There are many reasons to consider achieving a minor in our department, and if those reasons are compelling for any particular student, the minor is a rewarding path. Distance
The credits required for a college degree are determined by a number of considerations:
- appropriate level of professional training
- attainment by students of a high standard of general ability in a array of skill such as writing, public speaking, mathematics (these are the GUR’s, or general university requirements)
- and electives that reflect the student’s desires and needs. These are often chosen after discussions with an advisor or other faculty members.
It is in the electives that a minor may be achieved.
A student may wish to pursue a minor to fulfill secondary professional interests. For example, the business acumen needed to start an environmental consulting or restoration firm may be approached with a minor in business administration, though the expertise to actually do the consulting or restoration is gained through a degree within the Environmental Science Department.
A minor will demonstrate to prospective employers, graduate admissions committees, and others charge with winnowing the competitors for professional positions that an applicant has a particular focus and self-direction, beyond that dictated by simply a major degree requirement. For instance, a student wishing to pursue a career focusing on environmental policy in coastal areas or on the high seas, would do very well to consider a minor in Marine Biology. Alternatively, a minor in mathematics would be extremely useful to a student with aspirations for a higher degree in the “hard” sciences.
Ultimately, the minor allows the expansion of breadth in one’s academic pursuits, in a formalized way.
The Environmental Science Department offers minor in the following subjects:
- Environmental Science
- Marine Biology
- Mathematics
Minor in Environmental Science
This minor is perfect for students majoring in other areas such as Outdoor Studies, Education, or Liberal Studies. It provides students with the opportunity to strengthen their analytic and scientific background.
Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Science
The Environmental Science minor is comprised of 24 credits:
One Required Course (4 credits)
- SC 20500 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
Select one course (4 credits):
- SC 31000 Environmental Assessment
- SC 33000 Ecology
- SC 40500 Environmental Ethics
Select one course (4 credits):
- MT 22000 Applied Statistics for Env. Science
- MT 23000 Calculus and Analytic Geometry
- SC 17000 Principles of Chemistry I
Two Elective Lab or Field Courses (8 credits)
Elective Environmental Science Course (4 credits)
Minor in Marine Biology
The Marine Biology minor offers students in other majors an opportunity to strengthen their scientific background. For students in the Environmental Science Department, it offers the opportunity to relate applications from their general fields to marine systems and resources.
Requirements for a Minor in Marine Biology
The Marine Biology minor is comprised of 24 credits:
- MAR 22500 Survey of Marine Biology
- MAR 33000 Human Impacts in Marine Systems
- SC 16000 Principles of Biology
- Marine Biology Elective (Lower Division, one course)
- Marine Biology Electives (Upper Division, two courses)
Minor in Mathematics
This minor is ideal for individuals who are Environmental Science majors and are planning to continue onto graduate school.
Requirements for a Minor in Mathematics
The math minor is comprised of 20 credits:
Two Required Courses (8 credits)
- MT 32000 Advanced Statistics
- MT 35000 Multivariable Calculus
Three courses (12 credits) from the following list:
- MT 35500 Introduction to Mathematical Proof
- MT 36000 Differential Equations and Applications
- MT 37000 Linear Algebra and Applications
- MT 38000, 48000 Directed Study
- SC 38500, 48500 Practicum as Math Tutor