Environmental Science, B.S.

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Environmental science students receive a broad range of environmental courses. They may choose to focus on water resources or applied ecology. Students are often involved in faculty research programs and present results of their research at local and national conferences.

Students studying water resources focus on the flow and quality of water in various environments including streams, lakes, and aquifers, and students receive comprehensive training in the biology, chemistry, and ecology of water bodies. The focus is on human-influenced and natural processes affecting water quality. Courses emphasize water quality assessment and control, soil and water conservation, and watershed management and planning.

Applied ecology is the study of interrelationships between organisms and their environment, within the context of seeking to understand and mitigate impacts of human activities on those systems. Students are provided with the core science background necessary to conduct environmental field and laboratory research. Students then gain familiarity with specific ecological systems, concepts, and methods through courses such as Field Ecosystem Ecology, Forest Ecology, Wetlands Ecology, Environmental Entomology, and Limnology.

For students interested in becoming certified to teach science in Maine, a concentration in secondary teacher education is offered as part of the B.S. in environmental science.

Environmental Science and Policy courses tend to be laboratory-intensive and quantitative. We encourage students to acquire advanced skills in utilizing analytical tools such as statistical software, mapping applications, and geographic information systems (GIS). This combination of a strong science core with applied environmental technologies allows a graduate in environmental science to pursue either graduate study in the sciences or immediate entry-level employment with an environmental engineering firm, government agency, or non-governmental organization.

Program Requirements

Minimum number of credits required for the major is 72, plus the University’s Core Curriculum. Some departmental major requirements may overlap with the Core Curriculum, allowing students to double-count and be efficient in course selection. A student must achieve at least a 2.0 grade point average and must earn a C- or higher in each course applied toward completion of the major.

Minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core Curriculum) required for the Environmental Science major: 72.5.
Minimum grade requirement for major courses listed below: C-.

Required courses for all majors in the department:

ESP 101 - Environmental Science and Sustainability Credits: 3
ESP 102 - Fundamentals of Environmental Science Laboratory Credits: 1
ESP 125 - Introduction to Environmental Ecology Credits: 3
ESP 126 - Introduction to Environmental Ecology Laboratory Credits: 1
ESP 150 - Environmental Science Field Immersion Session Credits: 3
ESP 203 - Environmental Communication Credits: 3
ESP 280 - Research and Analytical Methods Credits: 4
ESP 340 - Environmental Regulations Credits: 3
ESP 400 - Internship Credits: 3 (between junior and senior year)
ESP 475 - Topics in Environmental Science Credits: 3
ESP 480 - Environmental Science and Policy Capstone Credits: 4
MAT 120 or LOS 120 or PSY 201

Required courses specific to students in the B.S. in environmental science:

CHEMISTRY:
CHY 113 - Principles of Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHY 114 - Laboratory Techniques I Credits: 1.5
CHY 115 - Principles of Chemistry II Credits: 3
CHY 116 - Laboratory Techniques II Credits: 1.5
CHY 233 - Analytical Chemistry with Lab Credits: 5
or
CHY 251 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 3
and
CHY 252 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 2
BIOLOGY or PHYSICS:
BIO 105 - Biological Principles I: Cellular Biology Credits: 3
and
BIO 106 - Laboratory Biology Credits: 1.5
or
PHY 111 - Elements of Physics I Credits: 4
and
PHY 114 - Introductory Physics Laboratory I Credits: 1
MATH:
MAT 140 - Pre-Calculus Mathematics Credits: 3
SOILS:
ESP 250 - Soils and Land Use Credits: 3
or
ESP 260 - Soil and Water Conservation Engineering Credits: 3
ECOLOGY:
ESP 412 - Field Ecosystem Ecology Credits: 4
or
ESP 413 - Forest Ecology Credits: 4
WATER
ESP 360 - Water Quality Assessment and Control Credits: 4

Electives: Two environmental science classes 200-level or higher.

Recommended Course Sequence

Students should begin with ESP 101 and ESP 102 . Advanced environmental science courses also may have biology, chemistry, and mathematics prerequisites.

Major Courses that Satisfy Core Requirements

Students are encouraged to explore Core courses that also count towards their major or minor. Courses listed below are part of this major and also satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Course lists that satisfy each requirement can be found on the Core Curriculum webpage.

Writing, Reading, and Inquiry 3:
Quantitative Reasoning: LOS 120 , MAT 120 , or MAT 140
Creative Expression:
Cultural Interpretation:
Science Exploration: ESP 101 /ESP 102 or ESP 125 /ESP 126
Socio-cultural Analysis:
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship: ESP 200 or ESP 308
Culture, Power, and Equity:
International: ESP 308
Engaged Learning: ESP 150 , ESP 250 , ESP 341 , ESP 389 , ESP 400 , ESP 412 , ESP 413 , ESP 445
Capstone:
ESP 401
, or appropriate STEM- or Education-based capstone course

USM Core Requirements

Students must complete all Core and degree requirements as part of the Graduation Requirements. For more information, see Academic Policies.

The USM Core Curriculum provides a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal arts education that fulfills general education requirements. It is designed to help students become globally aware, purposeful, and lifelong learners.

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor. For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.