Environmental Science

major

Environmental Science integrates natural and social sciences to study the interrelationships between people and nature. Using an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates academic fields like ecology, hydrology, earth and soil sciences, natural resource management, ethics, as well as environmental policy and law, the Environmental Science program empowers students to analyze complex environmental issues across multiple perspectives. In doing so, Environmental Science students learn to assess causes of environmental problems and apply their knowledge to develop solutions to these problems.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

School Information

The School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) offers campus-wide, interdisciplinary degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. SNRE is governed by the SNRE Advisory Board and advised by the SNRE Faculty Advisory Council.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.392.9230

P.O. Box 116455
2035 McCarty Hall D
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-6455

 Curriculum

The School of Natural Resources and Environment’s environmental science degrees approach complex environmental issues with multidisciplinary academic knowledge and interdisciplinary perspectives to prepare graduates for jobs in environmental consulting companies, government environmental offices, land and water management agencies, or non-government organizations. SNRE’s environmental science degrees are campus-wide programs, allowing students to learn from experts in multiple academic units at the University of Florida. Multiple course options are available to meet most degree requirements, giving students a large degree of flexibility in customizing their program of study to suit their individual interests with the assistance of the advising staff.

About half of Environmental Science students advance to graduate or professional degree programs. The combination of the school's broad undergraduate degree with a subsequent graduate or professional degree is highly marketable.

The school also offers a combination degree program that pairs a bachelor's degree in environmental science with a Master of Science in interdisciplinary ecology.

Requirements and Differences Between BA and BS Degrees

Both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees prepare students for a wide range of careers in environmental science. The BS places greater emphasis on the natural sciences, whereas the BA is more focused on the social sciences and their application to economics, policy, and management.

BS students interested in seeking admission to a medical, veterinary, or similar professional school after graduation may pursue a Pre-Health track (subject to permission by the undergraduate coordinator). Students in either degree interested in advancing to law school after graduation are encouraged to review UF’s pre-Law resources.
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Subject to permission by the undergraduate coordinator, BS students interested in seeking admission to a medical, veterinary, or similar professional school after graduation may pursue a Pre-Health track. Students in either degree interested in advancing to law school after graduation are encouraged to review Pre-Law resources.
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The freshmen and sophomore years lay a foundation of coursework through critical-tracking courses for building later expertise. Students need to know the natural sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology. Study of microeconomics and macroeconomics is required to understand the human economy. Introductory statistics empowers students to independently evaluate quantitative data. College algebra (BA) and an introduction to calculus (BS) enable students to work with rates of change, the heart of ecological science.

Critical-Tracking Requirement BA BS
Biological Sciences BSC 2010/L & BSC 2011/L (8 credits) BSC 2010/L & BSC 2011/L (8 credits)
General Chemistry CHM 2045/L (4 credits) CHM 2045/L & CHM 2046/L (8 credits)
Economics ECO 2013 & ECO 2023 (8 credits) AEB 3103 (4 credits) or both ECO 2013 & ECO 2023 (8 credits)
Mathematics MAC 1147 (4 credits) MAC 2311 (4 credits) or MAC 2233 (3 credits)
Physics PHY 2004 (3 credits) or PHY 2020 (3 credits) PHY 2004/L (4 credits) or PHY 2048/L (4 credits) or PHY 2053/L (5 credits)
Statistics STA 2023 (3 credits) STA 2023 (3 credits)
Public Speaking AEC 3030C (3 credits) or SPC 2608 (3 credits) N/A
Total 33 credits 30-36 credits

In addition to the critical tracking requirements, students admitted as freshmen are responsible for completing State Core General Education as well as the university's General Education, Quest, and Writing Requirements.

Certain critical tracking and core courses simultaneously fulfill General Education and Writing Requirements, and students should seek to maximize the number of overlapping courses for efficiency. For most students, all but 15 credits of the General Education requirement are met through the BA and BS curriculum. Incoming credit (e.g. AP, AICE, IB, CLEP, etc.) may further reduce the number of General Education courses students need to complete.

Students should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure satisfactory progress towards degree completion throughout their academic career.

After General Education and most critical-tracking coursework is complete, students begin to take the degree’s core courses (41-46 credits for the BA, 41-47 credits for the BS), providing a base of common knowledge and experience in subjects essential to Environmental Science. During the fourth year, students enroll in SNRE’s capstone course that further develops and assesses critical thinking skills by confronting conflicts of ecological and economic paradigms, synthesizing across physical, biological, and social systems, and engaging diverse knowledge and views to help resolve key environmental problems.

Core Requirement BA BS
Foundation Courses 11 credits 11 credits
General Ecology 3-4 credits 3-4 credits
Ecology of Specific Systems N/A 3 credits
Earth and Soil Science 3-4 credits 3-4 credits
Global and Hydrologic Systems 3-4 credits 3-4 credits
Methods and Technology N/A 3-4 credits
Organic Chemistry N/A 3 credits
Natural Resource Management 3-4 credits 3-4 credits
Resource Economics 3-4 credits N/A
Environmental Ethics 3 credits 3 credits
Environmental Policy and Law 6 credits 3-4 credits
Social Science Perspectives 3 credits N/A
Capstone Course 3 credits 3 credits
Total1 41-47 credits 41-47 credits
1

Students should select a combination of core courses not to exceed 44 credits. 

Beyond the core requirements, each student selects additional credits from a wide list of approved electives according to individual interest, allowing them to broaden their skillset or specialize in a particular aspect of environmental science.

Elective Requirement BA BS
Communication & Leadership 3-6 credits N/A
Additional Skills and Concepts 6-15 credits 6-15 credits
Biological Sciences 3-12 credits 6-15 credits
Physical Sciences N/A 3-15 credits
Human Dimensions 6-15 credits 3-9 credits
Total1 28-31 credits 28-31 credits
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A minimum of 28 approved elective credits are required. Additional elective credits may be needed to reach 120 credit hours for degree completion.