Program: Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability, BS (ENVR-ENVS) - Abilene Christian University

2022-2023 Catalog With Addendum

Apr 02, 2025

BS: Environmental Science Degree Plan (ENVR)

The purpose of this degree is to fulfill the educational needs of students who are preparing for careers in natural resource management. As the national consciousness of the finite nature of natural resources has increased, the extraction industries, agriculture and manufacturers in general have been required to change the way they handle natural resources. Interactions between companies that consume natural resources and regulations governing the conservation of these resources have led to the creation of new disciplines and new career opportunities. Graduate schools in colleges of agriculture as well as in colleges of arts and sciences offer degrees and graduate assistantships in a multitude of environmental areas. The emergence of new jobs in natural resource management indicates the opportunities for graduates in environmental science.

University Requirements

Please see the University Requirements section of this catalog.

Major Requirements

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Core

AENV 110 - Introduction to Agricultural and Environmental Systems and Technology Credit Hours: 3
AGRB 261 - Principles of Agricultural and Applied Economics Credit Hours: 3 *
ANSC 111 - General Animal Science Credit Hours: 3
ENVR 112 - Plant Science Credit Hours: 3
ENVR 233 - Soil Science Credit Hours: 3
*Hours may also fulfill university requirements and are not included in total major hours

Total: 12 Credit Hours

Experiential Learning

Students are required to complete an experiential learning component.

Choose one option from the list below:

AENV 381 - International Applications in Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 3
AENV 384 - Internship in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 3
AENV 399 - Research in Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 3 *
* AENV 399 is offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours. A total of 3 credit hours must be taken to meet the experiential learning requirement. The course may be repeated for up to 3 credit hours.

Total: 3 Credit Hours

Environmental Science Core

AENV 371 - Experimental Designs and Data Analysis Credit Hours: 3
ENVR 241 - Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
ENVR 341 - Water Resources Credit Hours: 3
or
ENVR 354 - Range Science Credit Hours: 3
ENVR 345 - Range and Wildland Plants Credit Hours: 2
ENVR 346 - Range and Wildland Plants Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
ENVR 350 - Rangeland Ecology Credit Hours: 3
ENVR 410 - Environmental Law and Policy Credit Hours: 3 (capstone course)
ENVR 420 - Environmental Thought Credit Hours: 3 (capstone and writing-intensive course)

Total: 21 Credit Hours

Total: 36 Credit Hours

Environmental Sustainability (ENVS)

ENVR 320 - Energy Resources Credit Hours: 3
Advanced selections (300-499) from AENV or ENVR Credit Hours: 6

Choose a minimum of 15 hours from the following:

CHEM 112 - Introductory Organic and Biological Chemistry Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 114 - Introductory Organic and Biological Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 131 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 132 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 134 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 221 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 223 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 322 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 324 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 341 - Environmental Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
POLS 341 - American Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
POLS 345 - Comparative Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
POLS 360 - Politics of Developing Countries Credit Hours: 3
POLS 395 - Public Administration Credit Hours: 3
POLS 492 - American Political Thought Credit Hours: 3
POLS 494 - Public Administration Management Credit Hours: 3

Track Total: 24 Credit Hours

Supplement for Major

Social Science

Choose 3 hours from the following menu:

POLS 225 - National Government Credit Hours: 3 *
POLS 226 - States and Federal System Credit Hours: 3 *
POLS 227 - Introduction to International Relations Credit Hours: 3 *
*Hours may also fulfill university requirements and are not included in total major hours

English

ENGL 327 - Scientific and Technical Writing Credit Hours: 3

Mathematics

MATH 123 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hours: 3 *
or
MATH 377 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 *
*Hours may also fulfill university requirements and are not included in total major hours

Science Core

BIOL 121 - Introductory Biology I Credit Hours: 3 *
BIOL 122 - Introductory Biology I Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 123 - Introductory Biology II Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 124 - Introductory Biology II Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 113 - Introductory Chemistry Credit Hours: 3 *
or
CHEM 133 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3 *
*Hours may also fulfill university requirements and are not included in total major hours

Total Supplement Hours: 8

Electives

Minimum - 4 Credit Hours

Total Major Hours: 72

Other Graduation Requirements

Minimum GPA for graduation: 2.00
Minimum advanced hours: 33
Minimum total hours: 128

Courses numbered 0** do not count in minimum hours required for degree.