Environmental Sciences (Second Major)
The Second Major
Most students in the College of Arts and Letters or in the Mendoza College of Business may participate in the Environmental Sciences Program as a second major. Because of the sizable overlap in requirements, students in the College of Arts and Letters who have a second major in preprofessional studies will not be allowed to add this second major program. Students in the College of Science may also pursue Environmental Sciences as a second major unless it is prohibited by their first major. Second majors are required to complete a minimum of 37 credits of science. Students considering this program should investigate options brought to a first major by adding course work in environmental sciences. For example, students majoring in government and in environmental sciences could consider postgraduate study or careers in public policy. Students majoring in economics and in environmental sciences would have a good background for the developing field of environmental economics. A second major in Environmental Sciences also complements majors in the other sociological fields of anthropology, psychology, or sociology. Similarly, business students will likely find environmental sciences to be useful background when working with local or federal governments on issues of environmental compliance or when considering the impact of business decisions on the environment (environmental assessment). All students are urged to discuss their long-range career plans with advisors in both majors.
Most students who have a first major in one of the departments of the College of Arts and Letters or the Mendoza College of Business may participate in the Environmental Sciences Program as second majors. Because of the sizable overlap in requirements, students in the College of Arts and Letters who have a second major in preprofessional studies will not be allowed to add this second major program. Students in the College of Science may also pursue Environmental Sciences as a second major unless it is prohibited by their first major.
The requirements for second majors consist of the following science courses:1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Biology | 8 | |
| Biology I :Big Questions and Biological Investigations Laboratory | ||
| Biology II: Molecules to Ecosystems and Research Experience in Biology Laboratory | ||
| General Ecology | 4 | |
| General Ecology and Practical Ecology Laboratory | ||
| Chemistry | 7-8 | |
| Introduction to Chemical Principles and Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory | ||
| Organic Structure and Reactivity and Organic Structure and Reactivity Laboratory | ||
or CHEM 10122 | General Chemistry: Fundamental Principles and Biological Processes | |
| CHEM 20204 | Environmental Chemistry (or approved alternative) | 3 |
| SC 20110 & SC 21110 | Planet Earth and Planet Earth Laboratory (with lab) | 4 |
| BIOS 40411 | Biostatistics 2 | 4 |
| Biology or Geology elective 3 | 3-4 | |
- 1
As is the case for science first majors, six credits of the science course work in this program may also be counted toward the student’s university science requirement.
- 2
While Biostatistics (BIOS 40411) is the preferred course, other 3- or 4-credit statistics courses required for completion of a first major (i.e., economics, psychology) may be substituted for BIOS 40411 with the permission of the ES2 director. MATH 30540 is not an acceptable substitute for Biostatistics (BIOS 40411) or other statistics course, however. Although mathematics course work is not specifically required of this program, several required courses (BIOS 40411 or some of the first courses in physics) do have a prerequisite of one year of calculus (MATH 10350–MATH 10360 or equivalent). For all students in the College of Arts and Letters or the Mendoza College of Business, the mathematics sequence MATH 10350–MATH 10360 is acceptable for completion of the university mathematics requirement; thus, this sequence is recommended for students considering Environmental Sciences as a second major. Students lacking this mathematics background may have to take further course work in mathematics to meet the prerequisites in mathematics of courses in this program.
- 3
Chosen from approved biology or geology electives listed in note 7 above or one first course in physics (PHYS 10111 or PHYS 10310 or PHYS 10411 or PHYS 30210) or an approved survey course: Concepts of Energy and the Environment (PHYS 10052) or Concepts of Energy and the Environment (PHYS 10052) and others as designated.
The total required course work requires a minimum total of 32 credits in science beyond the University math requirement.
Note, the same policy applies for Environmental Sciences first and second majors: All College of Science courses specified by the major program must be taken at the University of Notre Dame. (An exception is made for any science courses taken for this major through an approved Notre Dame study abroad program.)
Sample Curriculum (Second Majors)
Students should remember that all science major programs require course work that builds upon prerequisites and thus require careful planning. A sample curriculum for second majors is given below. Note: Only the courses for the second major are listed.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| Gen Chemistry I lecture and lab 1 | 4 | |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Gen Chemistry II lecture and lab 1 | 4 | |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Biology I lecture and lab | 4 | |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Biology I lecture and lab | 4 | |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Planet Earth lecture and lab | 4 | |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Biostatistics | 4 | |
| CHEM requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| General Ecology lecture | 3 | |
| Practical Ecology lab | 2 | |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Course selection(s) to complete second major as needed. 3 | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
- 1
Calculus A (MATH 10350)–Calculus B (MATH 10360) or equivalent are not included in the minimum total of 37 credits in this sequence; satisfies the University math requirement.
- 2
Students may take Environmental Chemistry (CHEM 20204) or Planet Earth (SC 20110) or other approved CHEM, CE, or SC electives.
- 3
Students whose final requirement is a three-credit class in BIOS, CE, or SC may take Current Topics in Environmental Science (BIOS 40491) to complete the major with the permission of the director of the ES major.