Bachelor of Science, Major in Environmental Science (Water Resources)

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit. 

Bachelor of Science, Major in Environmental Science (Water Resources)
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 28
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 33
Component Area V (Creative Arts)3
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 43
Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 1, 34
Degree Specific Requirements
BIOL 1406General Biology I4
BIOL 1407General Biology II4
CHEM 1411General Chemistry I 24
CHEM 1412General Chemistry II 24
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics3
or MATH 3379 Statistical Methods in Practice
MATH 1420Calculus I 14
Major: Foundation
BIOL 1401Environmental Science4
BIOL 3320Sustainability & Environment3
or GEOG 3320 Sustainability & Environment
BIOL 3409General Ecology4
BIOL 4330Aquatic Biology3
BIOL 4374Biostatistics 53-4
or GEOG 4374 Spatial Analysis and Statistics
or MATH 1430 Calculus II
ENGL 3330Introduction to Technical Writing3
GEOG 2464Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)4
GEOG 4330Hydrology and Water Resources3
GEOG 4331Conservation of Natural Resources3
GEOG 4361Geographic Information Systems for Public Health3-4
or GEOG 4365 Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
or GEOG 4468 Remote Sensing
GEOG 4432Geomorphology4
GEOL 3326Environmental Geology3
GEOL 4304Geochemistry 63
or CHEM 3368 Environmental Chemistry
GEOL 4426Hydrogeology4
PLSC 3440Soil Science4
POLS 3395Environmental Policy3
Select two courses from the following:8
Weather and Climate
Physical Geology
Geologic & Environmental Hazards
Major: Prescribed Electives 75
Minor: Not Required 8, 9
Total Hours120-122
1

MATH 1420 is recommended, if eligible. In addition to satisfying the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics), the course also satisfies one credit hour of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

2

CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1412 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).

3

SOCI 2319, GEOG 2355, or GEOG 2356 are recommended to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) or Component Area IX (Component Area Option) because they are prerequisites for some of the Environmental Science Prescribed Electives.

4

ECON 2300, ECON 2301, or ECON 2302 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and serves as a prerequisite for ECON 3352 if desired as a course option.  If not, GEOG 1300 is recommended.

5

Students interested in groundwater should take MATH 1430; whereas, students interested in surface water should take BIOL 4374 or GEOG 4374.

6

Students who would like to take CHEM 3368 must take CHEM 2401 as an elective.

7

See Prescribed Electives course list below.

8

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so, additional semester credit hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours.

9

All minors can be paired with this degree program.

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

Prescribed Electives 7
Select 5 CH from the following:
AGET 3383Soil & Water Conservation Engineering3
BIOL 3461Wildlife Biology4
CHEM 2401Quantitative Analysis4
CHEM 3368Environmental Chemistry3
ECON 3352Energy and Environmental Economics3
GEOG 3301Environmental Geography3
GEOG 3340Meteorology3
GEOG 3342Climatology3
GEOG 4100Earth and Environment Seminar1
GEOG 4333Field Studies3
GEOG 4361Geographic Information Systems for Public Health3
GEOG 4365Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)3
GEOG 4399Environmental and Geoscience Internship3
GEOG 4432Geomorphology4
GEOG 4468Remote Sensing4
GEOL 3330Oceanography3
GEOL 4100Earth and Environment Seminar1
GEOL 4312Economic Geology3
GEOL 4399Environmental and Geoscience Internship3
GEOL 4400Stratigraphy & Sedimentation4
HLTH 4390Environmental Health3
PLSC 4330Soil Fertility Management and Fertilizers3
SOCI 4337Environment And Society3
WMGT 2301Principles of Wildlife Management3
WMGT 3382Habitat & Pond Management3

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit. 

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IV13BIOL 14014
ENGL 130123ENGL 130223
GEOG 1401, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 14054GEOG 1401, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 14054
HSTY 130133HSTY 130233
MATH 142044 
 17 14
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area V3Component Area IX1, 43
Component Area VIII53BIOL 14074
BIOL 14064CHEM 141264
CHEM 141164POLS 230673
POLS 230573 
 17 14
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 3320 or GEOG 33203BIOL 34094
ENGL 33303BIOL 4374, GEOG 4374, or MATH 143093-4
GEOG 43303GEOG 24644
GEOL 4304 or CHEM 336883GEOL 33263
MATH 1342 or 33793 
 15 14-15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 43303GEOG 43313
GEOG 4361, 4365, or 44683-4GEOG 44324
GEOL 44264POLS 33953
PLSC 34404Prescribed Electives105
 14-15 15
Total Hours: 120-122
1

SOCI 2319, GEOG 2355, or GEOG 2356 are recommended to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) or Component Area IX (Component Area Option) because they are prerequisites for some of the Environmental Science Prescribed Electives.

2

Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communication).

3

Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).

4

MATH 1420 is recommended, if eligible, and satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) and one credit hour of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

5

ECON 2300, ECON 2301, or ECON 2302 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and serves as a prerequisite for ECON 3352 if desired as a course option.  If not, GEOG 1300 is recommended. 

6

CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1412 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).

7

Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).

8

Students who would like to take CHEM 3368 must take CHEM 2401 as an elective.

9

Students interested in groundwater should take MATH 1430; whereas, students interested in surface water should take BIOL 4374 or GEOG 4374.

10

See Prescribed Electives course list below.

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so, additional semester credit hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

All minors can be paired with this degree program. 

Prescribed Electives 10
Select 5 CH from the following:
AGET 3383Soil & Water Conservation Engineering3
BIOL 3461Wildlife Biology4
CHEM 2401Quantitative Analysis4
CHEM 3368Environmental Chemistry3
ECON 3352Energy and Environmental Economics3
GEOG 3301Environmental Geography3
GEOG 3340Meteorology3
GEOG 3342Climatology3
GEOG 4100Earth and Environment Seminar1
GEOG 4333Field Studies3
GEOG 4361Geographic Information Systems for Public Health3
GEOG 4365Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)3
GEOG 4399Environmental and Geoscience Internship3
GEOG 4432Geomorphology4
GEOG 4468Remote Sensing4
GEOL 3330Oceanography3
GEOL 4100Earth and Environment Seminar1
GEOL 4312Economic Geology3
GEOL 4399Environmental and Geoscience Internship3
GEOL 4400Stratigraphy & Sedimentation4
HLTH 4390Environmental Health3
PLSC 4330Soil Fertility Management and Fertilizers3
SOCI 4337Environment And Society3
WMGT 2301Principles of Wildlife Management3
WMGT 3382Habitat & Pond Management3

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BS in Environmental Science (Water Resources) is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Use the scientific method to address environmental problems.

  • Think critically.

  • Generate and/or interpret geospatial data-based geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing.

  • Use quantitative methods to assess groundwater and surface water issues.

  • Analyze water quality and quantity.

  • Apply knowledge of the environment and ecosystems to address environmental problems.

  • Interdisciplinary problem solvers.