Research Track - 33 credits:
After the successful completion of 12 ENV credits, students are required to meet with their adviser to discuss the student’s remaining academic path. Once the research track is chosen, a student may not switch from this track to the non-research track.
Thesis Option:
Upon the successful completion of 12 ENV credits, ENV faculty will invite a limited number of exceptional students to complete a comprehensive thesis project. If the student accepts, they are responsible for securing a thesis advisor and committee. Thesis students must complete 6 elective credits, as well as ENV 515 and ENV 580 Thesis (6 credits), for a program total of 33 credits
Independent Project Option:
Students choosing to complete an independent project must complete ENV 515 and ENV 579 Project (3 credits), and 9 elective credits for a program total of 33 credits. Of the 9 elective credits, 3 must be designated as lab or field credits (ENV 522-528 and ENV 565).
Alternative Track - 33 credits:
After the successful completion of 12 ENV credits, students are required to meet with their adviser to discuss the student’s remaining academic path. If the alternative track is chosen, they have the flexibility to switch between the two options under this track, but it is not possible to change from the alternative track to the research track.
Internship Option:
As part of their 33 credits, internship students will complete a 3-credit internship (ENV 591) at an approved facility through the ENV program director. Students are required to complete ENV 515 and 9 elective credits for a program total of 33 credits; three of 9 elective credits must be designated as lab or field credits, such as ENV 522, ENV 526, ENV 528 and ENV 565.
ENV 591 | Internship in Environmental Biology | 3.0 |
Capstone Option:
Students, who choose the capstone option, are required to complete a program total of 33 credits, which includes 12 elective credits; three of the 12 elective credits must be designated as lab or field credits, such as ENV 522, ENV 526, ENV 528 and ENV 565.
As part of their 33 credits, capstone students must successfully complete:
Once a student enrolls in ENV 578, they are not permitted to change options within the alternate track.
Elective Courses
Electives include, but are not limited to, the following:
If not taken as part of core requirements:
Examples of research topics
- Native insect pollinators in sustainable agriculture
- Amino acid metabolism in corals and anemones
- Restoration ecology of the regal fritillary butterfly
- The effect of atrazine on earthworm reproduction
- The effects of crayfish on headwater stream communities
- Nitrogen mineralization and phosphorus availability in composted poultry litter
- Antibiotic resistance patterns in fecal streptococcus from environmental samples
- Environmental stresses causing DNA damage and it subsequent repair in sea anemones
- An evaluation of membrane bioreactors to treatment saline wastewaters in marine aquaculture
- Morphological systematics of the Crystal Darter
- Nonnative plant invasion following hurricane damage
- Chemical interactions between competing mosquito species