University of Portland Bulletin 2024-2025

Environmental Science, B.S.

The B.S. majors with concentrations in biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and quantitative and spatial methods, let students of varying interests develop both breadth and depth in their training as environmental scientists. Students in all of these concentrations will take specific core courses and courses in the sciences in common, along with their varied upper division advanced scientific courses. A total of 48 credit hours must be upper-division.

UP Core Requirements — 40 credit hours

All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.

See UP Core Requirements

Two of the three core requirements for the Science & Problem Solving Habit is satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.

ENV 383 and ENV 400 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S. in Environmental Science.

College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Requirements — 6 credit hours

See College Requirements, B.S.

Major Requirements — 50-64 credit hours

Requirements for all B.S. Concentrations - 12-13 credit hours

ENV 200Perspectives in Environmental Studies

3
Or
ENV 310Topics in Environmental Studies

3
ENV 383Environmental Geoscience

3
ENV 400Integrating Seminar in Environmental Studies

3
MTH 161Elementary Statistics

3
Or
MTH 201Calculus I

4

Concentrations: Students select one concentration

Additional Major Requirements for Biology and Chemistry Concentrations —16 credit hours

BIO 207Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

3
with
BIO 277Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab

1
BIO 208Introduction to Evolution and Ecology

3
with
BIO 278Introduction to Evolution and Ecology Lab

1
CHM 207General Chemistry I

3
with
CHM 277General Chemistry I Lab

1
CHM 208General Chemistry II

3
with
CHM 278General Chemistry II Lab

1

Biology Concentration Requirements — 32 credit hours

Select two biology lectures with corresponding labs from the following - 8 credit hours
BIO 302Ornithology

3
with
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
BIO 303Entomology

3
with
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
with
BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
with
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
with
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
BIO 338Marine Biology

3
with
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
BIO 341The Nature of Plants

3
with
BIO 371Field Botany

1
BIO 340Ecology

3
with
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
BIO 345Vertebrate Biology

3
with
BIO 375Vertebrate Biology Lab

1
BIO 355/ENV 355Global Change Ecology

3
with
BIO 356/ENV 356Global Change Ecology Lab

1
Select one environmental studies lecture with corresponding lab from the following - 4 credit hours
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
with
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 359Glaciology

3
with
ENV 388Glaciology Lab

1
ENV 365Climatology

3
with
ENV 381Climatology Lab

1
Select one environmental policy course from the following - 3 credit hours
ENV 314Resilience and Policy

3
ENV 349Environmental Policy

3
ENV 367Climate Change Negotiations: The Road to the Conference of the Parties (COP)

3
Select one 3-credit environmental studies course from the following not already used to fulfill the requirements above - 3 credit hours
ENV 359Glaciology

3
ENV 360The Science and Ethics of the Sustainable Gourmet

3
ENV 365Climatology

3
ENV 370/ETHS 370Do or Do Not: Saving Planet A

3
ENV 384/BIO 384/CE 458Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

3
ENV 493Environmental Research

1-3
ENV 497Environmental Internship

Variable
Biology Concentration Electives - 14 credits
Select 14 credits from the following not already used to fulfill the requirements above.
Any 300 or 400 level ENV course

3
BIO 302Ornithology

3
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
BIO 303Entomology

3
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
BIO 340Ecology

3
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
BIO 341The Nature of Plants

3
BIO 348Conservation Biology

3
BIO 371Field Botany

1
BIO 345Vertebrate Biology

3
BIO 375Vertebrate Biology Lab

1
BIO 347Animal Behavior

3
BIO 338Marine Biology

3
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
BIO 355/ENV 355Global Change Ecology

3
BIO 356/ENV 356Global Change Ecology Lab

1
CHM 325Organic Chemistry I

3
CHM 375Organic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHM 326Organic Chemistry II

3
CHM 376Organic Chemistry II Lab

1
CHM 386/ENV 386Environmental Chemistry

3
ENV 304/BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
ENV 374/BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1

