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Division of Environmental Science

Kenneth W. Farrish, Director

108 Forestry Laboratory
(936) 468-2475
Fax: (936) 468-2489
kfarrish@sfasu.edu
environmental.sfasu.edu

Interdisciplinary Faculty

Professors
Kenneth W. Farrish, Volker W. Gobel, David L. Kulhavy, Ernest B. Ledger Jr, Brian P. Oswald, Hans M. Williams, J. Leon Young

Associate Professors
Chris A. Barker, Dean W. Coble, Alex S. Frantzen, Florence Elliott-Howard, Alexander Y. Karatayev, Daniel R. Unger, James E. Van Kley, Stephen C. Wagner

Assistant Professors
Christopher Comer, I-Kuai Hung, Matthew W. McBroom, David R. Ownby, Daniel G. Scognamillo

Areas of Study & Degrees
B.S. Environmental Science
Tracks:

Objectives

The Division of Environmental Science is a collaborative unit of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture and the College of Sciences and Mathematics. The objectives of the Division of Environmental Science are:

  1. To provide superior education programs in environmental science that produce graduates capable of understanding and addressing the complex environmental problems facing modern society.
  2. To conduct research directed at developing understanding of and finding solutions to environmental problems, particularly those of rural locations.
  3. To provide outreach and service in environmental science.

Student Organizations

The primary student organization for environmental science students is the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). The NAEP chapter provides students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, network with practicing professionals and engage in social activities.

Definition of the Major

The Bachelor of Science degree program in environmental science requires 130 semester credit hours of course work. The degree program requires completion of:

  1. The University General Education Core designed to provide broad education in the arts, mathematics, and social and natural sciences.
    ENG 131 Composition: Rhetoric & Argument (3)
    ENG 132 Composition and Rhetoric: Critical & Analytical (3)
    CHE 133 General Chemistry I (4)
    CHE 134 General Chemistry II (4)
    ECO 232 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
    HIS 133 & 134 U.S. History (6)
    MTH 138 & 220    College Algebra/Statistics  
    -or-
    MTH 143 & 144 Finite Math/ Elements of Calculus (6)
    PSC 141 & 142 Introduction to American Government (6)
    Humanities: ART, MUS, THR, DAN* (3)
    Humanities: Literature* (3)
      Communications* (6-8)
    Total:   47-49
    *See University Core Curriculum Requirements
  2. The environmental science core is designed to provide additional basic science foundation and applied environmental science knowledge and skills.
    BIO 131 Introductory Botany (4)
    BIO 133 Introductory Zoology (4)
    BIO 313 General Ecology (or ENV 209 Forest Ecology) (3)
    BLW 478 Environmental Regulatory Law (3)
    CHE 330 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (4)
    ECO 361 Environmental Economics (3)
    ENV 110    Introduction to Environmental Science (4)
    ENV 210 Environmental Measurements (3)
    ENV 349 Environmental Soil Science (3)
    ENV 402 Wetland Delineation & Function (3)
    ENV 412 Environmental Hydrology (3)
    ENV 415 Environmental Assessment & Management (4)
    ENV 420 Landscape Ecology & Planning (3)
    ENV 470 Senior Seminar (1)
    FOR 457 Environmental Attitudes & Issues(or ENV 348 Natural Resources Policy) (3)
    GIS 224 Introduction to Spatial Science (3)
    GIS 390 GIS in Natural Resources (3)
    Total:   54
  3. Student must complete one of two environmental science tracks:
    Land and Water Resources
    BIO 309 Microbiology (4)
    BIO 450 Limnology (4)
    CHE 231 Quantitative Analysis (4)
    CHE 429 Environmental Chemistry (4)
    GOL 131 Introductory Geology (4)
    PLS 420 Agricultural Waste Management (3)
    Approved Electives # (3)
    Free Electives ## (1-3)

    Environmental Planning and Management**
    GEO 130 Physical Geography (3)
    GEO 310 Spatial Economic Behavior (3)
    MGT 370 Management Principles (3)
    MGT 373 Human Resource Management (3)
    Approved Electives # (12)
    Free Electives ## (3-5)
      Total semester hours required for degree = 130

**Requires the student to complete a minor or second major in biology, business, chemistry, communications, forestry, geography, or geology. Student must use approved electives to complete the selected minor.
# Approved Electives: Adv. Level (300-400) courses selected with approval of adviser.
## Free Electives: Courses selected from any discipline offered in the university. Adviser’s recommendation is encouraged.

