The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences 114 courses 126 total credits
This program is designed for students interested in an interdisciplinary scientific perspective on environmental and sustainability issues, analysis, and management. The degree program provides the broad foundation in physical, life, and social sciences needed for a career or graduate study in environmental science and related fields such as climate change, ecology, and conservation. Students who complete the program successfully will be able to assess environmental issues critically from multiple perspectives; to perform field, laboratory, and computer analyses; and to conduct original research. The program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in local, state, and federal government laboratories and nonprofit agencies, environmental consulting firms, environmental education and outreach agencies, and universities and other research settings. The degree is offered by the Natural Sciences with a major in biological sciences, Liberal Arts with a major in geographical sciences, and Geosciences with a major in geosciences. The degree shares common prescribed work, but each major has its own specific requirements. Students must be admitted to the program. All students are first admitted to the University as entry-level majors in Liberal Arts with a major in geographical sciences, Geosciences with a major in geosciences, or Natural Sciences with a major in biological sciences. After completing a minimum of 24 hours in residence, students may select the major that best suits their long-term interests and, if necessary, transfer to the appropriate college or school in accordance with the regulations and procedures set forth in General Information. Students may apply for admission after completing the following requirements: Students must earn a grade of at least C- in BIO 311C, CH 301, and M 408C or M 408N; and a grade of at least B- in GEO 401 or GEO 303. To be competitive for admission, the student must have a grade point average of at least 2.75 in these four courses.
| Additional upper-division laboratory hours (lab hours taken to fulfill the major's physiology, neurobiology, and behavior hours may be counted toward this requirement) | credits |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | credits |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | credits |
| General University Requirements | credits |
Major
Hours chosen from: conservation and environmental biology
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INB 375 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| INB 351 | Economic Botany | 3 |
| MNS 352E | Marine Conservation Biology | 3 |
| MNS 355E | Marine Fisheries Ecology | 3 |
| MNS 356 | Ecosystem Oceanography | 3 |
| MNS 352 | Topics in Principles of Marine Science | 3 |
| BIO 325 or BIO 325H | Genetics or Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| INB 370 | Evolution | 3 |
| Total Major | 3 credits | |
Major
Hours chosen from: taxon/systems-based diversity
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INB 321L | Aquatic Entomology | 3 |
| INB 440L | Biology of Birds | 4 |
| INB 448L | Invertebrate Biology | 4 |
| INB 353F | Field Entomology | 3 |
| INB 453L | Entomology | 4 |
| INB 354L | Ichthyology | 3 |
| INB 455L | Vertebrate Natural History | 4 |
| INB 463L | Plant Systematics | 4 |
| INB 364 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| INB 369F | Field Herpetology | 3 |
| INB 369L | Herpetology | 3 |
| MNS 352C | Estuarine Ecology | 3 |
| MNS 352D | Marine Botany | 3 |
| MNS 354 | Marine Invertebrates | 3 |
| MNS 354C | Biology of Fishes | 3 |
| MNS 354E | Aquatic Microbiology | 3 |
| MNS 354U | Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays | 3 |
| MNS 357 | Marine Phytoplankton Diversity | 3 |
| Total Major | 3 credits | |
Major
Sequence 1
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INB 324 | Survey of the Plant Kingdom | 3 |
| INB 124L | Survey of the Plant Kingdom Laboratory | 1 |
Major
Sequence 2
Major
Hours chosen from: physiology, neurobiology, and behavior
Major
OR the sequence below:
Degree
Introductory Coursework
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 301 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
Degree
Field Experience and Research Methods
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 311 | Field Seminar in Sustainability | 3 |
Degree
Hours chosen from: Environment and Sustainability
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BGS 325 | Social and Ethical Responsibility of Business | 3 |
| BGS 372 | Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility | 3 |
| FIN 372T | Topics in Finance | 3 |
| GRG 309C | Creating the Sustainable Society | 3 |
| GRG 320J | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| GRG 342C | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| GRG 342N | Sustainable Landscapes and Seascapes | 3 |
| GRG 344G | Environmental Law | 3 |
| Total Degree | 3 credits | |
Degree
Hours chosen from: Geographic information systems
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GRG 460G | Environmental Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GRG 462K | Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | 4 |
| GEO 327G | Geographic Information System and Global Positioning System Applications in Earth Sciences | 3 |
| Total Degree | 3 credits | |
Degree
Additional Earth system Hours chosen from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GRG 330W | Water and Watersheds | 3-4 |
| GRG 301K | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| GEO 347D | Global Warming | 3 |
| GEO 370E | Ecohydrology and Biometeorology | 3 |
| GEO 476K | Groundwater Hydrology | 4 |
| GEO 476M | Aqueous Geochemistry | 4 |
| GEO 376S | Physical Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO 377P | Physical Climatology | 3 |
| Total Degree | 3 credits | |
Degree
Liberal Arts and Geosciences majors may select:
Degree
Natural Sciences honors students must select:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SDS 320H | Elements of Statistics: Honors | 3 |
Degree
All majors may select:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| SDS 321 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
Degree
Geological Sciences
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 401 or GEO 403 | Physical Geology or Introduction to Geology | 4 |
Degree
Liberal Arts and Geosciences majors:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MNS 320 | Marine Ecology | 3 |
| MNS 120L | Laboratory Studies in Marine Ecology | 1 |
Degree
Sequence 1
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 271 | Topics in Research Experience | |
| EVS 371 | Topics in Research Experience |
Degree
Sequence 2
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 171 | Topics in Research Experience | 1-4 |
| EVS 471 | Topics in Research Experience |
Degree
Sequence 3
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 172C | Senior Research Proposal in Environmental Science | 1-4 |
| EVS 472D | Senior Research in Environmental Science |
Degree
Sequence 4:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 272C | Senior Research Proposal in Environmental Science | |
| EVS 372D | Senior Research in Environmental Science |
Degree
Sequence 5:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EVS 271 or MNS 270 | Topics in Research Experience or Special Studies in Marine Science |
Degree
All majors:
Degree
Liberal Arts and Geosciences majors only:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| SDS 320H | Elements of Statistics: Honors | 3 |
| SDS 321 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
Degree
Sequence 2
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M 408N | Differential Calculus for Science | 4 |
| M 408S | Integral Calculus for Science | 4 |
Degree
Sequence 1:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3-4 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3-4 |
Degree
Sequence 2: Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | 3-4 |
| CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | 3-4 |
Degree
Sequence 1
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 317K | General Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
Degree
Sequence 2
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
Degree
Sequence 3 Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHY 301 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 101L | Laboratory for Physics 301 | 1 |
Degree
Sequence 1
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
Degree
Sequence 2 Honors (required for honors; credit by exam may not be counted)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 315H | Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | 3 |
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