Environmental Science
The Environmental Science degree at Missouri S&T begins with a first-year seminar taken concurrently with an introductory environmental science course. This paired experience fosters a supportive learning community and establishes student cohorts that encourage collaboration and academic success throughout the program.
Over four years, students develop expertise across five core areas: economics, biology, geology, environmental engineering, and the humanities. The curriculum also builds strong foundations in mathematics, physical sciences, and communication. As students advance, they increasingly integrate concepts across disciplines, developing a comprehensive understanding of environmental science as a dynamic, multidisciplinary field.
During the junior and senior years, students tailor their academic experience by selecting from a broad range of upper division electives within the core areas. The program’s flexible design allows students to pursue focused areas of interest and, if desired, complete minors that complement and strengthen their interdisciplinary training.
Hands-on laboratory and field courses provide opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world environmental challenges. The program culminates in a senior capstone experience that emphasizes professional development, connects students with career pathways, and refines research, analytical, and presentation skills through collaborative, project-based work.The curriculum’s flexibility also supports students transitioning from other majors, enabling timely degree completion.
Degree Program Mission
The Environmental Science program is dedicated to preparing students to address complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary education, scientific inquiry, and applied problem-solving. Grounded in principles of sustainability, geology, ecology, environmental law, and natural resources economics, the program empowers graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and protect natural systems, support responsible resource management, and advocate for sustainable environmental policies. Through experiential learning, student-centered research opportunities, and community engagement, the program fosters ethical leadership, cultural competence, and environmental stewardship in Missouri and the globe.
Excellence in Undergraduate Education includes:
1. Interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates biology, geology, policy, economics, and engineering to provide a holistic understanding of environmental systems
2. Hands-on learning that emphasizes laboratory work, field research, internships, and international perspectives to apply theory to real-world environmental issues
3. Scientific rigor that promotes critical thinking, data analysis, quantitative skills, and scientific methodology in curricula
4. Access to research opportunities via faculty-led or independent projects with opportunities to present and publish findings
5. Technology integration that utilizes modern tools such as GIS, remote sensing, environmental modeling, and data visualization to enhance learning and research
6. Career and graduate readiness preparing students for environmental careers or graduate study through professional development, mentoring, and career services
7. Community and industry engagement through partnerships with local organizations, government agencies and industry for practical experience and community-based learning
8. Supportive learning environments that facilitate high quality education for unique student needs and backgrounds
9. A cultivated awareness of civic, ethical and sustainable practices in environmental management
Environmental Science Degree Program-Specific Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of a B.S. degree in Environmental Science, graduates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate interdisciplinary knowledge and apply foundational knowledge from the biological, chemical, geological, and physical sciences to analyze and solve complex environmental problems
2. Analyze environmental systems by identifying, modeling, and evaluating the components and processes of natural and human-altered environmental systems across spatial and temporal scales
3. Conduct scientific inquiry by designing and executing field, laboratory, and computation investigations to draw evidence-based conclusions relevant to environmental issues
4. Integrate technological tools and appropriately utilize GIS, remote sensing, and data analysis tools to assess environments and propose sustainable solutions
5. Evaluate environmental regulations, laws, ethics and emerging technologies (i.e., artificial intelligence) and their implications for decision-making in science, industry and public policy
6. Communicate environmental concepts, data, and policy clearly and professional in written, oral, and visual forms to both scientific and general audiences
7. Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams by working effectively with teams composed of individuals from multiple disciplines and backgrounds
8. Demonstrate environmental stewardship and civic responsibility by exhibiting a commitment to recognize the societal, cultural, and economic dimensions of environmental issues in Missouri and beyond
