Mar 04, 2025

2025-2026 General Catalog

Environmental Science and Sustainability BS

S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department of Environment and Society

About This Degree:

Environmental Science and Sustainability majors learn foundational knowledge of biological, chemical, and physical principles integrated with environmental social science on human behavior, decision-making, and policy in relation to human interactions with the natural environment. Compared to the Environmental Studies BS, the Environmental Science and Sustainability BS provides a stronger foundation in the natural sciences and opportunities for added natural science depth.

Students integrate across different types of knowledge to prepare to help society face the challenges of environmental change and work towards environmental sustainability.

For more information about Environmental Science and Sustainability, see the website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an academic advisor for help with semester-by-semester planning, connections to co-curricular experiences, understanding of USU policies, and accessing USU resources.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is STAT 2000, STAT 3000, or STAT 3080.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of this program, students will be able to…

Articulate basic understanding of chemistry, biology, and the earth sciences.
Integrate basic disciplinary science understanding in the context of environmental change.
Conceptualize social-environmental systems.
Apply systems thinking to understanding and addressing complex environmental problems.
Effectively communicate and initiate sustainability behaviors and policies grounded in environmental science.
Apply analytical tools to an environmental science context.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen: Admitted to USU in Good Standing
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.5 GPA

Major Requirements (74-84 credits)

All courses required for the major must be taken on an A-B-C-D-F basis. A grade of C- or better is required for all ENVS, GEOG, WATS, or WILD courses used to meet requirements for the major. The grade point average for all courses taught by the Quinney College of Natural Resources must be 2.5 or higher.

A. Professional & Integrative Core (22-23 credits)

B. Math, Statistics, & Natural Sciences Foundations (31-35 credits)

Mah & Statistics Foundation (6-8 credits)

MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s) or
MATH 1100 - Calculus Techniques (QL) 3 credit(s)
STAT 2000 - Statistical Methods (QI) 4 credit(s) or
STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) 3 credit(s) or
STAT 3080 - Data Science for Scientists 3 credit(s) (preferred option)

Chemistry Foundation (9-10 credits)

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I (BPS) 4 credit(s) and
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II (BPS) 4 credit(s) and
CHEM 1125 - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 credit(s) (taken concurrently with CHEM 1120 )
or
preferred option for careers in science and to meet pre-reqs for some electives:
CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 credit(s) and
CHEM 1215 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I 1 credit(s) (taken concurrently with CHEM 1210 ) and
CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II (BPS) 4 credit(s) and
CHEM 1225 - Chemical Principles Laboratory II 1 credit(s) (taken concurrently with CHEM 1220 )

Earth Sciences Foundation (7-8 credits)

GEOG 1000 - Physical Geography (BPS) 3 credit(s) and
GEOG 1005 - Physical Geography Lab 1 credit(s)
or
GEO 1110 - Physical Geology (BPS) 3 credit(s) and
GEO 1115 - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 credit(s)
GEO 2200 - The Earth Through Time 3 credit(s) or
PSC 2010 - Soils, Waters, and the Environment (BPS) 3 credit(s) or
WATS 3600 - Geomorphology 4 credit(s)

Biology/Ecology Foundation (9 credits)

BIOL 1610 - Biology I 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS) 3 credit(s)
WATS 2220 - General Ecology 3 credit(s)

C. Systems & Management Directed Electives (21-26 credits)

Sustainability & Human-Environment Systems Electives (9 credits)

Select 3 courses from the following:

APEC 3012 - Introduction to Natural Resource Economics (DSS) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 3320 - Archaeology of Climate Change (DSS) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4020 - Foundations of Environmental Thought (DHA/CI) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 5100 - Introduction to Modeling Human-Environment Systems 3 credit(s)
ENVS 5200 - Anthropological Perspectives on Conservation 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4350 - Ecological Economics 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4970 - Undergraduate Research 1-3 credit(s) taken for 3 credits
ENVS 5550 - Sustainability: Concepts and Measurement 3 credit(s)
GEOG 3100 - Human-Environment Geography (CI) 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4210 - Geography of Utah 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4400 - Natural Hazards and Society 3 credit(s)
LAEP 2039 - Foundations of Sustainable Systems 3 credit(s)
SOC 3300 - Sociology of Climate Change 3 credit(s)
SOC 3310 - Environmental Justice 3 credit(s)
SOC 4620 - Sociology of the Environment and Natural Resources (DSS) 3 credit(s)

Atmosphere, Geosphere & Hydrosphere Electives (6-7 credits)

Select 2 courses from the following:

PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 4810 - Climate and Climate Change (DSC/QI) 3 credit(s)
PSC 5410 - Hydroclimate 3 credit(s)
PSC 5500 - Environmental Physics of Land Ecosystems and Climate 3 credit(s)
WATS 3600 - Geomorphology 4 credit(s)
WATS 3700 - Fundamentals of Watershed Science (CI) 3 credit(s)
WATS 3910 - Climatology and Hydrology for Western Watersheds (DSC/QI) (DELETED FALL 2025) 3 credit(s)
WATS 4500 - Limnology: Ecology of Inland Waters 3 credit(s)

Environmental Management & Sustainability Techniques Electives (6-10 credits)

Select 2 courses from teh following:

ENVS 3300 - Fundamentals of Natural Resource Recreation Management 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4000 - Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management (DSS) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4030 - Building Community Environmental Resilience 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4130 - Natural Resource Recreation Policy and Planning 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4200 - Sustainability Metrics 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4250 - Advanced Internship/Co-op 1-9 credit(s) taken for at least 3 credits
ENVS 4500 - Advanced Natural Resource Recreation Management (CI) 3 credit(s)
GEOG 3800 - Geospatial Data Visualization 3 credit(s)
LAEP 5200 - Bioregional Analysis and Planning 5 credit(s)
LAEP 5210 - Bioregional Management and Policy 5 credit(s)
LAEP 5370 - City and Regional Planning (CI) 3 credit(s)
LAEP 5380 - Planning Methods 3 credit(s)
WATS 4310 - Wetland Ecology and Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4600 - Environmental Water Management 3 credit(s)
WILD 4700 - Ecological Foundations of Restoration 3 credit(s)

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your  Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Environmental Science and Sustainability BS

Environmental Science and Sustainability BS - 4 Year Degree Map