Coordinator: R. Fritz, Biology; Faculty: see Biology,
Chemistry, and Geology.
Environmental Science is designed for students who are considering
a career or further education in an area of environmental science. Environmental
Science consists of a correlate sequence that is structured to allow
students to enhance their knowledge in environmental science, to provide
them with a solid foundation with which to pursue environmental science
in the future, and to expose them to current issues in environmental
science and public policy. The way a particular student satisfies the
requirements for the correlate sequence is flexible, however, all students
must participate in the Environmental Science seminar during their junior
or senior year.
Students who elect the Environmental Science correlate sequence must
choose a correlate sequence advisor in their correlate department and
pursue a correlate option (see below) in one of the participating departments.
Requirements for the Correlate Sequence: 6 units, chosen as
described below, are required to complete the correlate sequence. Ordinarily,
no courses fulfilling the correlate sequence requirements may be used
to satisfy requirements in the student's major.
One 100–level unit, two 200–level units, and one 300–level
unit in one of the Correlate Departments: (Biology 151 and 152 and both
Chemistry 108 and 109 are required before advancing to the 200–level
courses in these departments)
Eligible Courses in Biology:
Biology 151 Evolution of Biological Diversity
(1)
Biology 208 Plant Structure and Diversity
Biology 226 Animal Structure and Diversity (1)
Biology 241 Ecology (1)
Biology 280 Environmental Science Field Trip*
(1)
Biology 298 Independent Work* (1)
Biology 350 Evolutionary Biology (1)
Biology 354 Plant–Animal Interactions (1)
Biology 356 Aquatic Ecology (1)
Eligible Courses in Chemistry:
Chemistry 108 General Chemistry (1)
Chemistry 109 General Chemistry (1)
Chemistry 244 Organic Chemistry: Structure and
Properties (1)
Chemistry 245 Organic Chemistry: Reactions and
Mechanisms (1)
Chemistry 298 Independent Research* (1)
Chemistry 335 Advanced Environmental Chemistry
(1)
Chemistry 350 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics
and Kinetics (1)
Chemistry 362 Instrumental Analysis (1)
Eligible Courses in Geology:
Geology 151 Earth, Environment and Humanity (1)
Geology 152 The Evolution of Earth and its Life
(1)
Geology 201 Earth Materials (1)
Geology 230 Soils and Terrestrial Ecosystems
(1)
Geology 240 Global Geophysics and Tectonics (1)
Geology 250 Sediments, Strata, and the Environment
(1)
Geology 260 GeomorphologySurface Processes and
Evolution of Landforms (1)
Geology 280 Oil (1)
Geology 280 Environmental Science Field Trip*
(1)
Geology 298 Independent Work* (1)
Geology 320 Advanced Topics in Environmental
Geology (1)
Geology 340 Field Geophysics (1)
Geology 350 Advanced Sedimentology (1)
Geology 360 Paleoclimatology: Earth's History
of Climate Change (1)
Geology 380 Computer methods and Modeling in
Geology (1)
*With correlate adviser's permission
One unit to be chosen from the following courses or an alternative
course approved by the correlate sequence adviser:
Geology 103 Earth System Science and Environmental
Justice (1)
Biology 206 Environmental Biology (also Science,
Technology, and Society 206) (1)
Geography 265 Population, Environment, and Sustainable
Development (1)
Geography 355 Environment and Land–Use Planning
(1)
Economics 267 Environmental and Natural Resource
Economics (1)
The following course is required of all students:
Environmental Science 301 Environmental Science
Seminar (may be completed in the junior or senior year) (1)
Students are urged to determine in advance if there are prerequisites
for courses that will be part of their correlate sequence
Advisers: Biology: Mr. Fritz, Mr. Suter; Geology:
Ms. Menking, Mr. McAdoo; Chemistry: Ms. Begemann and
Mr. Belli.
Course Offerings
(See biology, chemistry, and geology)
254a. Field Ecology and Geology of the Bahamas (1)
(Same as Biology 245, Geology 254) Study of significant ecological,
geological, and environmental areas on Andros Island, Bahamas. Students
and faculty study karst geological features, including current deposition,
blue holes, and fossil reefs, sands, coral reef structure and biological
diversity, and ecology of mangrove, intertidal, and scrubland habitats.
Field trips will study endemic and migrant birds and fish communities.
The course involves readings, lectures, and videos for seven weeks prior
to the field trip. During Fall Break students and faculty fly to Andros
Town, Bahamas and spend from seven to nine days at the George Mason
University Field Station studying the field sites. Mr. Fritz, Mr. McAdoo.
Prerequisites: Prior Biology or Geology coursework at the 200–level
and permission of instructors is required.
[280. Essentials of Environmental Science] (1)
A lecture/laboratory course in which basic topics in environmental
biology, geology, and chemistry are covered with examples from current
environmental issues used to illustrate the application and interdisciplinary
nature of these fields. This course treats the following topics: energy
sources and waste products, atmospheric patterns and climate, biogeochemical
cycles, properties of soils and water, and ecological processes. Using
these topics as a platform, this course examines the impact humanity
has on the environment and discusses strategies to diminish those effects.
The laboratory component includes field trips, field investigations,
and laboratory exercises.
Two 75–minute periods; one 4–hour laboratory.
Prerequisites: Two 100–level introductory courses in Biology,
Geology, or Chemistry or permission of the instructor.
[301b. Environmental Science Seminar] (1)
The Environmental Science Seminar, taken during the junior or senior
year consists of critical analyses of current issues in the interdisciplinary
field of Environmental Science. Mr. Fritz
One 2–hour period.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor is required.
Not offered in 2001/02.
399. Senior Independent Research (1)
Execution and analysis of a field or laboratory study. The project,
to be arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a
substantial paper as its final product. Open to seniors only.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor is required.