Environmental Science
Study local and global environmental issues
As an Environmental Science major you will study a broad science-based curriculum that will expose you to multiple fields of scientific study, provide you with an understanding of environmental problems and solutions and prepare you for a technical career in environmental science. Environmental Science faculty members are active researchers in soil and wetland science, restoration ecology, geology, paleontology, and conservation biology, offering environmental science majors many opportunities to gain hands-on research experience.
DePaul’s close proximity to Lake Michigan, Chicago’s urban ecosystem, as well as the many environmental science conferences that are held in the city, will allow you to interact and work with professionals in the field and learn about important environmental issues.
In addition to a variety of combined degree programs, we offer a combined bachelor’s + master’s degree program in Environmental Science, a combined bachelor’s + master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Management or a combined bachelor’s + master’s degree in Environmental Science and Secondary Education Environmental Science. Each of these programs allow you to complete a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in as few as five years.
Classes
Coursework
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Mathematics
- Physics
Resources
Career Options
Common Career Areas
- Compliance
- Education
- Environmental consulting
- Environmental engineering
- Forestry planning
- Hazardous waste management
- Solid waste management
- Water quality management
- Wetlands protection
86%
of Environmental Science graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.
Major Requirements
Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
---|---|---|
ENV 250 | APPLIED ECOLOGY | 4 |
or BIO 215 | ECOLOGY | |
ENV 216 | EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE | 4 |
ENV 217 | HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
ENV 260 | ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
or BIO 206 | BIOSTATISTICS | |
ENV 294 | SECOND YEAR SEMINAR | 2 |
ENV 360 | RESEARCH METHODS | 4 |
ENV 362 | SENIOR THESIS | 2 |
ENV 350 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND STUDIES CAPSTONE (Liberal Studies Program Capstone) 1 | 4 |
Select three of the following: | 12 | |
ENV 300 |
PLANT IDENTIFICATION (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 305 |
ANIMAL DIVERSITY | |
ENV 310 |
ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL SCIENCE (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 315 |
PLANT ECOLOGY (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 316 |
CHEMISTRY OF EARTH SYSTEMS (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 320 |
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 322 |
ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 340 |
URBAN ECOLOGY (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 341 |
URBAN FORESTS AS SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (WITH LAB) | |
ENV 355 |
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH | |
ENV 359 |
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ANALYSIS WITH R | |
ENV 390 |
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2 | |
BIO 191 | GENERAL BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | 4 |
BIO 192 | GENERAL BIOLOGY II FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | 4 |
BIO 193 | GENERAL BIOLOGY III FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
CHE 130 |
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY |
|
CHE 120 |
GENERAL CHEMISTRY IP and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY |
|
Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
CHE 132 |
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II |
|
CHE 122 |
GENERAL CHEMISTRY IIP and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II |
|
CHE 134 & CHE 135 |
GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III |
4 |
Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
MAT 147 |
CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I | |
MAT 150 |
CALCULUS I | |
MAT 170 |
CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I | |
Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
MAT 148 |
CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II | |
MAT 151 |
CALCULUS II | |
MAT 171 |
CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II | |
Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
MAT 149 |
CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III | |
MAT 152 |
CALCULUS III | |
MAT 172 |
CALCULUS III WITH DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
Alternatively, to complete the calculus sequence, select both of the following: |
||
MAT 155 |
SUMMER CALCULUS I | |
MAT 156 |
SUMMER CALCULUS II | |
PHY 150 | GENERAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
PHY 151 | GENERAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
PHY 152 | GENERAL PHYSICS III | 4 |
Select three courses from within one discipline in consultation with your advisor: | 12 | |
Biology | ||
BIO 210 |
MICROBIOLOGY | |
BIO 235 |
EVOLUTION | |
BIO 260 |
GENETICS | |
BIO 315 |
TOPICS IN ECOLOGY | |
BIO 317 |
AQUATIC BIOLOGY | |
BIO 318 |
FIELD STUDIES IN MARINE AND ESTUARINE BIOLOGY | |
BIO 321 |
MOLECULAR METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | |
Chemistry | ||
CHE 230 |
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I |
|
CHE 232 |
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II |
|
CHE 234 |
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY III and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III |
|
CHE 204 |
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY |
|
CHE 264 |
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY and ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY |
|
CHE 268 |
SOLID WASTE CHEMISTRY and SOLID WASTE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY |
|
CHE 340 |
BIOCHEMISTRY I and EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY I |
|
Geography (GIS) | ||
GEO 141 |
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: DIGITAL MAPPING | |
GEO 242 |
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II: COMMUNITY GIS | |
GEO 243 |
EARTH OBSERVATION | |
GEO 343 |
EARTH OBSERVATION II | |
GEO 344 |
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS III: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR SUSTAINABILITY |
1 |
Students in the University Honors Program and students with a double major may be required to take a different Capstone. If this is the case, they may choose to substitute ENV 350 as one of their required 300-level ENV courses or as an open elective. |
2 |
Each quarter one or more versions of ENV 390 are offered. Some might be applicable to your major requirements. Please contact your advisor for details. |
Environmental Science (BS) students are not eligible to earn a double major in Environmental Studies (BA)
Open Electives
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.
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