Second Major or Minor in Environmental Science

A second major in environmental science requires completion of the entire environmental science core. A minor in environmental science requires completion of ENV 110 plus 15 additional semester hours of environmental science (ENV) courses. At least six semester hours must be at the advanced (300-400) level.

Graduate Degree Programs

The Division of Environmental Science offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in environmental science. The 36 semester hour curriculum is a collaborative program with the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. Students select from two tracks of study. The occupational and environmental health track focuses on environmental concerns related to human health. The land and water resources track focuses on protection and management of natural ecosystems.

Degree Plan and Final Graduation Plan

Prior to the end of the sophomore year, students must select a degree program and prepare a degree plan. The student should see the director of the division or the student services coordinator in the ATCOFA for assistance in preparation of the degree plan. A final degree plan must be filed prior to pre-registration for the semester in which graduation is expected.

Course Information

Courses are offered in the semesters indicated. Except for courses numbered 460 and 463, all undergraduate courses must have a minimum of 10 students to be taught.

Courses in Environmental Science (ENV)

110.   

Introduction to Environmental Science (ENVR 1401) – Four semester hours, three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Introduction to the multidisciplinary study of the environment using the scientific method. Course fee required.

209.

Forest Ecology - (FORE 2309) – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Climatic, edaphic and biotic factors and their relationship to woody plant growth and development. Required field trips. Prerequisite: BIO 131. Course fee required.

210.

Environmental Measurements – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Introduction to sampling and measuring biological, chemical, and physical parameters of atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial systems. Prerequisite ENV 110. Course fee required.

348.

Natural Resource Policy – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Forest history and natural resource policy in the United States including effects of the environmental movement. Spring only.

349.

Environmental Soil Science – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. Role of soils in environmental quality, biogeochemical cycles and management concerns. Prerequisite: CHE 134. Course fee required. Fall only.

402.

Wetland Delineation and Function – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Introduction to the history, regulations and current technical criteria for the identification and delineation of wetland boundaries and the functional assessment of wetlands. Prerequisite: ENV 349. Course fee required. Spring only, odd years.

403.

Remediation and Reclamation of Disturbed Land – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Remediation and reclamation of contaminated or disturbed lands. Required field trips including two all day trips. Prerequisite: ENV/FOR 349, AGN 331 or permission of instructor. Course fee required. Spring only, odd years.

405.

Environmental Communication and Interpretation – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Overview of the field of natural resource communication and interpretation. Of particular interest to those whose careers require public interaction. Fall only.

412.

Environmental Hydrology – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Study of the physical environment of agricultural and forested land, fundamental physics, biological significance, instruments, and monitoring techniques. Required field trips. Prerequisite: ENV 349. Course fee required. Fall only.

415.

Environmental Assessment and Management – Four semester hours, three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Environmental planning in the U. S. with reference to the principles and procedures for preparing environmental assessments and impact statements. Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission of instructor. Course fee required. Fall only.

420.

Landscape Ecology and Planning – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Structure, function and change within ecosystems measured on a landscape scale. Evaluation of current management techniques for their effects on landscapes. Required field trips. Prerequisites: GIS 224 or AGM 325, BIO 313 or FOR/ENV 209. Course fee required. Spring only.

460.

Internship in Environmental Science – Three semester hours. Studies of environmental science in an operational setting under the supervision of a cooperating organization. Must be arranged in advance and approved by the dean’s office. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of nine credit hours.

463.

Special Problems in Environmental Science – One, two or three semester hours. Individual study in an area of the student’s choice. Must be arranged in advance and approved by the dean’s office. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of nine credit hours.

464.

Contemporary Problems in Environmental Science – Three semester hours. Classes conducted on current topics in environmental science. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of nine credit hours.

470.

Senior Seminar – Prerequisite: Fifteen credit hours in environmental science or permission of instructor. A participatory seminar where students condense, review and present research findings on focused topics. Subject matter varies by semester. May be repeated once for credit. Spring only.

Courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

224.   

Introduction to Spatial Science – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. An introduction to the spatial analysis disciplines of aerial photography, satellite remote sensing, global positioning systems and geographic information systems as applied to mapping, monitoring, and managing natural resources. Prerequisite: MTH 138, 143 or 233. Course fee required.

390.

Geographic Information Systems – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Specific approaches to applications of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and remote sensing to problems in natural resource analysis. Prerequisite: ENV/FOR 224. Course fee required.

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