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Institute of Environmental Research and Education
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Environmental Science Degree

The UNF Environmental Science B.S., available for admission starting spring 2025, was designed to meet student demand and workplace needs. The degree will be delivered primarily through face-to-face instruction with a strong emphasis on community-based learning in Jacksonville and local issues specific to our region, with the goal of placing students in graduate programs around the state or in jobs in northeast Florida. The program of study was designed by a team of interdisciplinary faculty on the IERE Faculty Board and the IERE Community Council, comprised of environmental community and industry leaders in northeast Florida.  The degree will be housed in the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE), like the current minor in Environmental Studies, to encourage interdisciplinarity, capitalize on IERE Faculty Board expertise, connect with IERE Community Council and employers, and maximize flexibility and efficiency.

The Environmental Science B.S. degree has two concentrations - Environmental Natural Sciences and Environmental Principles and Practice. The degree will utilize existing courses from UNF’s six colleges as well as new courses that will be offered by IERE. New IERE courses will be taught by IERE Joint Faculty and focus on two main priorities – coastal resilience (three elective courses), community engagement and professional development (three required courses). 

  • Concentration 1: Environmental Natural Sciences

    Training in natural and applied sciences. Prepare for graduate school and or a career that entails scientific fieldwork and or laboratory work.

    • Major Prerequisites (30 credits)

      • MAC 2311: (GM) Calculus I (4); OR MAC 1147: (GM) Precalculus (4)

      • BSC 2010: Biological Science I (3) and BSC 2010L: Biological Science I Laboratory (1); OR BSC 1010C: General Biology I (4)

      • BSC 2011: Biological Science II (3) and BSC 2011L: Biological Science II Laboratory (1); OR BSC 1011C: General Biology II (4)

      • CHM 2045C: General Chemistry I (4); OR CHM 1045: General Chemistry I and CHM 1045L: General Chemistry I Laboratory (1); OR CHM 2045: General Chemistry I (3) and CHM 2045L: General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1)

      • CHM 2046C: General Chemistry II (4); OR CHM 1046: General Chemistry II and CHM 1046L: General Chemistry II Laboratory; OR CHM 2046: General Chemistry II (3) and CHM 2046L: General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)

      • PHY 2048: General Physics A Without Laboratory (3) and PHY 2048L: General Physics A Laboratory (0); OR PHY 2048C: General Physics A (5); OR PHY 2048C: Calculus-Based Physics I (4); OR PHY 2053C: Algebra-Based Physics (4)

      • GLY 2010C: Physical Geology (4); GLY 2010: Introduction to Geology (3) and GLY 1010L: Introduction Geology (1); OR GLY 2010: Physical Geology (3)

      • STA 2023: (GM) Fundamental Business Statistics (3); OR STA 2014: Elementary Statistics for Health and Social Science (3)

    • Major Requirements (60 credits)

      • Five Foundation Areas (42 credits)

        1. Environmental Natural Science (18). Courses in area focused on biology, ecology, chemistry, geology, physics, earth science, including EVS 3XXX - Coastal Resilience and the Natural Environment.

        2. Applied Environmental Science (12). Courses in area focused on environmental health, conservation natural resources, GIS, applied engineering geology, principles of land development, green construction, including EVS 3XXX - Coastal Resilience and the Built Environment.

        3. Environmental Social Sciences (6). Courses in area focused on Florida history, environmental ethics, policy, religion and nature, conservation psychology, geography, including EVS 3XXX - Coastal Resilience and the Social and Behavioral Environment.

        4. Research Design and Methodology (3). Courses in area focused on survey research, data mining, research methods.

        5. Communication and Outreach (3). Courses in area focused on marketing, interpersonal communication, scientific writing, public relation campaigns.

      • Required Core Courses (9 credits)

        • EVS 3XXX Environmental Foundations (3)

        • EVS 3XXX Environmental Professional Preparation (3)

        • EVS 3XXX Environmental Practical Experience/Internship (3)

      • Free Elective Courses (any 1000-4000 level courses) (9 credits)

  • Concentration 2: Environmental Principles & Practice

    Training and focus in environmental studies including the political, economic, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of environmental issues. Prepare for graduate school and/or a career in environmental management, leadership, resilience, and decision-making.

    • Major Prerequisites (28 credits) 

      • MAC 1147: (GM) Precalculus (4)

      • BSC 1005: General Biology For Non-Majors (3) and BSC 1005L: General Biology Laboratory for Non-Majors (1); OR BSC 2010: Biology 1 (3) and BSC 2010L: Biology 1 Laboratory (1); OR BSC 1010C: General Biology I (4) 

      • CHM 2045C: General Chemistry I (4); OR CHM 2045: General Chemistry I (3) and CHM 2045L: General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)

      • CHM 2046C: General Chemistry II (4); OR CHM 2046: General Chemistry II (3) and CHM 2046L: General Chemistry II Laboratory (1); OR PHY 1020: Discovering How Things Work (3) and PHY 2010L: Discovering How Things Work Laboratory (1)

      • GEO 1200: Physical Geography (3) and GEO 2200L: Physical Geography Laboratory (1); OR GLY 2010: Physical Geology (3) and GLY 2010L: Physical Geology Laboratory (1); OR ESC 1000C: Introduction to Earth Science (3); OR ESC 2000: Introduction to Earth Science (3) and ESC 2000L: Introduction to Earth Science Laboratory (1); OR GLY 2010: Physical Geology (3)

      • BOT 2010: General Botany (3) and BOT 2010L: General Botany Laboratory (1); OR BSC 1011C: General Biology II (4); BOT 2010C: Botany (4); OR EVR 2001: Introduction to Environmental Science (3)

      • STA 2023: (GM) Elements of Statistics (3); OR STA 2014: Elementary Statistics for Health and Social Science (3)

      • ECO 2023: Principles of Microeconomics (3); OR ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

    • Major Requirements (60 credits)

      • Five Foundation Areas (42 credits)

        1. Environmental Natural Science (6). Courses in area focused on biology, ecology, chemistry, geology, physics, earth science, including EVS 3XXX - Coastal Resilience and the Natural Environment.

        2. Applied Environmental Science (6). Courses in area focused on environmental health, conservation natural resources, GIS, applied engineering geology, principles of land development, green construction, including EVS 3XXX - Coastal Resilience and the Built Environment.

        3. Environmental Social Sciences (18). Courses in area focused on Florida history, environmental ethics, policy, religion and nature, conservation psychology, geography, including EVS 3XXX - Coastal Resilience and the Social and Behavioral Environment.

        4. Research Design and Methodology (6). Courses in area focused on survey research, data mining, research methods.

        5. Communication and Outreach (6). Courses in area focused on marketing, interpersonal communication, scientific writing, public relation campaigns.

      • Required Core Courses (9 credits)

        • EVS 3XXX Environmental Foundations (3) 

        • EVS 3XXX Environmental Professional Preparation (3) 

        • EVS 3XXX Environmental Practical Experience/Internship (3)

      • Free Elective Courses (any 1000-4000 level courses) (9 credits)

Faculty and Advising

Faculty Director & Professor
Institute of Environmental Research & Education
Headshot photo of Dr. Heather Truelove standing outside with the ocean in the background.
Faculty Assistant Director & Professor
Institute of Environmental Research & Education
Assistant Director of
Academic Advising Services
(904) 620-1074