B.S. Environmental & Sustainability Sciences (Natural Sciences Concentration)
Photo Courtesy of Byron Hamilton
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B.S. Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (Natural Sciences Concentration)
Coastal environments are critical for society. Although they only cover 10% of the land mass, coastal environments (fed by watersheds upstream and incoming ocean tides) are home to 40% of the world's population. The University of South Alabama offers a B.S. in Environmental & Sustainability Sciences designed to address the need for a broad understanding of the natural world and its interaction with the demands of human society and development. A key component of environmental science is its interdisciplinary nature and how an integrative approach can be used to develop mutually beneficial solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges. Students in this program gain an understanding of science methodologies and applied analyses. The faculty consists of natural and social scientists that have extensive experience working on issues in coastal environments as well as working with communities to sustainably mitigate and manage interactions with them. Led by our world-renowned faculty, our students will apply field methods, instrumentation, and data analysis to study the natural and human environment. |
Careers in Environmental & Sustainability Sciences
Career Fields
Sustainability
Renewable Energy
Conservation
Agriculture
Urban Planning and Development
Natural Resource Management
Education
Environmental Toxicology
Types of Employers
Environmental Consulting Firms
Health & Safety
Nonprofit Agencies
Research Labs
Education & Outreach
Government Agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Fish & Wildlife Service
Bureau of Land Management
Forest Service
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Job Titles
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Technician
Environmental Consultant
Natural Resource Manager
Environmental Health & Safety Officer
Biologist
Water Quality Scientist
Nature Conservation Officer
Environmental Educator
Conservation Technician
Ecologist
Research Assistant
Invasive Species Specialist
America's Amazon
The University of South Alabama is located near the edge of Mobile Bay and the Tensaw-River Delta. Students in the environmental and sustainability sciences undergraduate program have the opportunity to receive experiential learning in our Nation's most biodiverse ecosystem known as "America's Amazon." Stokes School of Marine & Environmental Sciences integrates hands-on learning with classroom instruction to aid students in understanding the complexities of environmental systems and human interactions and prepare them for careers in both the private and public sectors.
Photo by Olivia Pickett
Photos by Byron Hamilton
Photo by Dr. Molly Miller
Opportunities for Community Engagement
Take Part In Community Engagement
Work at a local oyster farm
Volunteer for local beach clean-up efforts
Help remove invasive species
Feed and care for local wildlife at the Environmental Studies Center
Serve in Local Conservation Groups
Mobile Bay Keeper
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
South Alabama Land Trust
Alabama Coastal Foundation
The Nature Conservancy
Course Offerings
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all Program Core Courses
Course ID |
Course Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENV 100 | Gulf Coast Sustainability Seminar | 1 |
| ENV 101 | Environment & Society | 3 |
| ENV 337 and ENV 337L | Environmental Sciences I | 4 |
| ENV 339 | Climate Change-W | 3 |
| ENV 335 and ENV 335L | Environmental Conservation & Sustainability-W | 4 |
| ENV 421 | Environmental Policy | 4 |
| GIT 460 | Intro to Geographic Information Technology | 4 |
|
STEM Requirements for Natural Sciences Concentration Minimum GPA of 2.0 required |
||
|---|---|---|
| Course ID | Course Description | Credit Hours |
| BLY 121 & BLY 121L | General Biology I with Lab | 4 |
| BLY 122 & BLY 122L | General Biology II with Lab | 4 |
| plus | ||
| CH 131 & CH 131L | General Chemistry I with Lab | 4 |
| CH 132 & CH 132 L | General Chemistry II with Lab | 4 |
| plus one of the following physics courses | ||
| PH 114 & PH114L | Physics with Algebra-Trig I with Lab | 4-5 |
| PH 201 & PH201L | Calculus-Based Physics with Lab | 4-5 |
| plus one of the following math courses | ||
| MA 125 | Calculus | 3-4 |
| ST 210 | Stat Reason and Application | 3-4 |
| plus | ||
| GY 111 & GY 111L | Physical Geology with Lab | 4 |
| Natural Sciences Electives | |
|---|---|
| Requirements: Must choose 16 hours from the following | |
| Course | Course Description |
| ENV 338 & ENV 338L | Environmental Sciences II with Lab |
| ENV 334 & ENV 334L | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment with Lab |
| ENV 420 | Natural Resource Management |
| ENV 422 & ENV 422L | Environmental Microbiology with Lab |
| ENV 490 | Special Topics |
| GEO 332 | Remote Sensing I |
| GEO 442 | Remote Sensing II |
| GEO 410 | Biogeography |
| GY 301 | Geomorphology |
| GY 425 | Hydrology |
Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences-Natural Sciences
Total Hours: 120
The Graduation Plan is an example of course progression.
Individual student plans may vary.
Students should consult with an academic advisor to create a personalized plan.
*Note up to six (6) credits can be shared within the Major and Minor.
First Year – Fall Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CAS 100 (Gen Ed) | First Year Experience- College Success | 2 |
| BLY 121/121L (Gen Ed) | General Biology I with Lab | 4 |
| CH 131/CH 131L (Gen Ed) | General Chemistry I with Lab | 4 |
| MA 125 or ST 210 | Calculus I or Stat Reason & Application | 3-4 |
| EH 101 (Gen Ed) | English Composition I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 17 |
First Year – Spring Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BLY 122/BLY122L | General Biology II with Lab | 4 |
| CH 132/ CH132L (Gen Ed) | General Chemistry II with Lab | 4 |
| GY 111/GY 111L | Physical Geology with Lab | 4 |
| EH 102 (Gen Ed) | English Composition II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Second Year – Fall Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENV 100 | Gulf Coast Sustainability Seminar | 1 |
| ENV 101 | Environment & Society | 3 |
| Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| PH 114/PH114L | Physics I with Lab | 5 |
| ENV 337/ENV337L | Environmental Sciences I with Lab | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
Second Year – Spring Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CA 110 (Gen Ed) | Public Speaking | 3 |
| History (US or West. Civ.) (Gen Ed) | 3 | |
| *PHL 231 (Gen Ed) | Humanities Elective Social Ethics | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Elective (Gen Ed) | 3 | |
| ENV 421 | Environmental Policy | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
Third Year – Fall Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language I (Gen Ed) | Foreign Language 1 | 3 |
| Natural Sciences Concentration Elective | 4 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Minor | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 14 |
Third Year – Spring Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
Natural Sciences Concentration Elective |
4 |
|
|
Foreign Language II (Gen Ed) |
Foreign Language II |
3 |
|
English Literature |
3 |
|
|
GY 425 |
Hydrology |
4 |
|
Total Hours |
14 |
Fourth Year – Fall Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENV 339 | Climate Change (Writing Course) | 3 |
| History, Social & Behavioral Elective | 3 | |
| GIT 460 | Intro to GIT | 4 |
| ENV 334/ ENV 334L | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment with Lab | 4 |
| Total Hours | 14 |
Fourth Year – Spring Semester
|
Course ID |
Course Description |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
Social/Behavioral Elective (Gen Ed) |
3 |
|
|
Minor (GY 112 & GY 112L) |
4 |
|
|
Humanities Elective (Gen Ed) |
3 |
|
|
ENV 335/ ENV 335L |
Environmental Conservation and Sustainability with Lab |
4 |
|
Total Hours |
15 |
