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Four Year Plan

TAS: Environmental Science (B.S.)


Convener: Faculty:
Eric Wiener Clyde Johnson
Emma Rainforth
Eric Karlin


About the Major

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, wetland ecology, conservation biology, environmental impact assessment, paleoclimate, 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, much of which takes place in the adjacent scenic Highlands region, students are encouraged to conduct independent research projects with environmental science faculty, and to participate in Coop Education and fellowship opportunities with organizations like the Weis Ecology Center, the Ramapo-directed and staffed New Jersey Meadowlands Environmental Center (NJMEC), and with environmental consulting firms in the region.  Graduates enter a wide range of careers, including environmental testing, ecological field research, environmental consulting and impact assessment, 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.  Environmental Science students planning a career in education can also complete a Teacher Certification program in Earth Science offered at Ramapo College.

Requirements of the Major

  1. 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.

  2. Double counting between General Education, School Core, and Major may be possible.  Check with your advisor to see if any apply.
Subject & Course # Title & Course Description
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
INTD 101 [W] FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
ENGL 180 COLLEGE ENGLISH
SELECT ONE  
BADM 115 [W] PERSPECTIVES OF BUSINESS AND SOCIETY OR
SOSC 101 [W] SOCIAL ISSUES
SELECT ONE [W] GE-HISTORY CATEGORY: HIST 101-110
AIID 201 [W] READINGS IN HUMANITIES
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
Satisfied with Environmental Science and Society requirement below
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
100 Level Requirements
BIOL 110 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY I LECTURE/LAB
CHEM 110 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I LECTURE/ LAB
CHEM 112 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY II LECTURE/ LAB
GEOL 105 FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 103 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PHYS 221 ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS
MATH 121 CALCULUS I
200 Level Requirements
ENSC 210 THEORETICAL AND FIELD BIOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
300 Level Requirements
CHEM 323 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 340 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 345 ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN AND STATISTICS
GEOL 326 PALEONTOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
400 Level Requirement
ENSC 405 GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE (capstone seminar)
ENSC 416 ECOLOGICAL FIELD RESEARCH: LECTURE/LAB
Environmental Science and Society Requirement (select one):
ENST 223 ENERGY AND SOCIETY
ENST 305 ECOLOGY, ECONOMICS AND ETHICS
ENST 317 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND REGULATION
Ecology/Field Biology/Natural Resource electives (select two):
BIOL 321 FIELD BOTANY LECTURE/LAB
BIOL 340 ECOLOGY OF SOILS
BIOL 358 MARINE INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 322 EFFICIENT SOLAR DESIGN
ENSC 325 BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
ENSC 327 ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE
ENSC 331 COMPUTER MODELING: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 390 TOPICS:
ENST 313 APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
ENST 314 GEOGRAPHICAL INFO SYSTEMS
ENST 414 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LECTURE/LAB
GEOG 303 WATER RESOURCES
GEOG 304 FOREST RESOURCES
GEOL 327 GEOLOGY OF NEW JERSEY
GEOL 333 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
NURS 411 ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH LECTURE/LAB

Note: A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.

Requirements of the Minor

FULFILL REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH CATEGORY

Subject & Course # Title & Course Description
CATEGORY ONE
ENSC 103 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
GEOL 105 FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
CATEGORY TWO SELECT THREE COURSES FROM THE FOLLOWING
ENSC 210 THEORETICAL AND FIELD BIOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 331 COMPUTER MODELING: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 340 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LECTURE/LAB
ENSC 345 ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN AND STATISTICS
ENSC 405 GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE (capstone seminar)
ENSC 416 ECOLOGICAL FIELD RESEARCH: LECTURE/LAB
GEOL 327 GEOLOGY OF NEW JERSEY OR
GEOL 333 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY LECTURE/LAB
NURS 411 ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH LECTUR/LAB

Note:  A school core is NOT required for completion of the minor.  Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.

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