Minor in Environmental Sciences

Photo Courtesy of Byron Hamilton

A Passion for the Environment Deserves the Knowledge to Protect it

Minor in Environmental Sciences

The Environmental Sciences program is interdisciplinary and appeals to students across the University of South Alabama campus.  Enhance your major with a broader understanding of how demand for human development interacts with the natural world.  Our introductory and core classes are taught on the main campus, but we can easily access numerous ecosystems from our position on the Gulf coast. If you choose to minor in environmental sciences, be prepared to gain direct experience with our hands-on approach in estuarine, inshore, and offshore marine habitats, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, river systems, and terrestrial habitats.  The Stokes School of Marine & Environmental Sciences is also equipped with a state-of-the-art analytical facility where you will gain experience and training on analytical instrumentation and common equipment used in environmental analysis.

Apply Your Major Field of Interest to Issues and Problems Related to Environmental Sciences 

Our Gulf Coast has a thriving environmental sciences related work force because of the large number of chemical and petroleum refining companies and associated environmental regulation and compliance government agencies and consulting firms. The minor in environmental sciences curriculum is designed to complement several majors offered at the University of South Alabama.  View examples in the chart below to see how a minor in environmental sciences can strengthen your marketability after graduation.  

Biology

Ecosystems

Conservation Biology

Environmental Physiology

Conservation

Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

Pollution Analysis

Socioeconomics

Sustainable development

Resilience planning

Implementing environmental policy

Public Health

Pollution

Water Quality

 Air Quality 

Sociology or Anthropology

Learn about human impacts on the environment and environmental justice

Economics

Environmental Economics

Sustainability Markets

Resource Allocation

Civil Engineering

Sustainability

Water Resources

Environmental Impact Assessments

Journalism or Communication

Gain Scientific Foundation to Accurately Report on Environmental Issues

Marine Sciences

Coastal Management

Estuarine Research

Mechanical Engineering

Energy-Efficient Machinery or Renewable Energy Systems

Sustainable Manufacturing Processes

Hospitality & Management

Prepare for an Industry Shift Toward Sustainability in Hospitality

EcoResorts

EcoTourism

Political Science

Environmental Policy

International Climate Agreements

Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Sciences

For the most accurate and official program requirements, please consult the Undergraduate Bulletin. Website information is for general reference only and may not reflect recent updates.

▼   General Information

Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Sciences include a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework.

There is an emphasis on a rigorous natural science foundation, so several of the upper division courses related to this minor have prerequisites.

The student must complete:

  • Four required core courses (12 credit hours)
  • Electives (choose 2-3 courses, 6 credit hours needed)
▼   Required Courses (12 credit hours)
Course ID Course Name Credit Hours
ENV 100 Gulf Coast Sustainability Seminar 1
ENV 101 Environment & Society 3
ENV 337 & ENV 337L Enviro Sciences I with Lab 4
ENV 338 & ENV 338L Enviro Sciences II with Lab 4
▼   Electives (6 credit hours)
Course ID Course Name
BLY 369 Biology/Conservation Marine Turtles
BLY 370 Marine Aquaculture
BLY 478 Coastal Wetlands Ecology
BLY 490 Special Topics (Coastal Zone Management)
ENV 339 Climate Change-W
ENV 334 & ENV 334L Enviro Monitoring & Assessment with Lab
ENV 335 & ENV 335L Enviro Conservation/Sustainability - W with Lab
ENV 420 Natural Resource Management
ENV 421 Environmental Policy
ENV 494 Directed Studies
ENV 490 Special Topics
MAS 490 Special Topics (Coastal Zone Management)

If you are considering a minor in environmental sciences, please check the course catalog descriptions carefully and arrange a meeting with Dr. Molly Miller, mollymiller@southalabama.edu or another advisor in the Stokes School of Marine & Environmental Sciences.