College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Environmental Science

http://www.ensc.vt.edu/

James R. McKenna, Chair
Program Advisory Committee: J. R. McKenna (chair); W. L. Daniels; T. A. Dillaha; D. L. Gallagher; G. L. Long; D. J. Parrish;
J. Randolph; J. R. Voshell; J. R. Webster
Coordinating Counselors and Career Advisors:
M. J. Eick (231-8943; eick@vt.edu); D. J. Parrish (231-9778; dparrish@vt.edu)

CSES Professor and student

Overview

    This program brings the basic sciences to bear on many crucial concerns about the environment. The environmental matters of particular interest revolve around ecosystems and our land and water resources. Specific concerns include ecosystem services, environmental protection, land-use planning, waste management, ground- and surface-water quality, reclamation and remediation of disturbed or contaminated sites, and minimizing agricultural and other human impacts on the environment.

    The environmental science curriculum is multidisciplinary and strongly science and technology oriented. The basic sciences and computational skills are at the core of each of the major's four options, but specific requirements make each option unique. The curriculum prepares one for immediate entry into environmental careers, as well as for graduate specializations. The environmental job market is quite strong, with a shortage of qualified individuals in the field.

    The four concentrations, or curricular options, within the major and some of the career opportunities associated with each are as follows:

Aquatic Resources Option

    The emphasis in this option is on fresh water. Both surface- and ground-water quality become degraded as a result of human activities. Those processes, their consequences, and solutions are the focus of this option. Students in this option are entering careers in the areas of regulation, remediation, and environmental protection.

Land Resources Option

    This option develops an understanding of many of the complex biological, chemical, economic, geological, and soil factors that must enter into good decisions on land use. The graduates in this option find employment with various governmental agencies and in the private sector.

Plant Resources Option

    Plants are used in a variety of ways to solve environmental problems. Reclamation of disturbed areas often involves establishing vegetation. Plants are important components of wetlands, which provide a number of important environmental functions. Plants may also be used to remove pollutants from the soil or water. This option provides a track for students seeking environmental careers that build on their interest in plants.

Waste Management Option

    Our "throw-away society" has begun to feel many of the consequences of that ethic. This option deals not only with environmental cleanup and safe disposal but also with waste minimization, recycling, and other alternatives. Graduates find opportunities in regulatory agencies as well as in the private sector. The reclamation industry is a major employer, as are manufacturers and municipalities that must comply with waste management laws.

Requirements for a Major

Students must complete all of the core requirements listed below plus the additional requirements for at least one of the four options.