Chemistry Concentration Requirements — 31 credit hours

Required Courses - 23 credit hours
CHM 325Organic Chemistry I

3
with
CHM 375Organic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHM 326Organic Chemistry II

3
with
CHM 376Organic Chemistry II Lab

1
CHM 386/ENV 386Environmental Chemistry

3
MTH 202Calculus II

4
PHY 201College Physics I

3
with
PHY 271College Physics Lab I

1
PHY 202College Physics II

3
with
PHY 272College Physics Lab II

1
Select one lecture with corresponding lab from the following - 4 credit hours
BIO 302Ornithology

3
with
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
BIO 303Entomology

3
with
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
with
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
with
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
BIO 338Marine Biology

3
with
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
BIO 341The Nature of Plants

3
with
BIO 371Field Botany

1
BIO 340Ecology

3
with
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
BIO 345Vertebrate Biology

3
with
BIO 375Vertebrate Biology Lab

1
BIO 355/ENV 355Global Change Ecology

3
with
BIO 356/ENV 356Global Change Ecology Lab

1
ENV 304/BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
with
ENV 374/BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
with
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 359Glaciology

3
with
ENV 388Glaciology Lab

1
ENV 365Climatology

3
with
ENV 381Climatology Lab

1
Select from the following – 4 credit hours
CHM 314Analytical Chemistry

3
with
CHM 379Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1
CHM 331Physical Chemistry I

3
with
CHM 372Physical Chemistry I Laboratory

1
CHM 412Advanced Instrumental Theory

1
with
CHM 472Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

1
CHM 453Biochemistry I

3
with
CHM 471Biochemistry I Laboratory

1
CE 367Environmental Engineering

3
with
CE 376Environmental Engineering Laboratory

1
ENV 300Techniques in Environmental Research

3
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 358Physical Oceanography

3
ENV 365Climatology

3
ENV 382/CE 460Air Pollution

3
ENV 384/BIO 384/CE 458Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

3

Quantitative and Spatial Methods Concentration Requirements — 42-43 credit hours

Required Courses – 14 credit hours
MTH 202Calculus II

4
MTH 361Applied Statistics I

3
PHY 201College Physics I

3
with
PHY 271College Physics Lab I

1
Or
PHY 204General Physics I

3
with
PHY 274General Physics Lab I

1
ENV 384/BIO 384/CE 458Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

3
Select from the following mathematics courses – 9-10 credit hours
MTH 301Vector Calculus

4
MTH 303/CHM 303/PHY 303Computational Methods in Physical Sciences

3
MTH 321Ordinary Differential Equations

3
MTH 323Nonlinear Dynamics

3
MTH 356/PHY 356Mathematical Methods for Science and Engineering

3
MTH 381Math Modeling

3
MTH 497Internship

Variable
Select one lecture with corresponding lab from the following - 4 credit hours
BIO 302Ornithology

3
with
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
BIO 303Entomology

3
with
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
with
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
with
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
BIO 338Marine Biology

3
with
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
BIO 340Ecology

3
with
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
BIO 348Conservation Biology

3
ENV 300Techniques in Environmental Research

3
ENV 304/BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
with
ENV 374/BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1
ENV 317Science of the Two Americas

3
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
with
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 358Physical Oceanography

3
ENV 359Glaciology

3
with
ENV 388Glaciology Lab

1
ENV 365Climatology

3
with
ENV 381Climatology Lab

1
Quantitative and Spatial Methods Concentration Electives – 15 credit hours
Select 15 credits from the following not already used to fulfill the requirements above.
MTH 303/CHM 303/PHY 303Computational Methods in Physical Sciences

