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The faculty of the Environmental Science Department at Alaska Pacific University promotes the fullest development of their students through a challenging curriculum. Graduates of the Environmental Science programs are expected to:
- Possess technical expertise and breadth of knowledge necessary to address contemporary environmental and natural resource issues using a comprehensive, systematic and scientific approach
- Complete significant environmental projects including class exercises, expeditions, internships and field experiences
- Be prepared to commence careers or graduate studies in an array of environmental fields
At the undergraduate level the Department offers degree programs, as follows:
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy & Planning
Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology
Bachelor of Science in Marine Science
Bachelor of Arts in Outdoor Studies
Environmental Science Minors
Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Arts
| General University Requirements: |
Credit Hours |
| GS
135 |
Self
& Society in Context: A Quest for Wisdom |
4 |
| |
Written
Communication* (LL 101 or equivalent) |
4 |
| |
Speech
Communication* (CO 100 or equivalent) |
4 |
| |
Quantitative
Skills* (MT 101 or equivalent) |
4 |
| |
Humanities
and Languages (three course requirement; two humanities courses
and one language course, or one humanities course and a
two semester sequence of a language. See course descriptions in
the Liberal Studies department pages for
specific offerings) |
12 |
| |
Laboratory
Science (see course descriptions in the Environmental Science
department pages for specific offerings) |
4 |
| |
Social/Behavioral
Science (see course descriptions in the Liberal Studies, Psychology
or Business Administration departments pages for specific offerings) |
4 |
| |
Ethical
and Religious Values (see course descriptions in the Liberal Studies
department pages for specific offerings) |
4 |
| |
Sophomore
Seminar: Directed Study (see departmental requirement below) |
4 |
| Total |
44 |
| |
Major
Requirements |
varies |
| |
Practicum
(minimum requirement) |
3 |
| |
Electives |
varies |
Minimum
Graduation Requirement
with a minimum GPA of 2.00 (C) |
128** |
*Competency
Courses. All competency courses must be completed with a grade of
"C" or better.
** The
General University Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree is
an eight (8) course requirement rather than a 32 credit hour requirement;and
for the Bachelor of Arts Degree it is an eleven (11) course requirement
rather than a 44 credit hour requirement; e.g., many transfer "equivalents"
and DCP equivalents are 3 credit courses.
Graduation
Residency Requirement: For the B.A. Degree, the final 32 credit
hours must be taken in residence at Alaska Pacific University.
Upper
Division Credit Hour Requirement: A minimum of thirty (30) credit
hours
must consist of 300 and 400 level courses for the B.A. Degree.
Language
Requirement: Students are required to take one semester (4 credit
hours) of one foreign language, a second language, American Sign Language
(ASL), or demonstrate competency at that level. This competency may
be demonstrated by scoring at the appropriate level on a placement
test in a language regularly taught at Alaska Pacific, or by providing
documentation of a foreign language or ASL proficiency (e.g. serving
as a translator or interpreter or attending a school where English
is not the medium of instruction), or by transferring four credits
from language or ASL courses taken at another accredited post-secondary
institution.
Students
whose primary language is not English may use English proficiency
to meet the language requirement. In this case, the student will be
required to score at the appropriate level on a placement test in
English. Students wishing to earn credit for languages regularly taught
at Alaska Pacific University without taking the courses must follow
the procedures for Credit by Examination, or take one of the CLEP
examinations and score in the 50th percentile or above. The Credit
by Examination option may be available only for languages in which
Alaska Pacific University faculty members have expertise. The chair
of the Liberal Studies Department will determine the appropriate examination.
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Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree with an Environmental Science Major
The Environmental Science major allows students to focus on the
natural sciences as they apply to the environment by providing a
solid foundation in laboratory and field techniques. The B.A. is tailored
for students who wish to enter the professional environmental field.
The B.S. degree in Environmental Science requires additional
coursework in the natural sciences and quantitative methodologies.
This degree is especially useful for students intending to pursue a
graduate degree in environmental science or related fields.
