Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Website: https://twu.edu/environmental-science/

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary major offered through the School of the Sciences. The B.S. in Environmental Science provides broad training in multiple scientific disciplines, as well as technology and communication, to prepare students for a range of careers in the environmental sciences.  The program also engages with community stakeholders through strong external partnerships that enrich students’ educational experiences and provide new pathways to employment in STEM fields following graduation.

Marketable Skills

Marketable skills prepare students for success in a variety of professional settings. Developed through academic coursework, co-curricular engagement, and extracurricular involvement, these skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and digital literacy. Whether directly related to a student’s major or serving as complementary strengths, marketable skills enhance career readiness and reflect TWU’s commitment to producing graduates who are prepared to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce.

  1. Effectively communicate scientific and technical information to an interdisciplinary audience.
  2. Apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to scientific problems.
  3. Think critically about environmental problems and propose effective solutions.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120

Major: 42 SCH; Required Minor: 18 SCH

Program Code: ENVSCIENCE.BS;  CIP Code: 03.0104.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I (10)3
ENG 1023Composition II (10)3
Mathematics (20)3
Life & Physical Sciences (30)6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40)3
Creative Arts (50)3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60)3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60)3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government (70)3
POLS 2023Texas Government (70)3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (80)3
CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90)3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91)3
Total SCHs42

 Courses Required for Major      

BIOL 2113
BIOL 2111
Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4223
BIOL 4221
Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory
4
CSCI 3373Geographic Information Systems3
ENG 3253Technical Writing3
or BIOL 4293 Scientific Communication
ENVS 1213Introduction to Environmental Science3
ENVS 4933Capstone in Environmental Science3
POLS 4813Seminar in Public Policy3
SCI 2113Earth Science: Global Perspectives3
SCI 3013Community Conversation in Sustainability3
SCI 3033Water in a Changing Environment3
SCI 3133Climate Change: A Human Perspective3
Electives
Choose 7 SCH from the following7
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
Special Topics
Undergraduate Research
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
Quantitative Chemical Analysis
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory
Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory
Environmental Chemistry I
and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory I
Special Topics (with advisor permission)
Undergraduate Research (with advisor permission)
Data Structures
Fundamentals of SAS Programming
Advanced Modeling and Visualization
Networking and Data Communication
Database Management
Data Warehousing
Foundations of Data Science
Big Data and High Performance Computing
Interface Design and Development
Machine Learning
Principles of Data Mining
Special Topics (with advisor permission)
Special Topics
Environmental Health and Safety Education
Elementary Statistics II
Data Collection
Statistical Methods II
Statistical Methods III
Probability and Statistics
Computational Statistics
Special Topics (with advisor permission)
Ecology of Foods and Nutrition
Law, Politics, and Public Policy
Public Administration
Animal Behavior
Total SCHs42

Departmental Requirements

BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
4
CSCI 2003Software Systems Design and Tools3
or CSCI 2493 Programming Fundamentals II
MATH 1303College Algebra3
or MATH 2014 Calculus I
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
Chemistry I Requirement4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry I
Chemistry II Requirement4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Principles of Chemistry II
Physics I Requirement4
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
General Physics I
Total SCHs29

Minor

Selected Minor18
Total SCHs18

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106
4
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
ENVS 1213Introduction to Environmental Science ENVR 13013
MATH 1303
or 2014
College Algebra
or Calculus I
MATH 1314
or MATH 2413
3
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 14
SpringTCCN
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
BIOL 1407
& BIOL 1107
4
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
SCI 2113Earth Science: Global Perspectives GEOL 14013
Elective or Minor2
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 2113
BIOL 2111
Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1411
& BIOL 1111
4
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core3
Elective or Minor2
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1311
& CHEM 1111
 
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
 
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
BIOL 4223
BIOL 4221
Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory
4
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Creative Arts Core3
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1312
& CHEM 1112
 
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
 
 SCHs 14
Third Year
FallTCCN
CSCI 2003
or 2493
Software Systems Design and Tools
or Programming Fundamentals II
COSC 14373
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
SCI 3013Community Conversation in Sustainability 3
Elective or Minor6
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
BIOL 4293
or ENG 3253
Scientific Communication
or Technical Writing
3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
SCI 3033Water in a Changing Environment 3
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
Elective or Minor3
 SCHs 15
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
POLS 4813Seminar in Public Policy 3
SCI 3133Climate Change: A Human Perspective 3
Elective or Minor6
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1301
& PHYS 1101
 
General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 2325
& PHYS 2125
 
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
CSCI 3373Geographic Information Systems 3
ENVS 4933Capstone in Environmental Science 3
Social/Behavioral Science Core3
Elective or Minor6
 SCHs 15
 Total SCHs:  120