UAS Academic CatalogEnvironmental Resources, B.S.
Juneau
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources integrates and synthesizes courses in environmental science, climate change, physical and biological sciences, geographic information sciences, and human-environment interactions. This degree provides students with an interdisciplinary background in geospatial science and Earth system processes and prepares students for science-based careers in environmental research, management, and consulting as well as graduate studies in related fields of geography and environmental science. Senior practicum courses serve as integrating capstone experiences that enable students to apply what they have learned in real-world settings.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the program after declaring an Environmental Resources major and will then be assigned an academic advisor. Students should consult with their advisor for course selection and sequencing.
Candidates must complete all UAS General Education Requirements (GERs), the Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement, and the specific program requirements listed below for a minimum of 120 credit hours. Major requirements can be used to satisfy the Lab Natural Science, Non-lab Natural Science, and Math GERs. 42 of the 120 credit hours must be at the upper-division level (300 or above), of which 24 must be completed at UAS.
| Minimum Credit Hours | 120 |
| General Education Requirements | 36 |
| Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement | 3 |
| Program on the Environment Core | 9 |
| Major Requirements | 23 |
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | 6 |
| Human Environment | 6 |
| Environmental Processes | 14 |
| Quantitative and Geographic Analysis | 8 |
| Electives | 30 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Complete all General Education Requirements. The Lab Natural Science, Non-lab Natural Science, and Math GERs are satisfied by degree requirements. | 36 | |
| Program on the Environment Core | ||
| ENVI S120 | *Cultures and Environments | 3 |
| ENVS S102 | *Earth and Environment (satisfies Lab Science GER) | 4 |
| Select at least two credits of capstone experience: | ||
| Environmental Science Internship | ||
| Environmental Careers Seminar | ||
| Research in Environmental Science | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| ENVI S313 | Sustainable Resource Management | 3 |
| ENVS S338 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 3 |
| ENVS S375 | Current Topics in Earth and Ecosystem Research 1 | 2 |
| GEOL S320 | Mineral, Energy, and Renewable Resources | 3 |
| MATH S251 | *Calculus I | 4 |
| One of the following Science sequences: | 8 | |
| *Fundamentals of Biology I and *Fundamentals of Biology II | ||
| *General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory and *General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| *College Physics I and *College Physics II | ||
| *General Physics I and *General Physics II | ||
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| ANS S320 | AK Native Ecological Knowledge | 3 |
| ENVI S350 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change | 3 |
| ENVS S475 | Field Studies in Environmental Science | 1-4 |
| HUM S372 | Salmon, Sport, and Society | 3 |
| ODS S372 | Mountain Studies: Philosophy, Literature, and Practice | 4 |
| ODS S373 | Ocean Studies: Images of the Environment | 4 |
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Human Environment | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| ANTH S312 | Culture and Ecology | 3 |
| ENGL S303 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVI S360 | Alaska: A Contested Geography | 3 |
| GEOG S390 | Critical Geography | 3 |
| PHIL S371 | Perspectives on the Natural World | 3 |
| PS S458 | Comparative Environmental Politics | 3 |
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Environmental Processes | ||
| Select 14 credits of the following: | 14 | |
| BIOL S271 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL S373 | Conservation Biology | 4 |
| BIOL S480 | Aquatic Pollution | 3 |
| CHEM S350 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| ENVI S210 | Temperate Rainforest Ecosystems | 3 |
| ENVS S302 | Glaciology | 3 |
| ENVS S380 | Natural Disasters | 3 |
| ENVS S407 | Snow Hydrology | 4 |
| ENVS S414 | Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| ENVS S416 | Biogeography and Landscape Ecology | 4 |
| ENVS S422 | Earth's Climate System | 3 |
| GEOL S301 | Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEOL S302 | Hydrology | 4 |
| Quantitative and Geographic Analysis | ||
| Select eight credits of the following: | 8 | |
| ENVS S111 | Introduction to Differential GPS | 1 |
| ENVS S309 | Mobile GIS Technology and Applications | 2 |
| ENVS S406 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| ENVS S410 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| MATH S460 | Mathematical Modeling | 3 |
| STAT S200 | *Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| STAT S401 | Regression and Analysis of Variance | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| To include upper division courses as needed to meet 42 upper division credits required for degree. | 30 | |
Students in the Environmental Resources program can:
1. Describe the fundamental Earth system components, their organization, and how they interrelate.
2. Collect and quantitatively analyze environmental data.
3. Convey technical concepts in environmental science to other scientists and the public.
4. Explain how environmental science is incorporated into different professional fields.
5. Relate environmental science to broader societal issues and solutions.
6. Conduct research in an environmental field and/or provide support for environmental resource management.