Environmental Science Major: Environmental Biology Track - Bachelor of Science (BS)

(All colleges)

60-68 credits

Core

BIO 105General Biology4
CHM 103General Chemistry I5
ENV 101Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Studies3
GEO 101Earth Environments4
GEO 221Weather and Climate4
or GEO 222 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
GEO 305Geographic Information Systems and Science I3
GEO 401Capstone Seminar in Geography and Environmental Science1
MIC 230Fundamentals of Microbiology4
STAT 145Elementary Statistics4
Humans and the environment electives
Select two courses from the following:6
ENV 303
Topics in Environmental Studies
ENV 304
Topics in Environmental Justice
GEO 309
Cities: Past, Present, and Future
GEO 310
Transportation Equity and Sustainable Communities
GEO 320
Energy, the Environment, and Sustainability
GEO 321
Sustainable Development and Conservation
GEO 340
Polar Environments
GEO 427
Sustainable Water Resource Management
Earth's environmental systems electives
Select two courses from the following:6-7
GEO 222
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 1
or GEO 221
 Weather and Climate
GEO 422
Meteorology
GEO 425
Biogeography
GEO 428
Past Environmental Change
GEO 430
River Systems
GEO 460
Environmental Hazards
Quantitative analysis electives
Select one course from the following:2-5
BIO 202
Introduction to Biological Data Analysis and Interpretation
BIO 419
Quantitative Methods in Ecology
CHM 301
Analytical Chemistry
GEO 488
Quantitative Methods in Geography
MTH 207
Calculus I
MTH 265
Mathematical Models in Biology
STAT 305
Statistical Methods
Environmental science field experience electives
Select three credits from the following:3
GEO 410
Geospatial Field Methods
GEO 412
Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems
GEO 450
Internship in Geography and Environmental Science
GEO 499
Research in Geography and Environmental Science
BIO 341
Limnology 2
BIO 447
Standard Methods/Quality Assurance Water Analyses 2
BIO 499
Independent Research
CHM 413
Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 479
Field Research Station Experience
CHM 499
Research
MIC 499
Independent Research in Microbiology
Total Credits49-53
1

GEO 221 or GEO 222 may apply to "Earth's Environmental Systems" electives if not used in the core.

2

BIO 341 and BIO 447 can only apply to either the "Environmental Science Field Experience" electives or the environmental biology track requirements.

Environmental biology track requirements

BIO 203Organismal Biology4
BIO 307Ecology3
Select two courses from the following:4-8
BIO 302
Introductory Plant Identification
BIO 304
Plant Biology
BIO 321
Ornithology
BIO 337
Plant Physiology
BIO 341
Limnology
BIO 404
Plant Taxonomy
BIO 405
Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants
BIO 406
Parasitology
BIO 412
Mycology
BIO 414
Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology
BIO 422
Ichthyology
BIO 441
Environmental Toxicology
BIO 442
Plant Microbe Interactions
BIO 444
Entomology
BIO 446
Animal Behavior
BIO 447
Standard Methods/Quality Assurance Water Analyses
BIO 456
Plant Ecology
BIO 464
Stream and Watershed Ecology
BIO 476
Ecosystem Ecology
BIO 488
Mammalogy
Total Credits11-15

Exit survey requirement

During the student's last semester of enrollment, completion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science exit survey is required in order to graduate.  

Minor recommendation

It is recommended that environmental science majors complete a minor in earth science, human and environmental geography, geographic information science, geoarchaeology, environmental studies, biology, chemistry, and/or microbiology. Selection of a minor should be done in consultation with your academic advisor.

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.  

 

College of Science and Health (CSH) Bachelor of Science core requirements

B.S. and B.A. students graduating from the College of Science and Health are required to take two natural laboratory science courses selected from the general education laboratory science category (GE 05) and/or from BIO 203, BIO 304, BIO 210, CHM 104, GEO 221, GEO 222, PHY 104 or PHY 204, and they either must take two mathematics courses or one math course and one computer science course from the math/logical systems category of the general education requirements (GE 02). One of the two science courses must be from a department outside of the student’s major department.

Note: Math courses can be pairs, i.e. 150 and 151; MTH/CS majors can use two science courses from same department.

For the Bachelor of Science degree, in addition to all other College of Science and Health core requirements, students from non-exempted programs1 must complete one of the following options. It is recommended that courses are selected in consultation with students’ academic advisor.

  1. Complete a second major; or

  2. Complete a minor outside the major; or

  3. Complete two certificates outside the major with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level; or

  4. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits

    1. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department.

    2. The remaining six credits should come from

      1. 100 level or higher courses outside the major (General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.); or

      2. 300/400 level courses inside major not being used to fulfill major requirements.

    3. Internship credits may not count toward the individualized option.

1

The list of exempted CSH programs is below.

 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO 105 (Gen Ed Lab Science)4CHM 1035
ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3GEO 1014
MTH 150 or 151 (Gen Ed Math)4Gen Ed World History3
 14 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENV 101 (Gen Ed Global Studies)3BIO 3073
BIO 2034MIC 2304
STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math/Lang/Logical Systems)4Earth's Climate and Landforms (see list)3
Gen Ed Health & Well-Being 3Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3
Gen Ed Arts2-3Gen Ed Arts2-3
 16 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEO 3053Earth's Environmental Systems (see list) (Writing Emphasis)3
Earth's Environmental Systems (see list)3-4Quantitiative Analysis (see list)3-4
Human and the Environment (see list) (Writing Emphasis)3Humans and the Environment (see list)3
Gen Ed Self & Society3Gen Ed Minority Cultures3
CSH Core or Minor13CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or minor3
 15 16
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Environmental Science Field Experience (see list)3GEO 4011
Biology Track (see list)3-4Biology Track (see list)3
CSH Core or Minor13CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or minor3
University Elective3CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or minor3
CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or minor3University Elective 3
 Exit Survey Requirement2 
 16 13
Total Credits: 120
1

See CSH BS Core Requirements for information on completing the individualized option. 300/400 requirements for graduation may be impacted.

2

During the student's last semester of enrollment, completion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science exit survey is required in order to graduate.