9. Describe and evaluate financial considerations associated with environmental decision making.
10. Master core concepts in environmental science (as described below)
Core Concepts in Environmental Science
1. Earth systems and processes: natural cycles, energy flow and matter cycling, climate systems and climate change
2. Ecology and biodiversity conservation: ecosystem structure, function, species interactions and population dynamics, habitat conservation and restoration ecology, biodiversity loss and invasive species management
3. Human-environment interactions: land use change, urbanization, agriculture, resource extraction, sustainability principles, and environmental issues
4. Environmental law, policy, and ethics: major environmental laws, role of agencies, ethical frameworks and stakeholder analysis, science-policy interface and advocacy
5. Research and scientific methodology: hypothesis formulation, experimental design, data interpretation, field and laboratory investigations, research ethics, scholarly communication
6. Quantitative and technological competency: environmental data collection, statistics and modeling, instrumentation, lab and field techniques, GIS and remote sensing
7. Principles of remediation: waste management, pollution control and treatment, sustainable design, life cycle analysis
8. Global and regional environmental contexts: climate change, regional environmental concerns, developed and underdeveloped nations and differences in needs, international environmental treaties and cooperation
9. Collaboration, communication, and leadership: teamwork in interdisciplinary settings, science communication, stakeholder engagement, community-based research, leadership and professional responsibility
10. Economic considerations in environmental decision-making: cost-benefit analysis, trade-offs in sustainable environmental practices, externalities, ecosystem service valuation, market-based instruments including pollution taxes and cap-and-trade systems, discounting and time horizons
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
An Environmental Science degree at Missouri S&T commences with a first-year seminar course that is taken concurrently with an introductory environmental science course, creating familiar student cohorts that can support and motivate one another through the program. Throughout their four years in the program, students are trained in five core areas: economics, biology, geology, environmental engineering, and humanities. In addition, they build foundational skills in mathematics, physical science, and communications. As they progress through the program, students increasingly connect ideas from among and within core areas to build their understanding of the integrated multidisciplinary concepts in environmental science. During their junior and senior years, students will be able to customize their degrees by selecting from a diverse array of elective courses within core areas. The degree’s flexible upper division elective choices also allow students to specialize and earn minors in core areas if they choose to do so.
Students apply the skills they learn in the classroom in hands-on laboratory and field courses. Students will finish their senior year with a capstone course that will be designed to engage them in professional development, connect them to career opportunities, hone their research and presentation skills through hands-on projects, and foster lifelong collegial relationships with their peers and instructors through intensive group work.
This curriculum benefits from a flexible design that allows students who may be transitioning from other programs on campus to complete the program in a timely manner. In addition, the degree creates opportunities for students to complete multiple minors within the degree, adding focus and strength to the interdisciplinary foundation. Students should choose free electives that, along with required courses, fulfill the general education requirements applicable to the student’s catalog year.
| Freshman Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| BIO SCI 1173 | 3 | BIO SCI 1223 | 3 |
| CHEM 1100 | 1 | BIO SCI 1229 | 1 |
| CHEM 1310 | 4 | CHEM 1320 or GEOLOGY 3410 | 3 |
| CHEM 1319 | 1 | ECON 1100 | 3 |
| ENGLISH 1120 | 3 | ENGLISH 1160 | 3 |
| ENV SCI 1110 | 1 | ||
| GEOLOGY 1110 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 13 | ||
| Sophomore Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| ENV ENG 2601 or CIV ENG 2601 | 3 | BIO SCI 2263 | 3 |
| HISTORY 1300 or 1310 | 3 | CIV ENG 5640 or ENV ENG 5640 | 3 |
| MATH 1212 | 4 | ECON 4440 | 3 |
| PHYSICS 1145 or 1135 | 4 | ECON 4540 | 3 |
| POL SCI 1200 | 3 | ENV ENG 2602 or CIV ENG 2602 | 3 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Junior Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| BIO SCI 4313 | 3 | BIO SCI 2223 | 3 |
| GEO ENG 3148 | 3 | ENGLISH 2250 | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5331 | 3 | GEOLOGY 2611, or 2917, or 4721, or 4711 | 3 |
| PHILOS 4665 or 3277 | 3 | HISTORY 4470, or 2510, or 3530, or 3510 | 3 |
| UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVES1 | 3 | PHILOS 4350 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| ENV ENG 5642 or CIV ENG 5642 | 3 | ENV SCI 4028 | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4310, or GEO ENG 5144, or GEOLOGY 4321 | 3 | UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVES1 | 10 |
| STAT 3425 | 4 | ||
| UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVES1 | 6 | ||
| 16 | 13 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
See Upper Division Elective Course List
Upper Division Elective Course List
| BIO SCI 2242 | Cave Biology | 2 |
| BIO SCI 2252 | Vegetation of the Ozarks | 2 |
| BIO SCI 2264 | Field Ecology | 2 |
| BIO SCI 2372 | Issues in Public Health | 3 |
| BIO SCI 2383 | Plant Biology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 2389 | Plant Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO SCI 3363 | Ecophysiology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 3383 | Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 4099 | Undergraduate Research | 1-3 |
