BS in Environmental Sciences
Degree Program Description
Earth’s environment provides conditions conducive for life: an oxygenated atmosphere; water resources; and soil as a medium for plant growth. Environmental processes occurring on the planet govern the movement of air, energy, matter, and water. Through the study of Environmental Sciences, students will learn the science and experience the beauty of the outdoor environment. This degree program addresses how human activities can adversely alter some environmental processes and environmental quality, techniques to improve environmental quality, modeling of environmental processes, and practices that minimize human impacts on the environment. The Environmental Sciences degree provides a strong science foundation through general science coursework and specialized studies of the atmosphere, land and soil, water, and environmental outreach and education. The degree combines interests in predicting and understanding weather patterns, monitoring environmental change, conserving and managing soil and biological organisms, assuring healthy streams and adequate water supplies, and improving environmental quality with the shaping of new policies and educating others about the natural environment and environmental issues. Example careers include Atmospheric Scientist, Climatologist, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Technician, Hydrologist, Land Manager, Meteorologist, Soil Scientist, 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 requirements and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.
Students majoring in Environmental Sciences must select one of the following emphasis areas:
Students are admissible to transfer into this program with a 2.0 term GPA and 2.0 cumulative GPA, and are directly admissible into the program when they meet the University admissions requirements.
Students planning to transfer courses (including AP credit) and seeking information on how they apply to a degree program(s), can email CAFNRadvising@missouri.edu for general recommendations.
Foundational
| MATH 1100 | College Algebra | 3-5 |
| or MATH 1160 | Precalculus Mathematics | |
| MATH 1400 | Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I | 3-5 |
| or MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | |
| CHEM 1320 | College Chemistry I | 4 |
| Economics/Business Elective (select from ABM, ECONOM, FINPLN, FINANC, MANGMT, MRKTNG) | 3 | |
| ABM 2123 | Quantitative Applications in Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences | 3 |
| or STAT 1200 | Introductory Statistical Reasoning | |
| ENV_SC 1100 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| ATM_SC 1050 | Introductory Meteorology | 3 |
| AGSC_COM 2220 | Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| NAT_R 2325 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| or GEOG 3040 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GIS | |
| ENV_SC 4560 | Observing the Earth from Space | 3 |
| or ABM 1200 | Applied Computer Applications | |
Semester Plan
Refer to the Semester Plans for the BS in Environmental Sciences designed for the emphasis areas of Atmosphere, Land and Soil, Water, and Outreach and Education.
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/.
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.
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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.
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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.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.