College Catalog: 2015-2016
School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS): Environmental Science (B.S.)
School of Theoretical and Applied Science Website
The environmental challenges of the 21st century require individuals who understand environmental and scientific complexities and can implement a multi-disciplinary approach to environmental problem-solving at local, regional and global scales. Led by a dynamic group of faculty whose expertise and research interests span a wide range of critical environmental topics (chemical pollution measurement and impacts, paleoecology, forest ecosystems, sustainable use of natural resources, wetland ecology, avian ecology, conservation biology, climate change, and alternative energy systems), the Environmental Science major at Ramapo College provides students with a strong foundation in basic sciences, followed by a specially designed set of advanced courses that help students acquire extensive theoretical and practical knowledge in advanced geology, environmental chemistry, field ecology and research, and climate change. The entire curriculum is heavily experiential in nature, with strong laboratory and field work components in nearly every course, and with ample training in the skills that are essential for launching successful careers in the sciences (research design, statistics, technical writing, critical thinking, computer applications, and oral presentations).
In addition to gaining extensive, hands-on laboratory and field experience through Environmental Science courses, many of which take place in newly renovated laboratories and in the adjacent scenic Highlands region, many students conduct independent research projects with Environmental Science faculty. Students are also encouraged to participate in Co-op Education with organizations such as the Ramapo-directed and staffed Meadowlands Environmental Center (NJMEC), the New Jersey Botanical Garden, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference, and with environmental consulting firms in the region.
Graduates enter a wide range of careers, including environmental testing, ecological field research, environmental education, alternative energy, environmental planning, and with local, state and federal government agencies. The major is structured so that students may continue their studies at the graduate level in a variety of environmentally-related areas. Students who major in Environmental Science and are interested in a career in education can enroll in the college’s Teacher Education program and select relevant course work in consultation with their faculty advisor in preparation for teacher certification.
Outcome 1: Successful students will demonstrate knowledge about environmental principles and applications.
Outcome 2: Successful students will integrate knowledge and skills from different scientific disciplines.
Outcome 3: Successful students will know how to utilize and apply current technologies for environmental data collection and problem solving.
Outcome 4: Successful students will design and conduct original research, analyze and interpret data using statistical and other quantitative methodologies, and present results in poster, written and/or oral format.
Outcome 5: Successful students will acquire and critically evaluate published research.
Outcome 6: Successful students will communicate effectively in a variety of formats, including oral presentations on scientific topics related to the environment, literature review papers from the 100- to 400-level, field and laboratory reports, and informal communications (e.g. press releases).
- Transfer students who have 48 or more credits accepted at the time of transfer are waived from the courses marked with a (W) below. Waivers only apply to General Education Requirements NOT School Core or Major Requirements.
- Double counting between General Education, School Core, and Major may be possible. Check with your advisor to see if any apply.
- Writing Intensive Requirement (six courses): three writing intensive courses in the general education curriculum are required: First Year Seminar, Critical Reading and Writing, and Readings in the Humanities; the other three courses are taken in the major.
- Not all courses are offered each semester. Please check the current Schedule of Classes for semester course offerings.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR
- Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
- GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- INTD 101 - FIRST YEAR SEMINAR [W]
- SELECT ONE – [W] BADM 115 - PERSPECTIVES OF BUSINESS AND SOCIETY OR
- [W] SOSC 101 - SOCIAL ISSUES
- CRWT 102 - CRITICAL READING AND WRITING II
- AIID 201 - READINGS IN THE HUMANITIES [W]
- SELECT ONE – (W) GE-HISTORY CATEGORY: HIST 101-110
- SELECT ONE – GE-MATHEMATICS CATEGORY: MATH 108 OR 121
- SELECT ONE – GE-INTERCULTURAL NORTH AMERICA CATEGORY
- SELECT ONE – GE-INTERNATIONAL ISSUES CATEGORY
- SELECT ONE – (W) GE-TOPICS ARTS AND HUMANITIES CATEGORY OR
- (W) GE-TOPICS SOCIAL SCIENCE CATEGORY
- SCHOOL OF THEORETICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCE REQUIREMENT
- * TAS School Core is fulfilled within the major
- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
- 100 LEVEL CORE REQUIREMENTS:
- BIOL 110 - FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY I: LECTURE AND LAB
- CHEM 110 - FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I: LECTURE AND LAB
- CHEM 112 - FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY II: LECTURE AND LAB
- ENSC 103 - INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
- GEOL 105 - FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY: LEC/LAB (Spring only)
- MATH 121 - CALCULUS I OR
- a third 300 level Environmental elective
- 200 LEVEL CORE REQUIREMENTS:
- ENSC 210 - THEORETICAL AND FIELD ECOLOGY LEC/LAB (Spring only)
- ENSC 290 - TOPICS: TOPICS: SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES (Fall only – typically even-numbered years)
- PHYS 221 - ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS (Fall only – typically odd-numbered years)
- 300 LEVEL CORE REQUIREMENTS:
- ENSC 341 - ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY I (Fall only)
- ENSC 342 - ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY II (Spring only)
- ENSC 345 - RESEARCH DESIGN & STATISTICS (Spring only)
- GEOL 326 - PALEONTOLOGY, PALEOECOLOGY AND PALEOENVIRONMENTS (LECTURE/LAB) (Fall only)
- 400 LEVEL CORE REQUIREMENTS:
- ENSC 416 - ECOLOGICAL FIELD RESEARCH:LEC & LAB (Fall only)
- ENSC 495 - ADV TOPICS IN ENV SCIENCE (capstone seminar; Spring only)
- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ELECTIVES: SELECT TWO
- BIOL 320 - FIELD BOTANY: ANGIOSPERMS
- BIOL 321 - FIELD BOTANY: LECTURE AND LAB
- ENSC 305 - CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
- ENSC 320 - AVIAN ECOLOGY
- ENSC 325 - BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
- ENSC 390 - TOPICS:
- GEOL 327 - GEOLOGY OF NEW JERSEY
- GEOL 333 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
- NURS 411 - ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Note: A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.
- At least 1/2 of the courses fulfilling a minor must be distinct from the student’s major. That is, three of the five courses required for a minor cannot be used towards fulfillment of major requirements. A school core does not need to be completed for a minor. Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MINOR
- Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
- CATEGORY 1: REQUIRED
- ENSC 103 - INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
- GEOL 105 - FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY: LEC/LAB (Spring only)
- CATEGORY 2: SELECT THREE
- BIOL 320 - FIELD BOTANY: ANGIOSPERMS
- ENSC 210 - THEORETICAL AND FIELD ECOLOGY LEC/LAB (Spring only)
- ENSC 290 - TOPICS: SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES (Fall only)
- ENSC 305 - CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
- ENSC 320 - AVIAN ECOLOGY (Fall only)
- ENSC 341 - ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY I (Fall only)
- ENSC 342 - ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY II (Spring only)
- ENSC 345 - RESEARCH DESIGN & STATISTICS (Spring only)
- ENSC 416 - ECOLOGICAL FIELD RESEARCH:LEC & LAB (Fall only)
- ENSC 495 - ADV TOPICS IN ENV SCIENCE (Spring only; capstone seminar)
- GEOL 326 - PALEONTOLOGY, PALEOECOLOGY AND PALEOENVIRONMENTS (LECTURE/LAB) (Fall only)
- GEOL 327 - GEOLOGY OF NEW JERSEY OR
- GEOL 333 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
- NURS 411 - ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
General Education Requirements
Four Year Plan
Graduation Requirements
School of Theoretical and Applied Science Website
Faculty Profiles