Math, Technology, and Natural Sciences Core
BIOL 1105,1106,1115,1116: Principles of Biology, Lab 8
CEE 3104: Intro to Environmental Engineering 3
CHEM 1035, 1036, 1045, 1046: General Chemistry, Lab 8
CHEM 3114, 3124: Analytical Chem. for Life Sciences, Lab 4
CHEM 2535, 2545: Organic Chemistry, Lab 4
CSES 1004: Introduction to Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences 1
CSES/ENSC 3114, 3124: Soils, Lab 4
ENSC 3604: Fundamentals of Environmental Science 3
ENSC 3634: Physics of Pollution 3
ENSC 4004: Senior Seminar 1
GEOS 4804: Groundwater Hydrology 3
MATH 1016,2015,2016: Elementary Calculus with Trig. I/II 9
PHYS 2205: General Physics 3
STAT 3615: Biological Statistics 3
Humanities, Writing, and Social Sciences Core
AAEC 1005,1006: Economics of Food & Fiber System 6
ENGL 1105,1106: Freshman English 6
ENGL 3764: Technical Writing 3
Creativity and Aesthetic Experience (Liberal Education Area 6) 1/3
Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values (Liberal Education Area 2) 6
Additional Requirements for the Aquatic Resources Option
BIOL 2604, 2614: General Microbiology, Lab 4
BIOL 2804: Ecology 3
BIOL 4004: Freshwater Ecology 4
BIOL/CEE/CSES/ENSC 4164; Environmental Microbiology 3
CSES 4594: Soil/Groundwater Pollution 3
Technical Electives (40+ courses from which to choose) 18
Additional Requirements for the Land Resources Option
CSES 4124: Soil Survey and Taxonomy 3
CSES/CEE 4594: Soil and Groundwater Pollution 3
CSES 4734: Environmental Soil Chemistry 3
CSES/ENSC/GEOG 4844: Soil Interpretation Using GIS and DSS 3
GEOG 4084: Introduction to GIS 3
GEOS 1004, 1104: Physical Geology, Lab 4
UAP 4374: Land Use & Environment: Planning & Policy 3
Technical Electives (40+ courses from which to choose) 13
Additional Requirements for the Plant Resources Option
BIOL 2304: Plant Biology 3
BIOL 2604, 2614: General Microbiology, Lab 4
BIOL 2804, 3114: Ecology, Lab 4
BIOL 3204: Plant Taxonomy 3
ENSC 3644: Plant Materials for Environmental Restoration 3
PPWS 3505,3506,3514: Plant Physiology & Environment 7
Technical Electives (40+ courses from which to choose) 11
Additional Requirements for the Waste Management Option
BIOL 2604,2614: General Microbiology, Lab 4
BIOL/CEE/CSES/ENSC 4164: Environmental Microbiology 3
CEE 4174: Solid & Hazardous Waste Management 3
CEE/CSES 4594: Soil/Groundwater Pollution 3
CSES/ENSC 4734: Environmental Soil Chemistry 3
GEOS 1004, 1104: Physical Geology, Lab 3
Technical Electives (40+ courses from which to choose) 15
Total credits (all options)
120

Requirements for a Minor

    The environmental science program also offers a minor. The requirements include CSES/ENSC 3114 plus 3124 (or CSES/ENSC 3134) and ENSC 3604 and 14 to 15 more hours selected from a set of 23 courses. See 240 Smyth Hall or www.ensc.vt.edu for more information about a minor in environmental science.

Satisfactory Progress

    By the end of the academic year in which a student has attempted 60 hours, "satisfactory progress" will include:

  1. declaring an option within ENSC
  2. passing the following:
      BIOL 1105, 1106, 1115, 1116
      12 hours of CHEM
      ENSC 3604
      CSES/ENSC 3114 and 3124
      9 hours of MATH and/or STAT

Opportunities to Excel

    Students with outstanding records can qualify for the Honors Program and graduate "in honors" in environmental science. Other opportunities for personal and professional growth and for recognition include the department-sponsored Environmental Student Organization, membership in Alpha Zeta and other honoraries, and several scholarships designated for majors. Faculty members work with undergraduates on a variety of environmental research projects. Many employers seek environmental science majors for internship and co-op positions.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (ENSC)

2964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.

2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

3114 (CSES 3114) (GEOS 3614): SOILS
Characterization of soils as a natural resource emphasizing their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties in relation to nutrient availability, fertilization, plant growth, land-use management, waste application, soil and water quality, and food production. For CSES, ENSC, and related plant- and earth-science majors. Partially duplicates 3134. Junior standing. Pre: CHEM 1036. Co: 3124. (3H,3C) I.

3124 (CSES 3124) (GEOS 3624): SOILS LABORATORY
Parent materials, morphology, physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils and related soil management and land use practices will be studied in field and lab. Partially duplicates 3134. Co: 3114. (3L,1C) I.

3134 (CSES 3134): SOILS IN THE LANDSCAPE
A study of soils as functional landscape components, emphasizing their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties in relation to plant growth, nutrient availability, land-use management, and soil and water quality. Primarily for FOR/FIW, LAR, and other plant/earth science related majors. May not be taken by CSES or ENSC majors. Partially duplicates 3114 and 3124. Pre: one year of introductory CHEM or BIOL or GEOS. (2H,3L,3C) II.