| BIO SCI 4316 | Introduction to Geomicrobiology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 4363 | Freshwater Ecology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 4369 | Freshwater Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO SCI 4383 | Toxicology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 4423 | Introduction to Astrobiology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 4563 | Global Ecology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 4663 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIO SCI 5423 | Advanced Biodiversity | 3 |
| BIO SCI 5443 | Population and Conservation Genetics | 3 |
| BIO SCI 5453 | Forest Insect Diversity & Ecology | 2 |
| BIO SCI 5523 | Ichthyology | 3 |
| CHEM 4710 | Principles Of Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5605 | Environmental Systems Modeling | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5630 | Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater and Soil | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5635 | Phytoremediation and Natural Treatment Systems: Science and Design | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5650 | Public Health Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5660 | Introduction To Air Pollution | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5662 | Air Pollution Control Methods | 3 |
| CIV ENG 5665 | Indoor Air Pollution | 3 |
| ECON 3512 | Mining Industry Economics | 3 |
| ECON 4085 | Internship | 0-6 |
| ECON 4641 | Foundations of Sustainability | 3 |
| ECON 4642 | Introduction to Global Eco- and Social-preneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| ECON 4643 | Ethical Problems in a Global Environment | 3 |
| ECON 5644 | Creativity, Innovation, and Sustainability | 3 |
| ECON 5658 | Building Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) | 3 |
| ENV ENG 3615 | Water And Wastewater Engineering | 3 |
| ENV ENG 4010 | Senior Seminar: Engineering In A Global Society | 1 |
| ENV ENG 4099 | Undergraduate Research | 0-6 |
| ENV ENG 4609 | Research in Environmental Engineering | 1 |
| ENV ENG 5605 | Environmental Systems Modeling | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5630 | Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater And Soil | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5635 | Phytoremediation and Natural Treatment Systems: Science and Design | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5650 | Public Health Engineering | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5660 | Introduction To Air Pollution | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5662 | Air Pollution Control Methods | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5665 | Indoor Air Pollution | 3 |
| ENV SCI 3213 | One Health Basics | 3 |
| ENV SCI 4010 | Seminar | 1 |
| ENV SCI 4099 | Undergraduate Research | 0-6 |
| ENV SCI 5425 | Environmental Conservation | 3 |
| GEO ENG 2536 | Basic Weather | 3 |
| GEO ENG 4099 | Undergraduate Research | 0-6 |
| GEO ENG 4276 | Environmental Aspects Of Mining | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5085 | Internship | 0-15 |
| GEO ENG 5146 | Applications Of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5233 | Risk Assessment In Environmental Studies | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5239 | Groundwater Remediation | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5276 | Sustainability in Mining | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5320 | Groundwater Modeling | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5332 | Fundamentals of Groundwater Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO ENG 5556 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 2096 | Field Geology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 2610 | Mineralogy And Crystallography | 4 |
| GEOLOGY 2611 | Physical Mineralogy And Petrology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 2731 | Introduction to Planetary Science | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4085 | Internship | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4099 | Undergraduate Research | 0-6 |
| GEOLOGY 4310 | Remote Sensing Technology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4321 | Drone Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4411 | Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4431 | Methods Of Karst Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4630 | Systematic Paleontology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4711 | Paleoclimatology and Paleoecology | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4721 | Climate Change and Society | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4821 | Applications Of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 4841 | Geological Field Studies | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 5681 | Lidar Principles and Application | 3 |
| GEOLOGY 5741 | Micropaleontology | 3 |
| HISTORY 2110 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| MIN ENG 5742 | Sustainability in Mining | 3 |
| PHILOS 3277 | Wilderness and Its Critics | 3 |
| POL SCI 3300 | Principles Of Public Policy | 3 |
| POL SCI 4085 | Political Science Internship | 0-6 |
| POL SCI 4320 | The Politics of Innovation | 3 |
Secondary Education Emphasis Area
You may earn a BS degree in environmental science from Missouri S&T and certification to teach at the secondary level in the schools of Missouri with this emphasis area. This program is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. License reciprocity determinations outside of Missouri can be found at https://teaching.missouri.edu/student/state-authorization/mst/licensure. This program can be completed in four academic years, and student teaching is arranged with public schools anywhere in the state. Students interested in this emphasis area should consult with the advisor for environmental science.