Environmental science majors must complete the environmental science core and specify an area of concentration from the following:
Earth Systems Science
Biological Science
General Environmental Science
| Environmental
Science Core Courses: |
B.A. |
B.S. |
| SC
101 |
Principles of Biology |
* |
4 |
| SC
107 |
Physical Geology |
* |
4 |
| SC
111 |
College Physics |
* |
4 |
| SC
115 |
Principles
of Chemistry I |
4 |
4 |
| SC
116 |
Principles
of Chemistry II |
4 |
4 |
| SC
203 |
Introduction
to Environmental Science |
4 |
4 |
| MT
231 |
Applied
Statistics |
4 |
4 |
| MT
250 |
Calculus
and Analytical Geometry I |
4 |
4 |
MT
251 |
Calculus
and Analytical Geometry II |
4 |
4 |
SC
301 |
Ecology |
* |
4 |
| SC
341 |
GIS
course |
4 |
4 |
| MT
331 |
Advanced Statistics |
* |
4 |
| SC
410 |
Environmental
Ethics |
4 |
4 |
| SC
498 |
Research
Methods |
4 |
4 |
| SC
499 |
Senior
Project |
8 |
8 |
| Subtotal |
40
|
64
|
Concentration Area
(minimum 12 credits upper division) |
24
|
16
|
Total
* Not required for the B.A. degree |
64
|
80
|
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Concentration Areas for the B.S. and B.A. Degrees
For the B.S. degree students select 16 credit hours with at least
12 upper division credits in one of three areas: Earth Systems
Science, Biological Science, or General Environmental Science. For the
B.A. degree students select 24 credit hours in these three areas as
outlined below:
| Earth
Systems Science: |
Credit Hours |
| SC
302 |
Environmental
Assessment |
4 |
| Select
two courses: |
| SC
107 |
Physical
Geology |
4 |
| SC
108 |
Historical
Geology |
4 |
| SC
111 |
College Physics I |
4 |
| Select
three courses: |
| SC
350 |
Oceanography |
4 |
| SC
351 |
Meteorology:
Weather & Climate |
4 |
| SC
355 |
Environmental
Chemistry |
4 |
| SC
413 |
Environmental
Geology |
4 |
| SC
435 |
Land
Use Planning |
4 |
| SC
445 |
Soils
& Geomorphology |
4 |
| SC
452 |
Water
Resources Management |
4 |
|
MT
251
|
Calculus
and Analytical Geometry II |
4 |
| And/or
300-400 Special Topics or Directed Study courses as approved by
advisor |
| Total |
24 |
| Biological
Science: |
Credit Hours |
| SC
301 |
Ecology |
4 |
| Select
two courses: |
| SC
101 |
Principles
of Biology |
4 |
| SC
102 |
Introduction
to Botany and Zoology |
4 |
| SC
202 |
Winter
Ecology and Cold Weather Physiology |
4 |
| SC
205 |
Principles of Botany |
4 |
| SC
210 |
Principles of Zoology |
4 |
| Select
three courses: |
| SC
305 |
Principles
of Forest Management |
4 |
| SC
331 |
Winter
Ecology with Statistics |
4 |
| SC
355 |
Environmental
Chemistry |
4 |
| SC
415 |
Conservation
Biology |
4 |
| SC
435 |
Land
Use Planning |
4 |
| SC
440 |
Tropical
Ecology |
4 |
| MT
331 |
Advanced Statistics |
4 |
| And/or
300-400 Special Topics or Directed Study courses as approved by
advisor |
| Total
|
24 |
| General
Environmental Science Concentration: |
Credit Hours |
| SC
301 |
Ecology |
4 |
| or |
| SC
302 |
Environmental
Assessment |
4 |
| |
TwoLaboratory
or Field Science courses |
8 |
| |
ThreeScience
and/or Mathematics upper division courses |
12 |
| Total
|
24 |
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Environmental Science Minor
The
Environmental Science minor offers students in other majors, such as
Outdoor Studies, Education or Liberal Studies an opportunity to strengthen
their analytic and scientific background.
| Environmental
Science Minor Requirements: |
Credit Hours |
| SC
203 |
Introduction
to Environmental Science |
4 |
| One
of the following: |
| SC
301 |
Ecology |
4 |
| SC
302 |
Environmental
Assessment and Audit |
4 |
| SC
410 |
Environmental
Ethics |
4 |
| One
of the following: |
| SC
215 |
Chemistry
I |
4 |
| MT
250 |
Calculus
I |
4 |
| MT
231 |
Applied
Statistics |
8-12 |
| |
Elective
Lab or Field courses |
8 |
| |
Elective
Environmental
Science course |
4 |
| Total
hours required |
24
|
The
course descriptions for the Environmental Science major and minor can
be found in the Environmental Science Undergraduate
Course Descriptions.
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Bachelor of Arts Degree with an Environmental Policy and Planning Major
The
Environmental Policy and Planning major integrates natural science paradigms
with social and governmental processes so that students can respond
effectively to environmental problems and opportunities. The major provides
a broad understanding of policy and planning, including the contemporary
concepts of ecosystem management and sustainable development that actively
link natural and social systems. Students in the major view environmental
problems from a range of disciplinary perspectives, such as exploring
the role of science in policy making, analyzing social and cultural
constraints, and examining methods for conflict resolution.
The
interdisciplinary curriculum prepares students for leadership positions
by emphasizing management skills such as geographic information systems
(GIS), environmental and social impact assessment, and economic analysis.
Graduates from the Policy and Planning major are well prepared for graduate
or professional school, as well as for environmental planning and policy
positions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors that need
to balance human needs with environmental limits.
| Environmental
Policy & Planning Major Requirements: |
Credit Hours
|
| BA
201 |
Survey
of Economics * |
4 |
| MT
115 |
College
Algebra ** |
3 |
| MT
231 |
Applied
Statistics * |
4 |
| SC
203 |
Introduction
to Environmental Science * |
4 |
| SC
301 |
Ecology |
4 |
| SC
302 |
Environmental
Assessment and Audit |
4 |
| SC
310 |
Resource
Economics |
4 |
| SC
314 |
GIS |
4 |
| SC
410 |
Environmental
Ethics |
4 |
| SC
420 |
Natural
Resource & Environmental Planning |
4 |
| SC
425 |
Natural
Resource Policy and Law |
4 |
| SC
430 |
Environmental
Advocacy & Leadership |
4 |
| SC
435 |
Land
Use Planning |
4 |
| SC
300 |
or
above or lab science |
4 |
| SC
498 |
Senior Project Proposal |
4 |
| SC
499 |
Senior
Project |
8 |
| Total
Credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00 (C) |
67 |
*Waived
if taken to satisfy general university requirements.
**May be used to satisfy general university requirements.
The
course descriptions for the Environmental Policy & Planning major
can be found in the Environmental Science Undergraduate
Course Descriptions.
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