Undergraduate Degrees

B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy (EVR)

The status of the earth’s environment has been a major concern since the 1960s. As we enter the 21st century, it represents one of the most critical issues facing nearly all nations individually as well as the earth community as a whole. Increased population, technology, globalization and diminishing natural resources all play an important role in the changing environment. As a consequence, governments at all levels are devoting resources to help understand the problems that we are facing and to aid in their mitigation. This includes everything from public education to cleaning up toxic waste sites.

The environmental industry is a growing arena for employment for degree holders at all levels. Students completing the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Environmental Science and Policy have found employment with government agencies (city, county, state, and federal), private industry, and non-profit organizations. Examples of careers include field scientist, research scientist, policy analyst, lobbyist, conservationist, and educator. Some also go on to attend graduate or law school.

The B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy was approved in 1995. This interdisciplinary program spans multiple colleges within the university but is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. All students must complete the University’s General Education Requirements. All majors in the program must complete the required courses including two introductory courses in environmental science and policy, one semester of calculus, 2 semesters each of general biology and general chemistry, environmental ethics, environmental politics and policy, statistics and physical science (either geology or physics). In addition, majors take 6-7 courses that allow them to sub-specialize in science or in policy. Students choosing to sub-specialize in science take a second semester of calculus, 1 semester of organic chemistry and lab, and 4 electives within designated tracks. Students choosing to sub-specialize in policy take environmental law and environmental economics and 4 electives within designated categories. Finally, all majors must complete an upper division seminar and an internship or project. The Department Advisor advises ESP majors. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of "C" is the minimum acceptable grade.

Requirements for the Major in Environmental Science and Policy

Recommended Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)
Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete the A.A. degree at the community college. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education Requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university. If students transfer with fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements. There are no State Mandated Common Prerequisites for this degree program.

The transfer student should also be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.

Students are encouraged to complete the following required supporting major courses prior to entering the university. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C-” is the minimum acceptable grade.
BSC 2010, 2010L & BSC 2011, 2011L
Biology I and II with Lab (8)
and
CHM 2045 & CHM 2045L General Chemistry & Lab (4)
CHM 2046 & CHM 2046L General Chemistry II & Lab (4)
plus
STA 2023 Introductory Statistics (4)
One approved Geology or Physics Course with Lab (4)
and either
MAC 2241 Life Sciences Calculus I (4)
or
MAC 2281 Engineering Calculus I (4)
or
MAC 2311 Calculus I (4)
A second semester of calculus is only required of students pursuing the ESP-Science concentration. Students may choose among:
MAC 2242 Life Sciences Calculus II (4)
or
MAC 2282 Engineering Calculus II (4)
or
MAC 2312 Calculus II (4)
Students who are eligible for an internship must see the internship coordinator six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which they will complete the internship.

Requirements for all Environmental Science Majors

• EVR 2001 Intro to Environmental Science
  EVR 2001L Intro to Environmental Science Lab
  EVR 2861 Intro to Environmental Policy
  EVR 4921 ESP Seminar
  BSC 2010 Biology I
  BSC 2010L Biology Lab I
  BSC 2011 Biology II
  BSC 2011L Biology Lab II
  MAC 2241 Life Sciences Calculus I
  or
  MAC 2281 Engineering Calculus I
  or
  MAC 2311 Calculus I
  CHM 2045 General Chemistry I
  CHM 2045L Chemistry Lab I
  CHM 2046 General Chemistry II
  CHM 2046L Chemistry Lab II
  PUP 4203 Environmental Politics and Policy
  PHI 3640 Environmental Ethics
  EVR 4910 ESP Project
  or
  EVR 4940 ESP Internship
• Statistics
  STA 2023 Introductory Statistics I
  or
  QMB 2100 Business and Economic Statistics
  or
  EGN 3443 Engineering Statistics
• Geology or Physics
  GLY 2010 Dynamic Earth
  GLY 2015L Essentials of Geology Lab
  or
  GLY 2100 Historical Geology
  GLY 2015L Essentials of Geology Lab
  or
  PHY 2048 General Physics
  PHY 2048L General Physics Lab
  or
  PHY 2053 General Physics
  PHY 2053L General Physics Lab

Science Track
MAC 2242 OR MAC 2282 OR MAC 2312 and CHM 2210 and CHM 2210L plus 4 electives from the following tracks: Restoration, Water Quality, Environmental Monitoring or Marine Resources. Please contact the advising office for a current list of electives under these categories.

Policy Track
ECP 3302 and POS 3697
plus four approved policy-related electives.
Please contact the advising office for a current list of electives under this category.

Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Policy

A total of 19-20 credits are required for the minor in Environmental Policy, 12 of which must be completed at USF. The Minor in Environmental Policy consists of the following program outline:

Required core courses:

• EVR 2001 Introduction to Environmental Science
• EVR 2001L Introduction to Environmental Science Lab
• EVR 2861 Introduction to Environmental Policy

Three of the following four courses:

• PUP 4203 Environmental Politics and Policy
• PHI 3640 Environmental Ethics
• ECO 3302 Environmental Economics (prerequisite: ECO 2023 Microeconomics)
• POS 3697 Environmental Law
• Plus on approved policy-related elective. Please contact the department office for a current list of electives under this category.