The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's environmental science and sustainability bachelor's degree with a focus on environmental policy 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.
Print Outline
First Year
Second Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3020 Forest Ecology |
FW 2010 (Concurrent), FW 2051 (Concurrent) |
3 |
| FW 3330 Soil Science |
CH 1150 and CH 1151 |
4 |
| SS 2300 Environment and Society |
|
3 |
| PH 1110 College Physics I |
MA 1031 or higher or placement |
3 |
| PH 1111 College Physics I Lab |
PH 1110 (Corequisite) |
1 |
| Essential Education – Shape |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
16 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 2081 Introduction to Circular Economy |
|
3 |
| FW 3540 Introduction to Gis |
MA 2720 (Concurrent) |
4 |
| Essential Education – Arts and Culture |
|
3 |
| Essential Education – Communication Intensive |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
13 |
Third Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3410 Conservation Science |
|
3 |
| FW 4180 Ethics of Conservation |
|
2 |
| SS 4313 Sustainability Science |
|
3 |
| Essential Education – Intercultural Competency |
|
3 |
| Essential Education – Activities |
|
1 |
| Free Elective |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
15 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3110 Natural Resource Policy |
|
3 |
| FW 4710 Environmental Biogeochemistry |
CH 1150 |
3 |
| BL 3310 Environmental Microbiology |
BL 1200 |
3 |
| Policy Elective |
|
3 |
| Essential Education – Essential Ed Experience |
|
3 |
| Essential Education – Activities |
|
1 |
| Total |
|
16 |
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 3760 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources |
|
3 |
| FW 4220 Wetlands |
BL 1100 |
4 |
| Policy Elective or Free Elective |
|
3 |
| Free Elective |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
13 |
Spring Semester
| Course |
Prerequisites |
Credit |
| FW 4111 Indigenous Natural Resource Management |
|
3 |
| FW 4860 Environmental Science Capstone |
|
3 |
| Policy Elective or Free Elective |
|
3 |
| Free Elective |
|
3 |
| Total |
|
15 |
Total credits = 120 credits
Policy Directed Electives
- A minimum of six credits must be selected from the following list of courses:
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
Prereqs |
Semester Offered |
| SS 2620 |
Intro to Public Policy |
3 |
None |
Fall, Spring |
| SS 3625 |
Leading People and Effective Communication 1 |
3 |
UN 1015 and UN 1025 |
Fall |
| SS 3630 |
Business Law |
3 |
None |
Fall, Spring |
| SS 3800 |
Industrial Organization |
3 |
EC 2001 and UN 1015 and 1025 |
Fall |
| SS 4101 |
Team Dynamics |
3 |
Sophmore or higher |
Fall, Spring |
| SS 5301 |
Organizational Behavior |
3 |
Sophmore or higher |
Fall, Spring |
| SS 5318 |
Leadership Development |
3 |
Sophmore or higher |
Fall |
| SS5350 |
Army Leadership Sequence |
6 |
Fall/ Spring |
Fall/ Spring |
| FW4070 |
|
|
|
|
Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)
Required courses are:
- Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
- Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
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.
