BS in Environmental Sciences with Emphasis in Water

Degree Program Description

The degree combines interests in understanding management effects on hydrology and water quality. Studies include monitoring environmental change, conserving and managing biological organisms, assuring healthy streams and adequate water supplies, improving environmental quality with the shaping of new policies and educating others about the natural environment and environmental issues. Example careers include Environmental Scientist, Environmental Technician, Hydrologist, Land Manager, and Water Quality Specialist. Employment may occur in a variety of sectors, including federal, state, county and city government agencies, non-government agencies (NGOs), and private consulting firms.

Major Program Requirements

Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences are required to complete all University general education, University graduation, and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.

Foundational Courses
MATH 1100College Algebra3-5
or MATH 1160 Precalculus Mathematics
MATH 1400Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I3-5
or MATH 1500 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
4
Business Elective (select from ABM, ECONOM, FINPLN)3
AGSC_COM 2220Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources3
ABM 2123Quantitative Applications in Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences 3
or STAT 1200 Introductory Statistical Reasoning
ENV_SC 1100Introduction to Environmental Science3
ATM_SC 1050Introductory Meteorology3
NAT_R 2325Introduction to Geographic Information Systems3
or GEOG 3040 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GIS
ENV_SC 4560Observing the Earth from Space3
or ABM 1200 Applied Computer Applications
Core Emphasis Requirements
Biological Science
BIO_SC 1200General Botany with Laboratory5
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory5
FOREST 4320Forest Ecology5
or BIO_SC 3650 General Ecology
Chemistry
CHEM 1410
CHEM 1411
College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Laboratory
4
Geology
GEOL 1100Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory4
or GEOL 1200 Environmental Geology with Laboratory
GEOL 2400Surficial Earth Processes and Products with Laboratory4
Policy/Regulation
NAT_R 4353Natural Resource Policy/Administration3
or ENV_SC 4400W Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive
Soil Science
SOIL 2100Introduction to Soils3
SOIL 2106Soil Science Laboratory2
Additional Emphasis Area Requirements
ENV_SC 2600Sustainability Foundations: An Introduction to Sustainability 3
ENV_SC 3250Pollutant Fate and Transport3
ENV_SC 4450Environmental Hydrology3
or FOREST 4390 Watershed Management and Water Quality
ENV_SC 4940Environmental Science Internship3
Capstone Experience
ENV_SC 3400Water Quality and Natural Resources Management3
or ENV_SC 4320 Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling
Students may identify a specific track and select from the following disciplinary elective classes approved by an academic advisor to achieve an additional 15 credit hours at the 3000/4000 levels (must take at least one Atmospheric, Environmental or Soil Science course). Students not wishing to work in a specific track may select from either list to achieve an additional 15 credit hours at the 3000/4000 levels and at least one course must be in Atmospheric, Environmental, or Soil Science.
(Tracks do not appear on transcripts or diplomas)
Hydrology Track15
AG_S_TCH 4420Surface Water Management3
ATM_SC 3600Climates of the World3
ATM_SC 4400Microclimatology3
ATM_SC 4590Radar Meteorology3
BIOL_EN 4150Soil and Water Conservation Engineering3
CV_ENG 3700Fluid Mechanics3
CV_ENG 3702Fundamentals of Water Resources Engineering4
ENV_SC 4305Environmental Soil Physics3
ENV_SC 4306Environmental Soil Physics Laboratory2
ENV_SC 4318Environmental Soil Chemistry3
FOREST 4390Watershed Management and Water Quality3
GEOG 4630River and Stream Dynamics3
GEOL 4100Groundwater Hydrology3
NAT_R 3400Water Quality and Natural Resource Management3
SOIL 4320Genesis of Soil Landscapes4
Water Quality Track15
BIOL_EN 4150Soil and Water Conservation Engineering3
ENV_SC 4100Lake Ecology3
ENV_SC 4200Stream Ecology and Hydrology3
ENV_SC 4300Methods in Lake Ecology2
ENV_SC 4305Environmental Soil Physics3
ENV_SC 4306Environmental Soil Physics Laboratory2
ENV_SC 4312Environmental Soil Microbiology3
ENV_SC 4318Environmental Soil Chemistry3
ENV_SC 4600WSustainability Science Problem Solving - Writing Intensive3
F_W 3900Ecology of Fishes3
FOREST 4390Watershed Management and Water Quality3
GEOL 4300Introduction to Low-Temperature Geochemistry3
NAT_R 3400Water Quality and Natural Resource Management3
PLNT_SCI 4720Aquatic Entomology3
SOIL 4313Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition3
Electives approved by professional advisor to complete 120 credits

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
HIST 1100 or POL_SC 11003ENGLSH 10003 
BIO_SC 12005MATH 11003 
ENV_SC 11003NAT_R 23253 
ATM_SC 10503SOIL 21003 
 GEOL 12004 
 14 16  
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO_SC 15005SOIL 21062 
ENV_SC 26003CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
4 
ENV_SC 32903AGSC_COM 22203 
STAT 12003Business Elective3 
 Emphasis Area Elective3 
 14 15  
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
GEOL 24004CHEM 1410
CHEM 1411
4ENV_SC 49403
FOREST 4320 or BIO_SC 36505NAT_R 34003 
Humanities Elective 3ENV_SC 32503 
Social Science Elective3Emphasis Area Elective3 
 15 13 3
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ABM 12003MATH 14003 
ENV_SC 43053Humanities Elective-Lower Level WI3 
ENV_SC 43062Emphasis Area Elective10 
ENV_SC 4400W3  
ENV_SC 44503  
 14 16  
Total Credits: 120

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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