Albion College Institute for the Study of the Environment

The environmental sciences concentration is intended for students who are majoring in one of the sciences offered at Albion and who are planning a career in the environmental field, either as a researcher or practitioner. The concentration provides both breadth and depth in sciences other than the major field of study, as well as practical experience through an internship.

Students who complete this concentration will be well prepared for graduate work in this area, or for entry-level jobs working with environmental consulting firms, analytical laboratories, government agencies or advocacy groups.

Requirements -- The concentration, comprised of seven units of course work plus an internship, has the following requirements.

1. A major in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, computer science, mathematics/physics, or physics.

2. An environmental internship (one-half to two units).

3. Experience in two sciences outside the student's major by taking three units in one and two in another. At least three of these five courses must be above the introductory level, which means that these courses must have prerequisites. Courses are to be selected from the following list and in consultation with the concentration director and the student's major department. It is possible to substitute other upper level science courses, depending on the interests of the student.

Biology
195 215 216 225 227 237 332 365	Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Aquatic Botany Vascular Plants Invertebrate Zoology Vertebrate Zoology Ecology Microbiology Environmental Microbiology
Chemistry
121 123 200 211, 212 206 327	Structure and Equilibrium Inorganic Chemistry: Introduction Chemistry and Social Problems Organic Chemistry Chemical Analysis Advanced Physical and Analytical Laboratory (.5 unit)
Geology
101 202 216 307 211 311	Introductory Geology Ground Water Environmental Geology Geochemistry Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems Advanced Geographic Information Systems
and one of the following:
Geology
205 208 306	Sedimentation and Stratigraphy Geomorphology Glaciers and the Pleistocene
Mathematics and Physics count as one focus area.
Mathematics and Computer Science
141 143 171 173	Calculus of a Single Variable I Calculus of a Single Variable II Introduction to Computer Science I Introduction to Computer Science II
Physics
115, 116 167, 168, 169 242	General Physics Analytical Physics I, II, III Introduction to Theoretical Physics

4. ENVN 220, Economics, Ethics and Environmental Policy (one unit).

5. One course in statistics from the Mathematics Department.

6. Attendance at a series of seminars each semester. In these, students who completed internships the previous semester will report on them, and other items of general interest, such as graduate schools and careers, will be discussed.

Environmental Sciences Curriculum