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Biological Science Applications
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
Learn More
- Admissions Information
- Visit ESF
- College Catalog (Program course/credit requirements)
- B.S. Program Handbook (Complete program details)
- Option Declaration Form (PDF)
Coordinator:
Professor Charles Hall
Dept. of Environmental and Forest Biology
354 Illick Hall
315.470.6870
email: chall@esf.edu
Advising Faculty:
James Gibbs, Charles Hall, Karin Limburg, Tsutomu Nakatsugawa,
William Shields
The Biological Science Applications Option is designed for students interested in careers at the interface of biology and socioeconomic issues. This Option provides solid background in the biological sciences pertinent to our natural resources and ecosystems on the one hand and a grounding in the social sciences on the other. In contrast to the traditional biology program, this Option emphasizes the interaction of both biological and societal issues. Specific goals of the Option are:
- Provide a sound background in biological sciences;
- Foster a broad systems view of our society, biological resources and ecosystems (or some other level of biology such as an endangered population or microbial process or biotechnology) affected by human activity;
- Develop a capacity to make independent judgments of environmental issues based on scientific principles and socio-political understanding; and
- Enhance effective skills in communicating scientific/technical issues of a biological nature in socio-political settings.
Students in this Option prepare for careers dealing with many environmental issues of society including regulatory, consulting and advisory positions in governmental agencies as well as employment in education or in the private sector such as environmental consulting firms and activist organizations. Many of these contexts demand practical solutions that require sound judgment of biological facts against the realities of our society. While people of various backgrounds may fill this job market, graduates of this Option will do best in careers that demand articulate communication skills supported by scientific understanding. Many of our students go on for advanced degrees in science, law or business. Some become university teachers or researchers. Increasingly, members of this Option take ESF's new energy minor and prepare for a career at the interface of energy and biology. Such careers can focus on biofuels, decreasing the environmental impacts of energy, improving the management of natural resources or in understanding the relations among energy, environment and economics. ESF provides a broad series of courses and personnel that can lead to an excellent education in these areas.
Biological Science Applications Option Requirements [1]
| Category | Description | Credits |
Scientific Breadth: One course required from each category. |
Microbes Course | 9 |
| Plants Course | ||
| Animals Course | ||
Focus Area: At total of four courses required. At least 2 advanced courses from one of the Focus Areas. |
Biological Interpretation | 12 |
| Biological Management | ||
| Environmental Quality | ||
| Biological Systems | ||
| GIS | Geographic Information Systems Course | 3 |
| Policy/Law | Policy Course or Law Course | 3 |
Total Option Credits |
27 |
Biological Science Applications Breadth Requirements
Take one course from each category:
| Microbes | Plants | Animals |
| EFB 303 Intro. Env. Biology (F) | EFB 326 Div. of Plants (S) | EFB 352 Entomology (F) |
| EFB 340 For. Shade Tree Path. (S) | EFB 336 Dendrology (F) | EFB 355 Invert. Zoology |
| EFB 440 Mycology | EFB 445 Plant Ecology | EFB 486 Ichthyology |
| EFB 443 Plant Virology (S, even years) | EFB 483 Mammal Diversity (F) | |
| EFB 505 Microbial Ecology |
Biological Science Applications Focus Area Requirements
A total of four focus area courses is required. Each student must take at least 2 advanced courses from one of the Focus Areas. The student and Advisor may develop an individualized Biological Focus that includes the Senior Synthesis. The lists below are illustrative.
| Biological Interpretation | Biological Management | Environmental Quality | Biological Systems |
| EFB 416 Intro to Env. Interpretation | EFB 413 Conservation Biology | EST 550 Env. Impact Analysis | FOR 490 Integrated Forestry |
| EFB 517 Persp. on Interpretive Design | EFB 487 Fisheries Biology | FOR 334 Silviculture | EFB 445 Ecol. Biogeochemistry |
| EFB 490 Wildlife Ecology & Mgmt. | EFB 351 Forest Insects And Diseases | EFB 516 Ecosystems | |
| EFB 491 Applied Wildlife | EFB 400 Toxic Health Hazards | EFB 518 Systems Ecology | |
| EFB 493 Wildlife Habitats & Pop. | EFB 540 Forest Health Monitoring | EFB 519 Geographic Modeling | |
| EFB 522 Envir. Research & Developmt. | |||
| EFB 523 Tropical Ecology | |||
| EFB 424 Limnology | |||
| EFB 542 Freshwater Wetlands | |||
Geographic Information Systems Courses
- ESF 300 Introduction to Geospatial Information Technologies
Policy or Law Courses
Take one:
- EST 460 Land Use Law (S)
- EST 550 Environmental Impact Analysis (S)
- FOR 465 Natural Resources and Environmental Policy (S)
- FOR 487 Environmental Law & Policy (F)
Senior Synthesis
BSA students pursuing the advanced coursework Option should consider the following:
- EFB 400 Toxic Health Hazards
- EFB 518 Systems Ecology
- EFB 522 Biophysical Economics
Typical Course Sequence
This is a possible sequence for the option. In consultation with your advisor, you will need to adjust this sequence to suit your specific situation.
| Junior - Fall | Credits | |
| EFB 320 | General Ecology | 4 |
| EST 361 |
History of the American Environmental Movement |
3 |
| Upper Division Environmental Studies Social Science | 3 | |
| BSA Breadth Option Microbes Course | 3 | |
| BSA Breadth Option Animals Course | 3 | |
Total Semester Credits |
16 | |
| Junior - Spring | ||
| EWP 410 | Writing for Environmental Professionals | 3 |
| APM 391 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| EST 321 | Government and the Environment | 3 |
| BSA Breadth Option Plants Course | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
Total Semester Credits |
15 | |
| Senior - Fall | ||
| Upper Division Computing or Natural Science Course | 4 | |
| GIS Course | 3 | |
| BSA Option Focus Area Course | 3 | |
| BSA Option Focus Area Course | 3 | |
| Senior Synthesis | 3 | |
Total Semester Credits |
16 | |
| Senior - Spring | ||
| EST 494 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies | 1 |
| BSA Option Policy Course or Law Course | 3 | |
| BSA Option Focus Area Course | 3 | |
| BSA Option Focus Area Course | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
Total Semester Credits |
16 | |
[1] Please note the specific lower division required courses for students in the Biological Science Applications option. See catalog for requirements.
