Environmental Science, B.S.

The Environmental Science major is intended for students seeking careers in environmental and ecological fields, including environmental consulting, government, parks and recreation, teaching, research, environmental law, and other areas requiring strength in environmental science. This major also prepares students for graduate programs in ecology and environmental science.

All Biology Department majors require specific support courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and other subjects. Students should be aware that some post-baccalaureate degree programs require physics for admission and should discuss course options with their advisors before making course decisions.

Grade Policy for students majoring in Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science, or minoring in Biology:

1. A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all courses taken for each major or minor.  A grade lower than C- requires that the course be repeated. In the case of an elective course for a major or minor in which a grade below C- was earned, the student may petition to take an alternative course. 

2. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in all courses taken for each major or minor.

3. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 must be earned in support courses required for each major.  A grade of D-, D, or D+ in a support course is considered a passing grade, but the cumulative GPA in support courses must be at least 2.0.  

4. A grade of B- or better is required in BL213 to continue with the Cell & Molecular Biology major.

Dismissal Policy  Students who earn a GPA below 2.0 in courses required for their major or minor for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from their major or minor.

Major and Minor Requirements

Note:  Students may earn a degree in only one of the majors in the Biology Department (Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Studies). Double and triple majors in biology are not permitted. A maximum of 3 credits of BL 295, BL 398 and BL 399 combined will be accepted for any of the biology majors. Transfer students majoring in Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, or Environmental Science must complete a minimum of 17 credit hours in the Department of Biology at John Carroll University. To receive a minor in biology, students must complete a minimum of 13 credit hours in the Department of Biology at John Carroll University.

Professional Development Program: The Biology Department participates in the College of Arts and Sciences Professional Development Program, as designed for the majors in biology. Completion of the program will be noted in a student's academic transcript.

Additional Information

Many courses offered by the department include a laboratory and/or field-work component; these are listed as separate entries that immediately follow the entry for the corresponding lecture component of the course.

Program Learning Goals in Environmental Science

Students will:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of environmental science and develop competency in biology, chemistry, and earth science.

   • Understand the basic chemical principles, cell structure and organization, and metabolism of living organisms.

   • Understand plant and animal anatomy and physiology, with an emphasis on form and function.

   • Understand the diversity of organisms, systemic biology and phylogeny, and biological interactions over geological time.

   • Understand the role of evolution in generating the diversity of form and function seen in life on Earth.

   • Understand the role of the environment in determining the outcome of biological interactions.

   • Identify the consequences of environmental changes arising from human activities.

2. Use critical thinking to evaluate and interpret biological and environmental phenomena.

   • Critically assess and accurately interpret scientific data presented in visual or tabular form.

   • Identify the scientific underpinnings of current environmentally-themed news.

3. Collect and analyze scientific data and communicate its importance through effective oral and written presentation.

   • Demonstrate competence in conducting original research.

   • Present research results orally and in writing.

Major Requirements

39-42 credit hours of biology, plus 19-24 credits in chemistry, earth science, or other departments as required support courses. Courses are to be chosen with advisor approval and always include applicable laboratory corequisites. Students should refer to the registration website to identify appropriate courses to complete the core within the major (i.e., additional writing (AW), capstone (C), and oral presentation (OP) courses).

Required Courses:

Plus two courses (minimum of 6 credits) from the following: (including laboratory corequisite)

Required Support Courses:

Plus one course (minimum 3 credits) or course sequence from:

Strongly Recommended:

BL 155 -BL 160 is the normal introductory sequence for biology and environmental science majors. If, for a reason acceptable to the department, BL 157, BL 158, and BL 160 are taken separately from BL 155, BL 156, and BL 159, the student is expected to take BL 155, BL 156, and BL 159 or their equivalents before taking the laboratory courses. Entering freshmen will receive advanced placement and/or advanced standing in accord with scores listed in Advanced Placement (p. 264).