Program Overview

Environmental Science has emerged as one of the fastest growing career fields and its importance becomes ever more apparent with the rapid environmental changes occurring world-wide in the twenty-first century. It is an interdisciplinary science that relies on knowledge and techniques synthesized from the disciplines of Geology, Biology, Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics. Environmental scientists seek to solve complex human caused environmental problems associated with air and water pollution, natural habitat loss and degradation, and global change and as such their research has the potential to influence the future sustainability of our planet. As these issues grow in importance, the demand for these inter-disciplinary scientists, trained to understand and solve complex environmental problems and their consequences, will only continue to grow. The Environmental Science program at Columbus State University is structured to train scientists to address the existing challenges and those yet realized in the future. Columbus State University's Environmental Sciences program is the only one in Georgia that offers this breadth of background. The program is designed to educate a new generation of interdisciplinary Environmental Scientists who will have the knowledge and experiences need to solve the increasingly complex and multi-faceted environmental issues.

Career Opportunities

Program of Study

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core IMPACTS Area : Institutional Priorities		7
Take the following courses
PERS 1506	Perspectives 1-hour
RIVR 1101	Taking the Plunge
RIVR 2101	Navigating Deeper Waters
Core IMPACTS Area : Mathematics & Quantitative Skills 1		3-7
DATA 1501	Introduction to Data Science	3
MATH 1001	Quantitative Skills and Reasoning	3
MATH 1101	Introduction to Mathematical Modeling	3
MATH 1111	College Algebra	3
MATH 1113	Pre-Calculus	4
MATH 1125	Applied Calculus	3
MATH 1131	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	4
MATH 1132	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	4
MATH 1165	Computer-Assisted Problem Solving	3
MATH 1401	Introduction to Statistics	3
MATH 1501	Calculus I	4
MATH 2125	Introduction to Discrete Mathematics	3
STAT 1401	Elementary Statistics	3
Core IMPACTS Area : Political Science and U.S. History		6
HIST 2111	U. S. History to 1865	3
or HIST 2112	U. S. History since 1865
POLS 1101	American Government	3
Core IMPACTS Area : Arts, Humanities, and Ethics		6
Select one Fine Arts course		3
ARTH 1100	Art Appreciation
ARTH 2125	Introduction to the History of Art I– Prehistoric through Gothic
ARTH 2126	Introduction to the History of Art II– Renaissance through Modern
MUSC 1100	Music Appreciation
THEA 1100	Theatre Appreciation
ITDS 1145	Comparative Arts 1
Select one Humanities course		3
ENGL 2111	World Literature I
ENGL 2112	World Literature II
ITDS 1155	The Western Intellectual Tradition
ITDS 1774	Introduction to Digital Humanities
PHIL 2010	Introduction to Philosophy
ITDS 1145	Comparative Arts 1
Core IMPACTS Area : Communicating in Writing		6
ENGL 1101	English Composition I	3
ENGL 1102	English Composition II	3
Core IMPACTS Area : Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences 2		7-11
ANTH 1145	Human Origins	3
ASTR 1105	Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System	3
ASTR 1106	Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies	3
ASTR 1305	Descriptive Astronomy Lab	1
ATSC 1112	Understanding the Weather	3
ATSC 1112L	Understanding the Weather Lab	1
BIOL 1125	Contemporary Issues in Biology Non-Lab	3
BIOL 1215K	Introductory Biology	4
BIOL 1225K	Contemporary Issues in Biology with Lab	4
CHEM 1151 & 1151L	Survey of Chemistry I and Survey of Chemistry I Lab	4
CHEM 1152 & 1152L	Survey of Chemistry II and Survey of Chemistry II Lab	4
CHEM 1211 & 1211L	Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Lab	4
CHEM 1212 & 1212L	Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab	4
CPSC 1105	Introduction to Computing Principles and Technology	3
CPSC 1301K	Computer Science I	4
ENVS 1105	Environmental Studies	3
ENVS 1105L	Environmental Studies Laboratory	1
ENVS 1205K	Sustainability and the Environment	4
GEOG 2215	Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems	3
GEOL 1110	Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment	3
GEOL 1121	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology	3
GEOL 1121L	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology Lab	1
GEOL 1122	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology	3
GEOL 1322	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology Lab	1
GEOL 2225	The Fossil Record	4
PHYS 1111 & PHYS 1311	Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics I Lab	4
PHYS 1112 & PHYS 1312	Introductory Physics II and Introductory Physics II Lab	4
PHYS 1125	Physics of Color and Sound	3
PHYS 1325	Physics of Color and Sound Lab	1
PHYS 2211 & PHYS 2311	Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics I Lab	4
PHYS 2212 & PHYS 2312	Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics II Lab	4
Core IMPACTS Area : Social Sciences		3
Select one course
ECON 2105	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2106	Principles of Microeconomics
PHIL 2030	Moral Philosophy
PSYC 1101	Introduction to General Psychology
SOCI 1101	Introduction to Sociology
ANTH 1107	Discovering Archaeology
ANTH 1105	Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 2105	Ancient World Civilizations
ANTH 2136	Language and Culture
ENGL 2136	Language and Culture
GEOG 1101	World Regional Geography
HIST 1111	World History to 1500
HIST 1112	World History since 1500
ITDS 1156	Understanding Non-Western Cultures
Core IMPACTS Total Hours		42

