About Environmental Science
Understanding and managing human impact on natural systems. Courses carry the ENVS subject code and are offered through the College of Science & Mathematics. Numbers below 300 are introductory, 300–499 advanced undergraduate, and 500 and above graduate. Prerequisites are enforced at registration.
How the sequence works
Of the 9 ENVS courses listed, 2 are introductory (numbers under 300), 2 are advanced undergraduate (300–499). 2 courses have no prerequisite and are a reasonable first step. Later courses assume the earlier ones, so read prerequisites before you plan a term — they are enforced at registration and an override from the Environmental Science department is the only way around them.
ENVS 1500 — Introduction to Environmental Science 4 cr
Ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, population, resources, pollution, and climate, with lab and field work.
Prerequisite: none.
ENVS 2100 — Environmental Chemistry 4 cr
Chemistry of the atmosphere, water, and soil; contaminants; and analytical methods, with lab.
Prerequisite: CHEM 1050.
ENVS 2300 — Geographic Information Systems 3 cr
Spatial data, projections, analysis, and cartography, with hands-on projects.
Prerequisite: none.
ENVS 2500 — Ecology 4 cr
Populations, communities, and ecosystems, with field methods.
Prerequisite: BIOL 1010.
ENVS 3100 — Hydrology and Water Resources 3 cr
The water cycle, surface and groundwater, watershed analysis, and water policy.
Prerequisite: ENVS 1500.
ENVS 3300 — Environmental Policy and Law 3 cr
Major statutes, the regulatory process, economics of the environment, and case studies.
Prerequisite: ENVS 1500.
ENVS 3500 — Environmental Sampling and Analysis 4 cr
Field sampling design, QA/QC, laboratory analysis, and reporting to a standard.
Prerequisite: ENVS 2100.
ENVS 3700 — Restoration Ecology 3 cr
Principles and practice of restoring degraded ecosystems, with a field project.
Prerequisite: ENVS 2500.
ENVS 4900 — Environmental Capstone 3 cr
A team assessment or management plan for a real site and client.
Prerequisite: senior standing.
Planning and advising
Your degree audit shows exactly how ENVS courses apply to your requirements; this list only shows what is offered. If you are choosing between two courses, deciding when to take a heavy one, or wondering whether a course will run next term, your academic adviser or the Environmental Science program office can tell you. Course availability by term is set close to registration and is not guaranteed by anything on this page.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. Every course, prerequisite, credit value, and department on this page is invented; nothing here describes a real curriculum or a course you can enroll in.