Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences

B.S. Environmental And Sustainability Sciences

Coastal environments are critical for society. Although they only cover 10% of the land mass, coastal environments (fed by watersheds upstream and incoming ocean tides) are home to 40% of the world's population. The University of South Alabama offers a B.S. in Environmental & Sustainability Sciences designed to address the need for a broad understanding of the natural world and its interaction with the demands of human society and development. A key component of environmental science is its interdisciplinary nature and how an integrative approach can be used to develop mutually beneficial solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges.

Students in this program gain an understanding of science methodologies and applied analyses. The faculty consists of natural and social scientists that have extensive experience working on issues in coastal environments as well as working with communities to sustainably mitigate and manage interactions with them. Led by our world-renowned faculty, our students will apply field methods, instrumentation, and data analysis to study the natural and human environment.

Careers in Environmental & Sustainability Sciences

Career Fields	Types of Employers	Job Titles
Sustainability Renewable Energy Conservation Agriculture Urban Planning and Development Natural Resource Management Education Environmental Toxicology and more	Environmental Consulting Firms Health & Safety Nonprofit Agencies Research Labs Education & Outreach Government Agencies Alabama Department of Environmental Management Environmental Protection Agency Fish & Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management Forest Service and more	Environmental Scientist Environmental Technician Environmental Consultant Natural Resource Manager Environmental Health & Safety Officer Biologist Water Quality Scientist Nature Conservation Officer Environmental Educator Conservation Technician Ecologist Research Assistant Invasive Species Specialist and more

Giant Cypress Tree

America's Amazon

The University of South Alabama is located near the edge of Mobile Bay and the Tensaw-River Delta. Students in the environmental and sustainability sciences undergraduate program have the opportunity to receive experiential learning in our Nation's most biodiverse ecosystem known as "America's Amazon." Stokes School of Marine & Environmental Sciences integrates hands-on learning with classroom instruction to aid students in understanding the complexities of environmental systems and human interactions and preparethem for careers in both the private and public sectors.

Opportunities for Community Engagement

Take part in community engagement

Work at a local oyster farm
Volunteer for local beach clean-up efforts
help remove invasive species
feed and care for local wildlife at the
Environmental Studies Center

Serve with local conservation groups:

Mobile Bay Keeper
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
South Alabama Land Trust
Alabama Coastal Foundation
The Nature Conservancy.

Courses Offered

▼ Graduation Plan

Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences
Total Hours: 120

The Graduation Plan is an example of course progression. Individual student plans may vary. Students should consult with an academic advisor to create a personalized plan. *Note up to six (6) credits can be shared within the Major and Minor.

First Year – Fall Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
CAS 100 (Gen Ed)	First Year Experience- College Success	2
BLY 121/121L (Gen Ed)	General Biology I with Lab	4
CH 131/CH 131L (Gen Ed)	General Chemistry I with Lab	4
MA 125	Calculus I	4
EH 101 (Gen Ed)	English Composition I	3
	Total Hours	17

First Year – Spring Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
BLY 122/BLY122L	General Biology II with Lab	4
CH 132/ CH132L (Gen Ed)	General Chemistry II with Lab	4
GY 111/GY 111L	Physical Geology with Lab	4
EH 102 (Gen Ed)	English Composition II	3
	Total Hours	15

Second Year – Fall Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
Fine Arts Elective (Gen Ed)		3
PH 114/PH114L	Physics I with Lab	4
GEO 410	Biogeography	3
ENV 337/ENV337L	Environmental Sciences I with Lab	4
	Total Hours	14

Second Year – Spring Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
CA 110 (Gen Ed)	Public Speaking	3
History (US or West. Civ.) (Gen Ed)		3
Humanities Elective *PHL 231 (Gen Ed)	Social Ethics	3
Social/Behavioral Elective (Gen Ed)		3
ENV 338/ENV 338L	Environmental Sciences II with Lab	4
	Total Hours	16

Third Year – Fall Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
Foreign Language I (Gen Ed)	Foreign Language 1	3
Minor		3
Social/Behavioral Elective (Gen Ed)		3
Minor		3
English Literature (Gen Ed)		3
	Total Hours	15

Third Year – Spring Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
Minor		3
Foreign Language II (Gen Ed)	Foreign Language II	3
ENV 340	Fundamentals of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry	3
GY 425	Hydrology	4
	Total Hours	13

Fourth Year – Fall Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
ENV 339	Climate Change (Writing Course)	3
Minor		3
GIT 460	Intro to GIT	4
ENV 334/ ENV 334L	Environmental Monitoring and Assessment with Lab	4
	Total Hours	14

Fourth Year – Spring Semester

Course ID	Course Description	Hours
Minor		3
Social/Behavioral Elective (Gen Ed)		3
Minor		3
Humanities Elective (Gen Ed)		3
ENV 335/ ENV 335L	Environmental Conservation and Sustainability with Lab	4
	Total Hours	16