¹

ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both Fine Arts and Humanities, may be taken only once. 

²

At least 4 of the credit hours in this area must be in a lab science course.

¹

Up to 3 can be added from Areas A, B and/or D with advisor approval.

²

Courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be taken for graduate credit.

BS and MS Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Requirements
Complete the core requirements for this program		42
Core Total		42
Field of Study Requirements
Minimum grade of C is required
GEOL 1121	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology	3
GEOL 1121L	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology Lab	1
Select one of the following sequences:		8
Sequence 1:
PHYS 1111	Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1112	Introductory Physics II
PHYS 1311	Introductory Physics I Lab
PHYS 1312	Introductory Physics II Lab
Sequence 2:
PHYS 2211	Principles of Physics I
PHYS 2212	Principles of Physics II
PHYS 2311	Principles of Physics I Lab
PHYS 2312	Principles of Physics II Lab
Select 3 or more credits from the following:		3
ASTR 1105	Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
ASTR 1305	Descriptive Astronomy Lab
ASTR 1106	Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies
BIOL 1215K	Introductory Biology
ENVS 1105	Environmental Studies
ENVS 1205K	Sustainability and the Environment
GEOL 1110	Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment
Field of Study Requirements Total		15
Take 3 hours of department-approved electives		3
Required for the Major
Minimum grade of C is required
BIOL 3217K	Ecology	4
CHEM 2115	Quantitative Chemical Analysis	3
CHEM 2315	Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lab	1
ENVS 3105	Foundations of Environmental Science	4
ENVS 5405U	Topics in Conservation (credits above 3 will count in Major Electives)	3-5
ENVS 5206U	Water Resources Management	4
GEOG 2215	Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems	3
ATSC 5117U	Global and Climate Change	3
GEOL 5255U	Environmental Geology	4
STAT 1401	Elementary Statistics	3
Take one of the following:
ENVS 5125U	Human Ecology	3
or ENVS 5226U	Culture and Environment
Required for the Major Total		38
Major Electives
Major Electives Undergraduate Required Hours		15
Any 3000+ BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, or GEOL course.
With advisor approval, any 3000+ ANTH or GEOG course
Combined Requirements:		9
Any Group B course from Area 2 of the graduate program, or with advisor approval, any 5000G+ ANTH, BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, GEOG, or GEOL course.
Master's Degree Coursework: 36 hours
Area 1 Graduate Program Core Required Hours		3
ENGL 5149G	Grant Writing
Area 2 Program Electives Required Hours:		21-22
Group A: Take the following course
ENVS 5207G	Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
ENVS 5715G	Earth and Space Sciences Seminar
ENVS 5235G	Geographic Information and Global Positioning Systems
Group B: Take one of the following. Courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be taken for graduate credit
ANTH 5125G	Human Ecology
ENVS 5165G	Hydrology
ENVS 5226G	Culture and Environment
ENVS 5315G	Stream Ecology
ENVS 5405G	Topics in Conservation
ENVS 5235G	Geographic Information and Global Positioning Systems
GEOL 5135G	Oceanography
GEOL 5215G	Geomorphology
*Add 9 hours from Major Electives Area 2
Area 3: Program Requirements:		11-12
Thesis Required Hours:
ENVS 7000	Thesis Defense
ENVS 7999	Research in Environmental Science
Total Hours Required: 159

Admission Requirements

Additional Program Requirements