3604: FUNDAMENTALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Interrelationships between human activities and the environment; provides national and global perspective; emphasis is on the physical, chemical, and biological principles and processes that are essential to an understanding of human-environment interactions; the role of energy in human and natural systems; environmental legislation and human behavior. I Pre: BIOL 1105 or CHEM 1035. (3H,3C)

3634 (CSES 3634): PHYSICS OF POLLUTION
Physical processes that control the fate of pollutants in our land, air, and water resources. Types and sources of pollutants, physical processes in the soil-water-atmosphere continuum controlling the dispersion and deposition of pollutants, the movement of pollutants, including radionuclides, by surface and subsurface water flow in soils, and physics of disturbed soils. I Pre: (CSES 3114, PHYS 2206, MATH 2016). (3H,3C)

3644 (CSES 3644): PLANT MATERIALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION
Overview of ecological principles related to revegetation and restoration of disturbed sites. Function and species requirements of plants in stabilizing disturbed areas including mines, rights-of-way, constructed wetlands, and for the remediation of contaminated soils. I Pre: BIOL 1106. Co: CSES 3114. (3H,3C)

4004: SENIOR SEMINAR
Professional ethics within environmental science; critical consideration of topics of current interest in environmental science. Senior standing required. Restricted to ENSC majors. I (1H,1C)

4114 (CSES 4114): SOIL PHYSICS
Application of the principles of physics and mathematical analysis to the study of soils. Covers the physical nature and properties of soil solids, basic soil mechanics, physical state of water in soils, infiltration and movement of water in soils, mass transport in soil solutions, soil gases and soil aeration, heat and heat transfer in soils. I Pre: CSES 3114, PHYS 2205, MATH 2015. (3H,3L,4C)

4164 (BIOL 4164) (CEE 4164) (CSES 4164): ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
Ecology, physiology, and diversity of soil and aquatic microorganisms; incorporates the significance of these topics within the context of environmental applications such as bioremediation, wastewater treatment, control of plant- pathogens in agriculture, and pollution abatement in natural systems. The laboratory portion of the course will stress methodology development, isolation and characterization of microorganisms from natural and engineered systems, and examination of the roles of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycling. Pre: BIOL 2604. (2H,3L,3C) II.

4734 (CHEM 4734) (CSES 4734): ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY
Chemistry of inorganic and organic soil components with emphasis on environmental significance of soil solution-solid phase equilibria, sorption phenomena, ion exchange processes, reaction kinetics, redox reactions, and acidity and salinity processes. I Pre: CSES 3114, CSES 3124, CHEM 2514 or CHEM 2535, CHEM 3114, MATH 2015. (3H,3C)

4754 (CHEM 4754) (CSES 4754): INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Theory and principles of common analytical instruments and their applications to agriculture and environmental science research. Topics include atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy, spectrophotometric methods (UV, visible, luminescence, and automation), chromatography, ion-selective electrodes, and microwave digestion. Infrared spectroscopy, atomic ratio and molecular mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance will also be included. Provides hands-on experience with modern analytical instruments. Prerequisites or graduate standing required. Pre: (CHEM 3114, CHEM 3124) or (CSES 3114, CSES 3124). (3H,3L,4C) II.

4774 (CSES 4774): RECLAMATION OF DRASTICALLY DISTURBED LANDS
Remediation, rehabilitation, revegetation strategies for lands disturbed by mining, construction, industrialization, and mineral waste disposal. Disturbed site characterization and materials analysis procedures. Regulatory and environmental monitoring frameworks for mining sites and other disturbed lands. Prediction and remediation of water quality impacts from acid drainage. Pre: CSES 3114 or ENSC 3114 or GEOS 3614 or CSES 3134 or ENSC 3134 or CSES 3304 or GEOG 3304 or GEOS 3304.(3H,3C)

4854 (CSES 4854): WETLAND SOILS AND MITIGATION
Wetland soils as components of natural landscapes: biogeochemistry, hydrology, geomorphology, hydric soil indicators, and classification. Soil and hydrolic factors important to wetland delineation and jurisdictional determination. Mitigation of wetland impacts with emphasis on restoration and creation. Constructed wetlands for water treatment. Odd years. I Pre: 3114 or 3134 or CSES 3304. (3H,3C)

4964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

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