Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Duluth Campus
Environmental Science B.S.Swenson College of Science & Engineering
Swenson College of Science and Engineering
The B.S. in environmental science is designed for students who want a multidisciplinary science education focusing on aspects of the environment. This environmental science program requires a broad base of knowledge in the basic sciences and mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, Earth sciences, and statistics. In addition, prudent study of environmental science requires understanding of economic, political, and ethical considerations. Environmental science features an intense grounding in resource issues (including courses in renewable and non-renewable resources) and builds on the strength of UMD in freshwater issues. In addition, the capstone course deals with sources, distribution, and ultimate fate of air, water, and solid waste pollution. Elective courses from areas such as habitats, climate processes, environmental chemistry, quantitative methods, and global resources are also required.
The program is predicated on the belief that a student graduating with a B.S. in environmental science should have a firm background in physical and life sciences and a basic understanding of 1) existing environmental policies and regulations and the legislative process of their formation; 2) the major environmental issues including water, global climate, energy, pollution, and population; 3) techniques of environmental monitoring and prediction; and 4) economics and business organization.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For entering freshmen, the only admission requirement is acceptance into the College of Science and Engineering. Transfer students must meet campus and college requirements and are accepted into the program at the level corresponding to credits completed, based on existing transfer manuals and on faculty judgment when courses are not in existing manuals.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
Program Requirements
Required Courses From Other Programs (61 - 63 cr)
Biology
BIOL 1011 - General Biology I
[LE CAT, NAT SCI]
(5.0 cr)
BIOL 1012 - General Biology II
[SUSTAIN]
(5.0 cr)
BIOL 2801 - General Ecology
(3.0 cr)
BIOL 2802 - Ecology Laboratory
(2.0 cr)
Chemistry I
CHEM 1153 - General Chemistry I
[LE CAT, NAT SCI]
(4.0 cr)
CHEM 1154 - General Chemistry Lab I
[LE CAT, NAT SCI]
(1.0 cr)
Chemistry II
Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 2212 - Environmental Chemistry
[NAT SCI, SUSTAIN]
(4.0 cr)
Economics
ECON 1022 - Principles of Economics: Macro
[LE CAT, SOC SCI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ECON 1023 - Principles of Economics: Micro
[LE CAT, SOC SCI]
(3.0 cr)
Geology
EES 1110 - Geology and Earth Systems
[LE CAT, NAT SCI, SUSTAIN]
(4.0 cr)
EES 3100 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
or
GEOG 3401 - Weather and Climate
(3.0 cr)
Math
MATH 1290 - Calculus for the Natural Sciences
[LE CAT2, LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
or
MATH 1296 - Calculus I
[LE CAT, LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
or
MATH 1596 {Inactive}
[LE CAT2, LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
MATH 1297 - Calculus II
[LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
or
MATH 1597 {Inactive}
[LOGIC & QR]
(5.0 cr)
Physics I
PHYS 2013 - General Physics I
[LE CAT, NAT SCI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 2017 - Honors: General Physics I
[NAT SCI]
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 2014 - General Physics Lab I
[NAT SCI]
(1.0 cr)
Statistics
STAT 2411 - Statistical Methods
[LE CAT, LOGIC & QR]
(3.0 cr)
or
STAT 3411 - Engineering Statistics
(3.0 cr)
or
STAT 3611 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics
(4.0 cr)
Writing
WRIT 3150 - Advanced Writing: Science
(3.0 cr)
Water Science Electives (8-11 cr)
Must include three courses, at least one course each from Group A and B. Courses used to satisfy a water science elective may not be used to satisfy a concentration elective. At least one course used to fill the water science electives or the concentration electives must have a laboratory or field component.
Take 3 or more course(s) totaling 8 - 11 credit(s) from the following:
Group A Groundwater
Take 1 - 2 course(s) from the following:
·
GEOL 5240 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 5250 - Hydrogeology
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 4710 - Geochemistry
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 5251 - Well Hydraulics
(3.0 cr)
·
Group B Surface Water
Take 1 - 2 course(s) from the following:
·
BIOL 3760 - Marine Biology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3761 - Field Studies in Marine Biology
(4.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3830 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3835 - Freshwater Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5777 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5805 - Fisheries Ecology and Management
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5833 - Stream Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5861 - Lake Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5869 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5870 - Wetland Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 4446 - Water Processes and Management
(3.0 cr)
·
LIM 5004 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
LIM 5101 - Physical Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
LIM 5102 - Chemical Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
LIM 5103 - Geological Paleolimnology
(3.0 cr)
Concentration Electives (10 cr)
Courses can be distributed among the groups in any combination. Discuss with adviser the benefits of breadth (credits in several concentrations) versus depth (credits in a particular concentration).
