two options, one with a concentration in the sciences and engineering, and the other with a concentration in the social sciences and humanities.
- To provide instruction and experiences with emphasis on field studies, solution of active problems, and communication in a professional format.
Outcomes:
- Understand the physical laws of nature that control the formation and evolution of Earth materials and biological organisms
- Understand what controls the behavior of the chemical compounds that make up the inorganic and organic materials of the Earth
- Know how to define a problem, design a study to acquire data, critically analyze and interpret data, and discuss the implications of results
- Be able to think critically about published work, synthesize the content of such work, and present findings at a professional level both in writing and orally
- Meet the University's General Education Goals
Careers for this Major:
- Graduate education
- Industry and consulting
- Military
- Environmental agencies
- Non-profit organizations
Environmental Science (B.S.) Scientific Foundations Conc. – Curriculum Map 2021-2022 Catalog
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| GL 110 Introduction to Geology (General Education Lab Science) | 4 | GL 111 Oceanography (General Education Lab Science) | 4 | ||
| BI 101 Principles of Biology I | 4 | BI 102 Principles of Biology II | 4 | ||
| MA 107 Precalculus Mathematics (General Education Math) | 4 | MA 108 Applied Calculus (General Education Math) | 4 | ||
| EN 110 Writing and Inquiry in Public Contexts | 3 | EN 111 Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| ES 251 Sophomore Seminar in Environmental Science | 1 | ES 115 Geographic Information Systems | 3 | ||
| CH 103 General Chemistry I | 4 | CH 104 General Chemistry II | 4 | ||
| PH 323 Environmental Ethics (General Education Ethics ) or ES 130 Introduction to Environmental Law | 3 | MA 232 Elementary Statistics | 3 | ||
| ES/GL/CE Elective 1,3 | 3-4 | Technical Elective 2,3 | 3-4 | ||
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | General Education Arts & Humanities | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 14-15 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| ES 130 Introduction to Environmental Law or PH 323 Environmental Ethics | 3 | ES 340 Project Development in Environmental Science | 1 | ||
| GL Elective 4 | 4 | ES 2XX 3 | 3-4 | ||
| PS 201 General Physics I | 4 | ES/GL/CE Elective or GL 255 1,3 | 4 | ||
| EC 201 Principles of Economics (Macro) (General Education Social Science) or 202 Principles of Economics (Micro) | 3 | PS 202 General Physics II | 4 | ||
| General Education Literature | 3 | Free Elective 3 | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 17 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 15-16 | ||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| ES 440 Research Project in Environmental Science (Capstone) | 3 | ES 451 Environmental Science Seminar | 3 | ||
| BI 205 Ecology | 4 | ES 460 Project Completion in Environmental Science | 1 | ||
| Technical Elective 2,3 | 3-4 | GL 255 Hydrogeology | 3 | ||
| General Education Leadership | 1-3 | General Education History | 3 | ||
| Free Elective 3 | 4 | Free Elective 3 | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 15-18 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 13 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS FOR THIS MAJOR: 120-126 | |||||
| 1 | Any 200-level, or higher course in ES, GL, CE. |
| 2 | Technical Electives include courses in BI, CE, CH, CS 140 or 200-level or higher, EE, EG, EM, ES, GL, MA (108 or higher), ME, PS. |
| 3 | Course options may have varying credits to select from with course offerings. The degree requires no less than 120 credits; therefore, ensure degree plans account for no less than 120 credits. |
| 4 | Geology elective must be taken from the following: GL 253, GL 255, GL 257, GL 258, GL 261, GL 262, GL 263, GL 264. |
Environmental Science (B.S.) Social/Cultural Conc. – Curriculum Map 2021-2022 Catalog
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| GL 110 Introduction to Geology (General Education Lab Science) | 4 | GL 111 Oceanography (General Education Lab Science) | 4 | ||
| BI 101 Principles of Biology I | 4 | BI 102 Principles of Biology II | 4 | ||
| MA 107 Precalculus Mathematics (General Education Math) | 4 | MA 108 Applied Calculus (General Education Math) | 4 | ||
| EN 110 Writing and Inquiry in Public Contexts | 3 | EN 111 Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts | 3 | ||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| ES 251 Sophomore Seminar in Environmental Science | 1 | ES 115 Geographic Information Systems | 3 | ||
| GL 253 Geomorphology (or Technical Elective) 1 | 4 | MA 232 Elementary Statistics | 3 | ||
| EN 276 Environmental Writing | 3 | Social Science 100-200 Level 2 | 3 | ||
| PH 323 Environmental Ethics (General Education Ethics) | 3 | Social Science 100-200 Level 2 | 3 | ||
| Social Science 100-200 Level 2 | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||
| Free Elective 4 | 3 | ||||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 17 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| ES 130 Introduction to Environmental Law | 3 | ES 340 Project Development in Environmental Science | 1 | ||
| Technical Elective 1 | 3-4 | ES Elective | 3 | ||
| General Education Literature | 3 | Social Science 300-400 Level 3 | 3 | ||
| Social Science 100-200 Level 2 | 3 | General Education History | 3 | ||
| Social Science 300-400 Level 3 | 3 | Chemistry (CH) Elective | 4 | ||
| Free Elective 4 | 3-4 | ||||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 15-16 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 17-18 | ||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Cr. | Comp. | Spring | Cr. | Comp. |
| ES 440 Research Project in Environmental Science (Capstone) | 3 | ES 451 Environmental Science Seminar | 3 | ||
| BI 205 Ecology | 4 | ES 460 Project Completion in Environmental Science | 1 | ||
| ES Elective | 3 | Social Science 300-400 Level 3 | 3 | ||
| General Education Arts & Humanities OR PH 323 | 3 | General Education Leadership | 1-3 | ||
| Social Science 300-400 Level 3 | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | ||||
| Fall Semester Total Cr.: | 16 | Spring Semester Total Cr.: | 14-16 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS FOR THIS MAJOR: 124-128 | |||||
| 1 | Technical Electives include courses in BI, CE, CH, CS 140 or 200-level or higher, EE, EG, EM, ES, GL, MA (108 or higher), ME, PS. |
| 2 | One, 100-200-level course from PO or SO; one 100-200-level course from CJ or PY; one 100-200-level course from MG or EC. One 100-200-level course from, from PO, SO, CJ, PY, MG, or EC. |
| 3 | 300-400-level course from CJ, EC, MG, PO, PY, SO. |
| 4 | Course options may have varying credits to select from with course offerings. The degree requires no less than 120 credits; therefore, ensure degree plans account for no less than 120 credits. |
Courses
ES 115 Geographic Information Systems 3 Cr.
Introduction through geographic information systems (GIS) to spatial analysis, addressing a range of applications across disciplines. Students use GIS to analyze spatial data and problem solve real-world issues. During the final four weeks students design, implement, and present a GIS project. 3 Lecture hours. Offered: Spring, even years.
ES 130 Introduction to Environmental Law 3 Cr.
Major Federal pollution regulation schemes, environmental economics, risk analysis, relevant common law, and constitutional and procedural issues are introduced. Vermont Environmental Law is addressed, as is a survey of the extensive and often novel regulatory approaches of the state of Vermont. The course introduces environmental law issues such as population, economic growth, energy, and pollution. Environmental problems are defined and alternative approaches for dealing with them are examined. Existing statutory efforts such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act are analyzed. 3 Lecture hours. Offered: Fall.
ES 188 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.
ES 199 Environmental Science Pilot Course 6 Cr.
A course is permitted to run as a pilot without seeking faculty approval for one academic year. The section will include the title of the course. A student will not earn credit for a pilot course and the course when approved as its own course.
ES 200 Energy and The Environment 4 Cr.
Energy and the Environment provides a comprehensive background on energy and the environmental impacts of energy extraction and use for both fossil and non-fossil fuels. Topics include units and types of energy, carbon cycle, air pollution, hydraulic fracturing, the greenhouse effect, climate change and the pros and cons of alternative energy sources. Classroom activities and labs/field work focus on the quantification of energy use and the analysis of environmental data. 3 Lecture Hours. 3 Lab hours. Prerequisites: GL 110 or GL 111 or GL 156, or PS 201 or PS 211. Offered: Spring, even years.
ES 251 Sophomore Seminar in Environmental Science 1 Cr.
Introduces the fundamentals of scientific investigation and communication. An experimental project introduces the Scientific Method, while scientific literature is introduced and coupled with instruction in and application of technical writing. Students learn to communicate scientific information in poster and oral presentations and they initiate development of their professional portfolio. 1 Lecture hour. May not earn credit for both ES 251 and GL 251. Offered: Fall.
ES 260 Project in Environmental Science 1-4 Cr.
Students conduct an independent study on an environmental science field or laboratory project. Topic chosen by mutual consent of the student and instructor. A written report is required. May be repeated one time for credit. Cannot earn credit in ES 260 and GL 260 under the same topic. Prerequisites: GL 110, GL 111, or GL 156, Permission of Department Chair. Offered: Occasionally.
ES 268 Freshwater Ecosystems 4 Cr.
This course investigates physical, chemical, biological processes of lakes, wetlands and streams through an ecosystem based approach. Focus is on interactions between abiotic and biotic components and the transfer of energy between different trophic levels. Students learn important aquatic plant and animal taxa, nutrient cycles, and the physical and chemical characteristics of aquatic settings. This foundational knowledge is applied to understanding environmental stresses currently impacting freshwater ecosystems, including excess nutrients, climate change and invasive species. Course work includes classroom based lectures and discussions and a field based lab which visits a range of freshwater environments. 3 Lecture hours and 3 Lab hours. Prerequisites: GL 111, GL 110 or BI 102. Offered: Fall, odd years.
ES 288 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.
ES 290 Internship in Environmental Science 1-4 Cr.
A course for environmental science internships on a topic chosen by mutual consent of the student and instructor. A written report is required. May be repeated one time for credit. Prerequisite: GL 110, GL111, or GL 156, 2.0 Cumulative GPA and Permission of Department Chair. Offered: Occasionally.
ES 299 Pilot course 4 Cr.
An course this is offered as a pilot course. May be repeated under four different topics, when different.
ES 340 Project Development in Environmental Science 1 Cr.
Develops the skills for designing and executing an original scientific research project. Topics include research plan development, literature research to inform methodology, generation of site maps and protocols for collecting field and laboratory data, and generation of a properly formatted research proposal. May be repeated two times under a different project. 1 Lecture hour. Prerequisites: Environmental Science major, Junior or higher and Permission of Instructor. Offered: Spring.
ES 388 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.
ES 440 Research Project in Environmental Science 3 Cr.
A capstone original research project under the direction of a faculty member in coordination with others taking this course. Field and laboratory work will generate new data on an expanding base; after analysis and interpretation, data will be presented in a technical format. All aspects of the project will be interpreted in the context of the literature. 3 Lecture hours. Prerequisite: ES 340. May not receive credit for this course and GL 440. Offered: Fall.
ES 451 Environmental Science Seminar 3 Cr.
A capstone seminar experience integrating reading, writing, and group participation focused on Earth and environmental issues. Discussions explore links between society and global systems. Credit cannot be received for this course and GL 451. 3 Lecture hours. Prerequisite: Senior standing. Environmental Science major. Offered: Spring.
ES 460 Project Completion in Environmental Science 1 Cr.
Follows work in ES 440. Students integrate the body of scientific knowledge into a professional and technical report. Students work collaboratively with their research advisor. 1 Lecture hour. Prerequisite: ES 440. Offered: Spring.
ES 488 No Norwich Equivalent 6 Cr.