Undergraduate
Student Learning Outcomes
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (B.S.)
Broad Earth Sciences Undergraduate Program Goals
Upon graduating, students with an undergraduate degrees in Geoloy (BS, BA) or Environmental Science (BSES) will:
- gain access to employment in professions of their choosing related to Earth Science, Science Education, and/or Environmental Science (BSG, BAG, BSES).
- gain acceptance to reputable graduate programs in the Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or a program of their choosing (BSG, BSES).
- successfully complete state and/or national professional competency examinations in Earth Sciences (BSG. BAG).
Student Learning Outcomes for BS degree in Environmental Science (BSES)
Students who graduate with a BSES degree will achieve the following objectives:
- Solve environmental science problems using the scientific method and critical thinking.
- Evaluate physical, chemical and biological cycles related to surficial earth processes and how they operate to describe integrated earth systems from a local to global scale.
- Demonstrate competence in communicating environmental science problems to a broad audience through written, oral, and visual means.
- Describe the structure and function of major environmental systems.
- Effectively apply analytical skills, including basic measurement and monitoring skills, and use of appropriate technology.
- Understand current thinking and research on the nature, causes, and solutions of environmental problems as they affect human health and the environment.
- Develop knowledge in advanced disciplines of environmental sciences and evaluate inter-relationships between disciplines.
Specialization leading to an advanced understanding of one of the three component areas that are central to the BSES program:
Earth and Water Resources
- Understand interactions between land, soil, and water and quantitatively assess processes in soils, hydrogeology, and biogeochemistry.
- Describe physical, chemical, and biological interactions and processes affecting soil and water resources.
- Apply advanced analytical techniques related to environmental quality assessments.
Environmental Management
- Apply skills needed to characterize hazards, track the fate and transport of pollutants.
- Identify health and environmental effects of pollutants and plan and manage programs to control environmental hazards.
- Identify and solve problems in solid and hazardous waste, water quality and wastewater treatment, and air quality.
Environmental Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis
- Develop spatial analytical techniques using remote sensing (satellite and airborne sensors), geographic information system (GIS), and global positioning system (GPS) technologies.
- Integrate technologies of remote sensing and spatial analysis to problems of environmental modeling and analysis.