Take 10 or more credit(s) from the following:
Climate Processes
Take 0 - 10 credit(s) from the following:
·
GEOG 3422 - Natural Hazards
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 4446 - Water Processes and Management
(3.0 cr)
·
EES 3210 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 5210 - Glacial and Quaternary Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 5220 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
LIM 5103 - Geological Paleolimnology
(3.0 cr)
·
EES 3100 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
or
GEOG 3401 - Weather and Climate
(3.0 cr)
·
Environmental Chemistry
Take 0 - 10 credit(s) from the following:
·
BIOL 5868 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
CHEM 2541 - Organic Chemistry I
(3.0 cr)
·
CHEM 2542 - Organic Chemistry II
(3.0 cr)
·
CHEM 2543 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
(1.0 cr)
·
CHEM 2544 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
(1.0 cr)
·
GEOL 3710 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
EES 4710 - Geochemistry
(4.0 cr)
·
LIM 5102 - Chemical Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
Global Resources
Take 0 - 10 credit(s) from the following:
·
ECON 3721 - Natural Resource and Energy Economics
(3.0 cr)
·
ECON 3777 - Environmental Economics
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3461 - Geography of Global Resources
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 4451 - The Geography of Soils
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 3800 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5240 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 5250 - Hydrogeology
(4.0 cr)
·
EES 4355 - Economic Geology
(4.0 cr)
·
Habitats
Take 0 - 10 credit(s) from the following:
·
BIOL 3760 - Marine Biology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3761 - Field Studies in Marine Biology
(4.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3830 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 4803 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
BIOL 4805 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5777 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5801 - Microbial Ecology
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5802 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5805 - Fisheries Ecology and Management
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5808 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5833 - Stream Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5861 - Lake Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5863 - Ecosystems Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5865 - Conservation Biology
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5869 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 5870 - Wetland Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOL 4839 - Coral Reef Field Studies
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
or
EES 4839 - Coral Reef Geology
[GLOBAL PER]
(3.0 cr)
·
Quantitative Methods
Take 0 - 10 credit(s) from the following:
·
BIOL 5807 - Mathematical Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
CHE 2111 - Material and Energy Balances
(3.0 cr)
·
CHE 2121 - Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
(3.0 cr)
·
CHE 3111 - Fluid Mechanics
(3.0 cr)
·
CHE 5022 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOL 5215 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GIS 3563 - Geographic Information Science I: Theory and Analysis
(4.0 cr)
·
GIS 5572 - Environmental Application of GIS
(4.0 cr)
·
GIS 5581 - Digital Image Processing and Analysis
(4.0 cr)
·
LIM 5004 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
LIM 5101 - Physical Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
MATH 3280 - Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
(4.0 cr)
·
PHYS 5043 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
PHYS 5053 - Data Analysis Methods in Physics
(3.0 cr)
·
PHYS 5541 - Fluid Dynamics
(3.0 cr)
·
STAT 5411 - Analysis of Variance
(3.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BIOL 1011/BIOL 1013 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CHEM 1173/CHEM 1153/CHEM 1161 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CHEM 1174/CHEM 1154 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CHEM 1175/CHEM 1155/CHEM 1162 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CHEM 1176/CHEM 1156 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EES 1110 FST 1409 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math1290/1296/1596 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math1290/1296/1596 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1597/1297 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 8.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | LIM 5101/5001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Lim 5103/5002/EES 5103 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BIOL 4839/EES 4839/FST 4839 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BIOL 4839/EES 4839/FST 4839 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Lim 5103/5002/EES 5103 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 8.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BIOL 5863/EES 5863 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BIOL 4839/EES 4839/FST 4839 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BIOL 4839/EES 4839/FST 4839 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CHE 2211/CHE 2111 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ChE 3111/ME 3111 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | LIM 5101/5001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |