We have one of the oldest Environmental Science degree programs in the U.S. Our location is obviously well suited for environmental studies. Not only are we located within Daniel Boone National Forest, we have State and National Forest Service offices, the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, the US Army Corp. of Engineer’s Cave Run Lake, and our own wetland teaching/research area.
Contemporary regional problems in natural resources are holistic: ecological, economical, sociological, technological, and political. It is important to understand the processes and principles of the environment to deal with these issues. Scientists and professionals are needed who, after achieving a solid disciplinary education in science-related fields as undergraduates, have learned integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to deal with these problems. The Environmental Science program is designed to cut across traditional discipline boundaries to provide an understanding the natural resource science and management. The program philosophy emphasizes a systematic and interdisciplinary approach to natural resource issues and the effective communication of knowledge and information. The degrees prepare students for work in public service, government, education, or nonprofit organizations.
There is a need in the region for broadly-trained scientists with expertise in field biology and environmental assessment and analysis. Much of Appalachia has been, or is being, polluted by various sources, and extraction of natural resources is a major industry in the region. The Environmental Science Program offers a B.S. degree in Environmental Science, and M.S. degree in Biology, which trains professionals to manage, monitor, and assess those resources.
The Environmental Science Program has a greater than average number of transfer students. Agreements have been reached with Maysville Community College and Hocking Technical College to facilitate transfers from their 2-yr. Environmental Science programs. There are numerous collaborations between faculty/students and local government agencies (e.g. US Forest Service, health departments, regional Natural Resource Conservation Service, regional water treatment and sewage treatment plants).
The environmental lab, plant collections, and animal collections are constantly under expansion and are accessible for student use.
The faculty in the program have a strong background in environmental issues, and are connected to state and local agencies. These working relationships help us prepare students for the current job market. All the faculty see instruction as their primary mission, and the quantitative and qualitative measures of instruction rate us very high. Students complete an academically rigorous program, and indicate that they are well prepared. Our faculty includes outstanding field taxonomists, experts in environmental assessments and geographic information. All the faculty are very student oriented, and interact with students both inside and outside the classroom. The student Environmental Science Club, which is directed by faculty, is renown on campus for its activities. Our laboratory facilities for chemical analysis of water are excellent. Our ecology and animal collection labs are well equipped with the latest technology. We have greenhouse, herbarium, fish collection, bird and mammal collection, aquatic insect collection, natural history museum, aquatic toxicology lab, ecology lab, and water testing lab. We constantly upgrade our technology to provide students with the best of what is available.
Program Competencies
Students successfully completing the Area of Concentration in Environmental Science should possess the following:
1. Written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in the basic sciences that will allow the graduate to utilize information relevant to the area of environmental and ecological sciences.
2. An awareness of the basic scientific concepts in the physical and biological sciences and the application of such concepts to the field of environmental science.
3. An awareness of the importance of the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences as well as environmental science to the society comprising humans and nature.
4. A basic understanding of the literature of population, resources, biological principles, hydrological and limnological sciences, physical geology, environmental testing as well as the environmental aspects of ethics, governmental laws and policies.
5. A general competency in basic inorganic and organic chemistry as well as mathematics, statistics and introductory soil science.
Assessment Procedures
Exit examinations
Employer feedback
Graduate feedback
An Area of Concentration in Environmental Science is offered with two tracks. Track 1 has an Emphasis in Biology. Track 2 has an Emphasis in Biology and Regional Analysis. In either track, the student must work closely with his/her advisor to assure that proper course sequences are followed. Private industry, federal and state government agencies, municipalities, public utilities, research agencies and ecological contracting firms are primary sources of employment.
Track 1: Emphasis in Biology
Core Requirments
BIOL 171 Principles of Biology 4
BIOL 210 General Zoology 4
BIOL 215 General Botany 4
BIOL 317 Principles of Microbiology 4
BIOL 461 Ecology 3
BIOL 499C Contemporary Environmental Issues 3
MATH 353 Statistics 3
Total Hours for Biological Sciences Core = 25
Option Requirments
BIOL 155 Introduction to Environmental Science 3
BIOL 356 Environmental Biology 3
BIOL 357 Environmental Testing Methods 3
BIOL 409 Limnology 3
Total Hours for Environmental Science Option = 12
Advanced Biology Electives
Student must complete any three of the following courses:
BIOL 318 Local Flora 3
BIOL 334 Entomology 3
BIOL 450 Aquatic Entomology 3
BIOL 433 Ichthyology 3
BIOL 434 Herpetology 3
BIOL 438 Mammalogy 3
BIOL 441 Ornithology 3
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory courses may be used to fulfill an advanced biology elective category. See statement concerning MSU's affiliation agreement with GCRL at the end of the biology program descriptions on page 141 of the 2008-2009 Morehead State University Undergraduate Catalog .
Total Hours of Advanced Biology Electives = 9
Supplemental Courses
Chemistry
Students must select one of the following Chemistry sequences:
Sequence I
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I 4
CHEM 112 Principles of Chemistry II 4
CHEM 326 Organic Chemistry I; or
CHEM 360 Analytical Chemistry 4
Sequence II
CHEM 101 Survey of Chemistry 4
CHEM 201 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4
BIOL/CHEM 301 Fundamentals of Biochemistry 4
Other
MATH 152 College Algebra or higher 3
AGR 211Soil Science 3
ECON 401 Environmental Economics
or
GEO 349 Cartography I
or
GEO 351 Introduction to GIS 3
ESS 108 Physical Geology 4
ESS 376 Environmental Geology 3
ESS 425 Hydrogeology 3
or
ITCM 307 Hydrology 3
GOVT 324 Environmental Law and Policy 3
Total Hours of Supplemental Requirements = 37
Track 2: Emphasis in Biology and Regional Analysis
The Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy, MSU's Program of Distinction, offers a core of courses (18 hours) in regional analysis that can be combined with Track 1 listed above. This track includes all of the requirements of Track 1 and the addition of 18 hours of courses taught in the Institute of Regional Analysis & Public Policy (IRAPP) listed below.
Program Competencies
Graduates of the program will possess the following:
1. Written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in the basic sciences that will allow the graduate to use information relevant to the area of environmental and ecological sciences.
2. An awareness of the basic scientific concepts in the physical, biological, and social sciences and the application of such concepts to the field of environmental science.
3. An awareness of the importance of the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences as well as environmental science to the society comprising humans and nature.
4. A basic understanding of the literature of population, resources, biological principles, hydrological and limnological sciences, physical geology, environmental testing as well as the environmental aspects of ethics, environmental testing as well as the environmental aspects of ethics, governmental laws and policies.
5. A general competency in basic inorganic chemistry as well as mathematics, statistics and introductory soil science.
6. The ability to carry out studies in their area of expertise that include a significant analysis of regional resources and issues.
7. The ability to present research and policy reports that are comprehensible to audiences of various public policymakers.
8. The ability to interpret the output of regional resource analyses and their potential use in formulating public policy.
IRAPP Core
RAPP 200 Basic Computer Techniques in Regional Analysis 3
RAPP 201 Introduction to Regional Analysis 3
RAPP 300 Seminar in Regional Issues I 3
RAPP 350 Practicing Regional Analysis I 3
RAPP 450 Practicing Regional Analysis II 3
RAPP 490 Seminar in Regional Issues II 3
Total Hours of IRAPP Core= 18