In order to successfully complete the emphasis area, students must attain at least a 2.5 GPA for all environmental science courses and a 3.0 education GPA required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for teacher certification. Courses must fulfill the Missouri S&T general education requirements applicable to the student’s catalog year.
Students must also meet all requirements listed under the teacher education website including passing the state-required assessments.
A degree in the emphasis area requires a minimum of 127-128 credit hours. The required courses are provided below.
| Humanities: 15 semester hours | ||
| ENGLISH 1120 | Exposition And Argumentation | 3 |
| ENGLISH 1160 | Writing And Research | 3 |
| or ENGLISH 3560 | Technical Writing | |
| ENGLISH 2250 | American Short Story | 3 |
| PHILOS 3277 | Wilderness and Its Critics | 3 |
| PHILOS 4350 | Environmental Ethics and Justice | 3 |
| Social Sciences: 18 semester hours | ||
| ECON 1100 | Principles Of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 4440 | Environmental And Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| HISTORY 1310 | American History Since 1877 | 3 |
| HISTORY 2510 | History of Technology | 3 |
| or HISTORY 3510 | Twentieth Century Technology And Society | |
| or HISTORY 3530 | History of Science | |
| PSYCH 1101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 3310 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Mathematics/Statistics/Physical Science: 15-16 semester hours | ||
| MATH 1212 | Survey of Calculus | 4 |
| or MATH 1214 | Calculus I | |
| PHYSICS 1145 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or PHYSICS 1135 | Engineering Physics I | |
| PHYSICS 1505 & PHYSICS 1509 | Introductory Astronomy and Astronomy Laboratory | 4 |
| STAT 3425 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3-4 |
| or STAT 3113 | Applied Engineering Statistics | |
| or STAT 3115 | Engineering Statistics | |
| Biological Sciences: 10 semester hours | ||
| BIO SCI 1223 | Biodiversity | 3 |
| BIO SCI 1229 | Biodiversity Lab | 1 |
| BIO SCI 2223 | General Genetics | 3 |
| BIO SCI 2263 | Ecology | 3 |
| Chemistry: 9 semester hours | ||
| CHEM 1100 | Introduction To Laboratory Safety & Hazardous Materials | 1 |
| CHEM 1310 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1319 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1320 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| or GEOLOGY 3410 | Introduction To Geochemistry | |
| Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering: 9 semester hours | ||
| ENV ENG 2601 | Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering and Science | 3 |
| ENV ENG 2602 | Biological Fundamentals Of Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| ENV ENG 5640 | Environmental Law And Regulations | 3 |
| or ENV ENG 5642 | Sustainability, Population, Energy, Water, and Materials | |
| Environmental Science: 4 semester hour | ||
| ENV SCI 1110 | Terra Incognita | 1 |
| ENV SCI 1173 | Introduction to Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| Geological Sciences/Geological and Petroleum Engineering: 9 semester hours | ||
| GEO ENG 2536 | Basic Weather | 3 |
| or GEOLOGY 4721 | Climate Change and Society | |
| or GEOLOGY 2917 | Climate Change and Society | |
| GEO ENG 3148 | Fundamentals Of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| or GEOLOGY 4310 | Remote Sensing Technology | |
| or GEOLOGY 4321 | Drone Mapping and Photogrammetry | |
| GEOLOGY 1110 | Physical and Environmental Geology | 3 |
| Education: 38 semester hours | ||
| EDUC 1074 | Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| EDUC 1104 | Teacher Field Experience I | 1 |
| EDUC 1164 | Teacher Field Experience II | 2 |
| EDUC 3170 | Teaching Reading and Writing in Middle/High School | 3 |
| EDUC 3216 | Literacy in the Content Area | 3 |
| EDUC 3280 | Instructional Strategies in the Content Area | 3 |
| EDUC 3298 | Teacher Field Experience III | 1 |
| EDUC 3340 | Assessment of Student Learning | 3 |
| EDUC 4298 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 4299 | Student Teaching | 12 |
| PSYCH 2300 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| or EDUC 2102 | Educational Psychology | |
| PSYCH 4310 | Psychology Of The Exceptional Child | 3 |
| or EDUC 2310 | Education Of The Exceptional Child | |
ENV SCI 1001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)
This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course.