3
MTH 322Partial Differential Equations

3
MTH 341Introduction to Linear Algebra

3
MTH 356/PHY 356Mathematical Methods for Science and Engineering

3
MTH 461Probability and Statistics I

3
PHY 205General Physics II

3
PHY 275General Physics Lab II

1
ENV 300Techniques in Environmental Research

3
ENV 314Resilience and Policy

3
ENV 317Science of the Two Americas

3
ENV 325/ECN 325Metrics for Sustainability

3
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 359Glaciology

3
ENV 365Climatology

3
ENV 382/CE 460Air Pollution

3
ENV 388Glaciology Lab

1
ENV 408/BUS 408/EGR 408Innovation for Sustainability

3
ENV 493Environmental Research

1-3
ENV 497Environmental Internship

Variable
ECN 326Climate Change and Clean Energy Economics: A Global Perspective

3
CE 367Environmental Engineering

3
with
CE 376Environmental Engineering Laboratory

1
CE 462/CE 562Sustainable Design

3
CE 464/CE 564Watershed Systems Modeling

3
EGR 351Engineering Economics

3
EGR 361Analysis of Engineering Data

3

Earth Science Concentration—48 credit hours

Select two lectures with corresponding labs from the following - 8 credit hours
CHM 207General Chemistry I

3
with
CHM 277General Chemistry I Lab

1
PHY 201College Physics I

3
with
PHY 271College Physics Lab I

1
PHY 202College Physics II

3
with
PHY 272College Physics Lab II

1
PHY 204General Physics I

3
with
PHY 274General Physics Lab I

1
PHY 205General Physics II

3
with
PHY 275General Physics Lab II

1
Select two environmental studies lectures with corresponding labs from the following - 8 credit hours
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
with
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 359Glaciology

3
with
ENV 388Glaciology Lab

1
ENV 365Climatology

3
with
ENV 381Climatology Lab

1
Select one lecture with corresponding lab from the following not already used to fulfill the requirements above - 4 credit hours
BIO 302Ornithology

3
with
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
BIO 303Entomology

3
with
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
with
BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
with
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
with
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
BIO 338Marine Biology

3
with
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
BIO 341The Nature of Plants

3
with
BIO 371Field Botany

1
BIO 340Ecology

3
with
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
BIO 345Vertebrate Biology

3
with
BIO 375Vertebrate Biology Lab

1
ENV 333Geomorphology

3
with
ENV 337Geomorphology Lab

1
ENV 359Glaciology

3
with
ENV 388Glaciology Lab

1
ENV 365Climatology

3
with
ENV 381Climatology Lab

1
Geographic Information Systems Requirement - 3 credit hours
ENV 384/BIO 384/CE 458Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

3
Select one environmental policy course from the following - 3 credit hours
ENV 314Resilience and Policy

3
ENV 349Environmental Policy

3
ENV 367Climate Change Negotiations: The Road to the Conference of the Parties (COP)

3
Earth Science Electives– 22 credit hours
Select 22 credit hours from the following not already used to fulfill the requirements above.
Any 300 or 400 level ENV course

3
BIO 302Ornithology

3
BIO 362Ornithology Lab

1
BIO 303Entomology

3
BIO 323Entomology Lab

1
BIO 304Wetlands Ecology

3
BIO 374Wetlands Ecology Lab

1
BIO 312/ENV 312Freshwater Ecology

3
BIO 313/ENV 313Freshwater Ecology Lab

1
BIO 318Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation

3
BIO 358Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab

1
BIO 338Marine Biology

3
BIO 368Marine Biology Lab

1
BIO 340Ecology

3
BIO 343Ecology Lab

1
BIO 341The Nature of Plants

3
BIO 371Field Botany

1
BIO 345Vertebrate Biology

3
BIO 375Vertebrate Biology Lab

1
CE 367Environmental Engineering

3
CE 462/CE 562Sustainable Design

3
CE 464/CE 564Watershed Systems Modeling

3
ECN 326Climate Change and Clean Energy Economics: A Global Perspective

3
EGR 361Analysis of Engineering Data

3
CS 203Introduction to Computer Science

3
CS 273Computer Science Laboratory

1

Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours