OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024
[Archived Catalog]
Environmental Science and Sustainability Major (B.S.) |
Major code BS2109
College of Arts and Sciences
Environmental and Plant Biology
Porter Hall 315
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1126
plantbio@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/plant-biology
Nancy Manring; Faculty Contact
manring@ohio.edu
Program Overview
Environmental Science and Sustainability is a multi-disciplinary program that provides scientific knowledge of the natural world, the living organisms that inhabit it, and social sciences at the core of sustainability. Students learn the scientific principles that underlie environmental issues, the effects of human actions, and the public policies and regulations that influence those actions.
The program is unique in its multi-disciplinary approach, drawing major requirements and electives from courses and expertise in 10 departments and programs across the College of Arts & Sciences, the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, and the College of Business. Students complete a core curriculum from a range of disciplines to provide a broad foundation in environmental science and sustainability issues and choose major electives from a variety of departments to tailor the program to their interests. Courses examine:
- Biological and ecological systems
- Global warming and effects of climate change
- Land use and water management
- Sustainability from different perspectives, from local issues in Appalachia to problems at the global level
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Students who pursue this degree will be prepared for careers in environmental resource management, governmental and non-governmental agencies, companies committed to being socially responsible, and a wide range of roles in science as well as public policy. Besides providing core science skills, the multi-disciplinary focus of the program offers flexibility in exploring sustainable initiatives in business and entrepreneurship. And it prepares students for graduate studies, particularly in areas related to environmental law or the Master of Science in Environmental Studies at Ohio University.
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Requirements
Universitywide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other universitywide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – Universitywide page.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement
View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .
Required Courses
Complete the following courses for a total of 43 credits:
- CAS 1415 - Introduction to Sustainability Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 1030 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 1100 - Physical Geography Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 2400 - Environmental Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 2020 - Introductory Geology Lab Credit Hours: 1
- GEOL 2150 - Environmental Geology Credit Hours: 3
- MATH 1350 - Survey of Calculus Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 1000 - Plants and the Global Environment Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 1000L - Plants and the Global Environment Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PBIO 2090 - Plant Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 1000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
-
and either
- BIOS 1700 - Biological Sciences I: Molecules and Cells Credit Hours: 3
-
and
- BIOS 1705 - Biological Sciences I Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
-
or
- PBIO 1140 - Foundations of Plant Biology Credit Hours: 4
Statistics Requirement
Choose one of the following courses:
- GEOG 2710 - Introduction to Statistics in Geography Credit Hours: 3
- MATH 2500 - Statistics and Probability Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 3150 - Statistical Methods in Plant Biology Credit Hours: 4
Chemistry Group I
- CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
-
or
- CHEM 1510 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
Chemistry Group II
- CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
-
or
- CHEM 1520 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
Environmental Economics Requirement
Chooose one of the following courses:
- ECON 3010C - Economics of Altruism Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 3130 - Economics of the Environment Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 3350 - Economics of Energy Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 3510 - Agricultural Development Credit Hours: 3
- MKT 4100 - Sustainability Marketing Credit Hours: 3
Social Equity/Justice Requirement
Choose one of the following courses:
- GEOG 3410 - Geography of Hunger and Food Security Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4560 - The Just and Sustainable City Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 2300 - Social Inequalities and Social Change Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 4810 - Environmental Sociology Credit Hours: 3
Environmental Policy and Planning Requirement
Choose one of the following courses:
- ES 3620 - Environmental Science and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4710 - Bioenergy: Science, Policy, and Business Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4520 - Environmental and Sustainability Planning Credit Hours: 3
- POLS 4250 - Environmental and Climate Change Politics and Policy Credit Hours: 3
- POLS 4840 - The Politics of Sustainability Credit Hours: 3
Experiential Learning Requirement
Choose one of the following courses. Please note that a minimum of 2 credits is needed to fulfill the requirement.
- ES 4832 - Sustainability Implementation Practicum Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4910 - Environmental Studies Leadership Experience Credit Hours: 1 - 5
- GEOG 4910 - Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 12
- GEOG 4942 - Research Experience in Environmental Geography Credit Hours: 1 - 3
- PBIO 4910 - Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 15
- PBIO 4940 - Undergraduate Research Credit Hours: 1 - 4
Major Electives
Choose four courses from at least two departments, with a minimum of two courses at the 3000 or 4000 level, totaling 14-17 credits:
- BIOS 2200 - Conservation and Biodiversity Credit Hours: 3
- BIOS 3160 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3
-
or
- GEOG 3160 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3
- BIOS 4310 - Aquatic Biology Credit Hours: 4
- ES 4250 - Watershed Management Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4300 - Field Methods in Environmental Studies Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4610 - Resilience Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4720 - Energy Systems and Policy Credit Hours: 3
- ES 4730 - Environmental Entrepreneurship Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 2680 - Introduction to GIS and Mapping Sciences Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3020 - Climatology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3150 - Landforms and Landscapes Credit Hours: 3
-
or
- GEOL 3300 - Principles of Geomorphology Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3300 - Geography of Europe Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3310 - Geography of Africa Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3330 - Appalachia: Land and People Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3350 - Geography of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3430 - Global Issues in Environment Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3440 - Agricultural Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3450 - Access to Water in a Changing World Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3580 - Environmental Hazards Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4170 - Landscape Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4450 - Gender, Environment, and Development Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4470 - Natural Resource Conservation Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4660 - Principles of Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4
- GEOL 2310 - Water and Pollution Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 2710 - Extreme Ancient Climates Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 3700 - Groundwater Fundamentals and Practices Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 4060 - Geodata analysis for Geological Sciences Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 4270 - Water Geochemistry Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 4750 - Watershed and Stream Hydrology Credit Hours: 3
- GEOL 4800 - Principles of Hydrogeology Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 2060 - Sustainable Agriculture Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3220 - Tropical Plant Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 3260 - Plant Ecophysiology Credit Hours: 4
- PBIO 3330 - Restoration Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- PBIO 4380 - Soil Properties and Ecosystem Processes Credit Hours: 4
- REC 3550 - Principles of Ecotourism Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 3090 - Sociology of Appalachia Credit Hours: 3
Capstone Requirement
Choose one of the following courses:
- ES 4500 - Environmental Studies Capstone Seminar Credit Hours: 3
- T3 4010 - Climate Change and Public Health Credit Hours: 3
- T3 4080 - Environmentalism in America Credit Hours: 3
- T3 4850 - Sustainability Citizenship Credit Hours: 3
Advanced Writing Recommendation
Suggested course to meet J course requirement or Advanced Writing requirement, depending on applicable General Education requirements for the student:
- ENG 3100J - Writing About Environmental Sustainability Credit Hours: 3