Environmental Resources, BS Major in

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Students study the application of geology and the natural sciences to issues of environmental management, natural resource management, resource conservation, and sustainability. This degree prepares students for careers in environmental geology, environmental science, resource management, environmental law, and environmental regulation.

Students enrolling in this major should meet with the department chair to plan their program of study prior to registering for courses.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 124

Candidates for graduation must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The Successful Completion of at Least 124 Semester Hours

The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.

2. Liberal Arts

At least 65 semester hours must be completed in the liberal arts, excluding courses in geology.

3. Residence Requirements

Two requirements must be completed in residence at Hofstra: 15 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours. The 15 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.

4. General Requirements

(The humanities and social science electives must be satisfied with approved distribution courses, see Distribution Courses under HCLAS.)

WSC 001 - Composition Semester Hours: 3-4
WSC 002 - Composition Semester Hours: 3
Humanities Electives - Semester Hours: 6
Social Science Electives - Semester Hours: 6

5. Major Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 72-74

A) Biology Courses - Semester Hours: 7

Complete the following courses (7 s.h.):
BIOL 111 - (NS) Introduction to the Big Ideas in Biology Semester Hours: 3
BIOL 142 - Urban Habitats Semester Hours: 2
BIOL 156 - Conservation Biology Semester Hours: 3
(Note: Prerequisites for BIO 115 will be waived for Environmental Resources students with permission from the instructor.)

B) Chemistry Courses - Semester Hours: 11

Complete the following courses (11 s.h.):
CHEM 003A - (NS) General Chemistry I Semester Hours: 3 - 4
CHEM 003B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory I Semester Hours: 1
AND
CHEM 004A - (NS) General Chemistry II Semester Hours: 3
CHEM 004B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory II Semester Hours: 1
OR
CHEM 139 - Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry Semester Hours: 3
CHEM 140 - Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Semester Hours: 1
AND
CHEM 185 - Environmental Chemistry Semester Hours: 3
OR
GEOL 132 - Geochemistry Semester Hours: 3

C) Geology Courses - Semester Hours: 30

Complete the following courses (30 s.h.):
GEOL 001 - (NS) Planet Earth Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 002 - (NS) Historical Geological Science Semester Hours: 3
OR
GEOL 005 - (NS) Environmental Geology Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 019 - Structural Geology Semester Hours: 3
OR
GEOL 020 - Introduction to Field Methods Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 031 - Crystallography and Mineralogy Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 033 - Environmental Geomorphology Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 121 - Hydrology Semester Hours: 3
GEOL 135 - Sedimentation Semester Hours: 3
Nine (9) semester hours in advanced geology courses selected with approval of chairperson. (Note: minimum grade of C- required in all geology courses; GEOL 132 will satisfy either a chemistry or geology course requirement, but not both).

D) Mathematics Courses - Semester Hours: 6-8

Complete 6-8 s.h. of course work, chosen from the following:
MATH 008 - Elementary Mathematical Statistics Semester Hours: 3
OR
MATH 050 - (MA) Precalculus Semester Hours: 4
OR
MATH 137 - (MA) Mathematical Probability and Statistics Semester Hours: 3
OR
BIOL 124 - Biostatistics Semester Hours: 4
AND
MATH 061 - (MA) Basic Calculus with Applications Semester Hours: 4 *
OR
MATH 061A - (MA) Basic Calculus Semester Hours: 3 *
OR
MATH 071 - (MA) Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Semester Hours: 4 *
*Students without a background in high school calculus are strongly advised to take MATH 50 (Precalculus) before continuing on to calculus.

E) Additional Courses - Semester Hours: 12

Complete 12 s.h. of course work in geography, sustainability, and technology and public policy, from the following:
GEOG 060 - (NS) Introduction to Digital Mapping Semester Hours: 3
SBLY 001 - (IS) Our Sustainable World Semester Hours: 3
SBLY 002 - (IS) Sustainability Planning and Policy Semester Hours: 3
TPP 001 - (NS) Introduction to Environmental Systems Semester Hours: 3
OR
TPP 019 - Technology and Society Semester Hours: 3
ECO 010 - (BH) Economics, Environment and Community Semester Hours: 3
OR
ENTR 115 - Entrepreneurial Mindset Semester Hours: 3
and one philosophy course selected from the following (3 s.h.):
PHI 101 - (HP) Ecology and Environmentalism Semester Hours: 3
OR
PHI 133 - (HP) Ethics and the Natural Environment Semester Hours: 3
OR
PHI 138 - (HP) Ethics and Sustainability: Personal, Social and Corporate Responsibility Semester Hours: 3
OR
PHI 161 - (HP) Philosophy of Science Semester Hours: 3

Recommended Program Sequence - Total Hours: 124

Sample Schedule: Environmental Resources, BS (124 Semester Hours)

Complete BS Requirements

BS Requirements in Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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