Typical Four-year Outline: Environmental Data Science B.S. (Global Change Science)

The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's Environmental Data Science bachelors's degree with a environmental statistics focus provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.

The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.

First Year

Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
CH 1150 University Chemistry I MA 1031 (Concurrent) or higher or Placement 3
CH 1151 University Chemistry I Lab CH 1150 (Concurrent) 1
CS 1122 Intro to Programming II CS 1121 3
DATA 1200 Data Science w/ Python MA 1030 (Concurrent) or higher 3
MA 1135 Calculus for Life Sciences Placement 4
Essential Education – Foundations in the Human World   3
Total   17

Second Year

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 2060 Environmental Sustainability   3
FW 3020 Forest Ecology FW 2010 (Concurrent), FW 2051 (Concurrent) 3
CS 2311 Discrete Structures CS 1121 and MA 1135 3
MA 2720 Statistical Methods MA 1030 or higher or placement 4
Essential Education – SHAPE   3
Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success   1
Total   17
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 3200 Biometrics & Data Analysis MA 2720 4
FW 3540 Intro to GIS FW 2051 & MA 2720 4
CS 2321 Data Structures CS 1122 3
MA 2330 Intro to Linear Algebra MA 1135 3
Essential Education – Arts & Culture   3
Total   17

Third Year

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
CS 3425 Intro to Database Systems CS 2321 3
DATA 2201 Foundations of Data Science DATA 1200 & CS 1122 & MA 2330 3
Global Change Science Directed Elective   3
Ethics Directed Elective   3
Essential Education – Intercultural Competency   3
Total   15
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 4370 Forest & Landscape Hydrology   3
FW 4421 Climate Change & Forests   3
Essential Education – Communication Intensive   3
Essential Education – Experience   3
Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success   1
Total   13

Fourth Year

Fall Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 4800 Communications for Natural Resources   2
Global Change Science Directed Elective   3-4
Global Change Science Directed Elective   3
Essential Education – Activities for Well-being and Success   1
Free Elective   3-4
Total   12-14
Spring Semester
Course Prerequisites Credit
FW 4380 Landscape Ecology MA 2720 3
FW 4500 Env. Data Sci. Capstone   3
Global Change Science Elective   3
Database Elective   3
Free Elective (if needed)   0-2
Total   12-14

Grand Total: 120 Credits

Essential Education Requirements (37 total credits)

Required courses are:

  • a Math course (3 credits),
  • a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
  • STEM courses (6 credits),
  • a Foundations in the Human World course (3 credits),
  • Composition UN 1015 (3 credits),
  • a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
  • an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
  • an Essential Ed Seminar course (UN 1013 or UN 2013 or major-specific, 1-3 credits),
  • an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
  • a SHAPE elective (3 credits)
  • an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
  • and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.

Up to five Essential Education requirements and the Michigan Tech Seminar may be shared (double-counted) with major requirements. Students should work with their advisor to determine which major requirements may satisfy Essential Education requirements.

For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.

Global Change Science Electives

Choose One From Each Set:

Set One

Course Credits Semester Prerequisites
FW 3110 Natural Resource Policy 3 Spring  
SS 4313 Sustainability Science 3 Fall  

Set Two

Course Credits Semester Prerequisites
FW 3330 Soil Science 3 Spring CH 1150 and CH 1151
FW 4300 Wildland Fire 3 Fall FW 3020

Set Three

Course Credits Semester Prerequisites
FW 4710 Environmental Biogeochemistry 3 Fall CH 1150
GE 2640 Atmospheric Observations & Meteorology 3 Fall-even Years  

Database Electives

Course Credits Semester Prerequisites
CS 4801 Foundations of Machine Learning 3 Fall DATA 2201 and MA 2720
CS 4811 Artifical Intelligence 3 Fall, Spring CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3425
CS 4821 Data Mining 3 Spring

CS 3425, MA 2330, and MA 2720

Ethics Electives

Course Credits Semester Prerequisites
CS 3000 Ethical and Social Aspects of Computing 3 Fall CS 3141
FW 4180 Applied Environmental Ethics 3 Fall  
SAT 1700 Cyber Ethics 3 Fall  

Additional Notes

  • Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent course.
    • Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time, although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
      • Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
      • Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
      • Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
  • Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
  • Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).

This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.