ENV SCI 1110 Environmental Science Freshman Seminar (RSD 1.0)
An introduction to the study of environmental science at Missouri S&T. Students will become acquainted with faculty, facilities, and resources associated with the environmental science program at S&T. Students will also consider opportunities for personal and professional development in environmental sciences. Prerequisites: Environmental Science majors only.
ENV SCI 1173 Introduction to Environmental Sciences (LEC 3.0)
An introduction to environmental science, with an emphasis on biological aspects of current environmental problems. Topics range from chemical toxicity to global climate change. Environmental challenges facing local species and ecosystems will be emphasized. (Co-listed with Bio Sci 1173).
ENV SCI 1173 - MOTR BIOL 100: Essentials in Biology
ENV SCI 2001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)
This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course.
ENV SCI 3001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)
This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course.
ENV SCI 3213 One Health Basics (LEC 3.0)
One Health is based on the knowledge that the health of people is interlinked with the health of animals and the environment. In this course, we will explore these interconnections and common One Health issues such as illness spillover events, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, and the impacts that contaminated water have on animals and people. Prerequisites: Bio Sci 1223. (Co-listed with Bio Sci 3213).
ENV SCI 4000 Special Problems (IND 0.0-6.0)
Problems or readings on specific subjects or projects in the program. Consent of instructor required.
ENV SCI 4001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)
This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course.
ENV SCI 4002 Cooperative Environmental Scientist Training (IND 0.0-6.0)
On-the-job experience gained through cooperative education with industry, with credit arranged through departmental cooperative advisor. Grade received depends on quality of reports submitted and work supervisor's evaluation.
ENV SCI 4010 Seminar (RSD 1.0)
Students will work in groups to propose, research, develop, complete, and present service-learning projects that are related to the environmental sciences. Prerequisites: Senior Standing.
ENV SCI 4028 Environmental Science Senior Capstone (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0)
This course challenges students to solve real-world environmental problems in a hands-on capacity. Students will learn environmental monitoring techniques and environmental reporting, and engage in professional development. This course fulfills experiential learning requirements through an industry-engaged project. Prerequisites: Senior standing. Environmental Science majors only.
ENV SCI 4099 Undergraduate Research (IND 0.0-6.0)
Designed for the undergraduate student who wishes to engage in research. Not for graduate credit. Not more than six credit hours for graduation credit. Subject and credit to be arranged with the instructor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
ENV SCI 5001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)
This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course.
ENV SCI 5425 Environmental Conservation (LEC 3.0)
The course explores the ecological knowledge needed for wildlife conservation, including how species behavior and ecology ultimately shape wildlife populations. Traditional wildlife management topics will be included, along with an added emphasis on ethological implications that affect biological diversity. In addition, human behavior and its impact on wildlife populations and diversity will be studied through hands-on experience, field observation, case studies, scientific literature, and assigned readings. This course is taught as part of a 3 week faculty-led South Africa study abroad program. (co-listed with Bio Sci 5425).