CanvasProgram Description
The Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences major is an interdisciplinary study of the relevant natural science disciplines, with emphases in either the Geosciences or the Environmental Sciences. This program provides knowledge and experience through lecture, laboratory, and field courses that immerse the students into the world around them. Students will analyze and solve problems associated with use of energy, water, and mineral resources; in protection of the environment; in planning for the impact of natural hazards; and in sustainable approaches to societal development. The region and ecosystems that surround Dixie State University provide the ideal laboratory to apply concepts to the earth, energy, and environmental issues that impact the future of humanity. Emphases in the Geosciences and the Environmental Sciences are available depending on the student interests.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
DSU General Education Requirements
All DSU General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to DSU’s minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Core Requirements | ||
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Laboratory Science | 0-1 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
Earth, Energy, & Environmental Science Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 1210 & ENVS 1215 | Introduction to Environmental Science and Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENVS 2210 | Environmental Pollution and Remediation Techniques | 3 |
| ENVS 3280 | Environmental Policy, Regulations, Health, and Safety | 3 |
| ENVS 3410 | Air Quality and Control Technologies | 3 |
| ENER 2310 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| ENER 4310 | Energy Technology and Sustainability | 3 |
| GEO 1110 & GEO 1115 | Physical Geology (PS) and Physical Geology Lab (LAB) | 4 |
| GEO 2050 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEO 3400 | Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOG 2410 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| GEOG 3600 & GEOG 3605 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I (PS) and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| CHEM 1220 & CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615 | Principles of Biology I (LS) and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| MATH 1210 | Calculus I (MA) (Prerequisite: MATH 1010 and MATH 1050 and MATH 1060 or MATH 1080 or equivalent placement score) | 4 |
| PHYS 2210 & PHYS 2215 | Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS) and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| ENGL 2201 | Literature and the Land (HU, GC) | 3 |
Environmental Science Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 2700R | Field Methods in Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENVS 2990R | Seminar in Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENVS 3510 | Waste Management | 3 |
| ENVS 4080 | Environmental Monitoring and Characterization | 4 |
| ENVS 4800R | Independent Research | 1 |
| ENVS 4910 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 1620 & BIOL 1625 | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology II Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 3040 & BIOL 3045 | General Ecology and General Ecology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 3750 & BIOL 3755 | Microbial Ecology and Microbial Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 4200 & BIOL 4205 | Plant Taxonomy (ALPP) and Plant Taxonomy Lab (ALPP) | 4 |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 1 of the following courses: | ||
| ENVS 3910 | Costa Rica Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3920 | Peruvian Amazon Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3930 | South Africa Natural History | 3 |
| GEO 3000 | Advanced Geologic Investigation of Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce National Parks | 3 |
| GEO 3910 | Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland | 3 |
| GEOG 3930 | Remote Sensing of Landscape: China | 3 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at DSU for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
- Grade C- or higher in all required courses.
Graduation Plan
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENVS 1210 & ENVS 1215 | Introduction to Environmental Science and Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| GEO 1110 & GEO 1115 | Physical Geology (PS) and Physical Geology Lab (LAB) | 4 |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Writing (EN) | 3 |
| MATH 1210 | Calculus I (MA) (Prerequisite: MATH 1010 and MATH 1050 and MATH 1060 or MATH 1080 or equivalent placement score) | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615 | Principles of Biology I (LS) and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| ENGL 2010 | Interm Writing Selected Topics: (EN) | 3 |
| ENGL 2201 | Literature and the Land (HU, GC) | 3 |
| PHYS 2210 & PHYS 2215 | Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS) and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENVS 2210 | Environmental Pollution and Remediation Techniques | 3 |
| GEOG 2410 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I (PS) and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB) | 5 |
| ENVS 2700R | Field Methods in Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENVS 2990R | Seminar in Environmental Science | 1 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENER 2310 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| GEO 2050 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| CHEM 1220 & CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 1620 & BIOL 1625 | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology II Lab | 5 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENVS 3280 | Environmental Policy, Regulations, Health, and Safety | 3 |
| GEO 3400 | Water Resources | 3 |
| GE Fine Arts | 3 | |
| BIOL 3040 & BIOL 3045 | General Ecology and General Ecology Lab | 4 |
| GE American Institutions | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENVS 3410 | Air Quality and Control Technologies | 3 |
| GEOG 3600 & GEOG 3605 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | 4 |
| ENVS 3510 | Waste Management | 3 |
| BIOL 3750 & BIOL 3755 | Microbial Ecology and Microbial Ecology Laboratory | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENER 4310 | Energy Technology and Sustainability | 3 |
| Elective Credit | 3 | |
| ENVS 4080 | Environmental Monitoring and Characterization | 4 |
| ENVS 4800R | Independent Research | 1 |
| GEO 3000 | Advanced Geologic Investigation of Colorado Plateau Basin and Range provinces through national parks (Fall only elective, or Study Abroad Course) | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Elective Credit | 7 | |
| GE Social & Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| ENVS 4910 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 4200 & BIOL 4205 | Plant Taxonomy (ALPP) and Plant Taxonomy Lab (ALPP) | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences - Environmental Science Emphasis Program Learning Outcomes
At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to:
- Articulate the interdisciplinary nature of the issues related to geological, environmental, and energy sciences.
- Formulate sustainable approaches to energy and earth science issues that integrate environmental, economic, and sociopolitical perspectives.
- Distinguish between Earth’s surface and deep energy sources and the processes they power and appraise how we depend on and harvest those energy resources to sustain our society.
- Use appropriate methodological tools to analyze and address research questions in the earth, energy and environmental sciences.
- Evaluate the effects of geologic time as they pertain to the interactive nature of and changes to Earth systems. (Geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere)