Environmental Science Minor
Coordinator: Katie Costanzo, PhD
The Environmental Science minor is designed for students who want to focus on organismal biology, natural history, ecology and environmental science. It provides a broad preparation for entry into BS level positions in the environmental sciences and advanced study at the graduate level.
Minors are an important part of the undergraduate curriculum. If students declare a minor by sophomore year, they can usually complete it in a timely manner. Students should work with their advisor to determine if it is possible that the minor can be completed by graduation.
To receive a minor, a student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their major(s) and from other minors, and students must complete more than 50% of the coursework required for the minor at Canisius. Please note that “ancillary/supporting” courses required for a major may still count as distinct courses as long as the remaining coursework still meets the 30 credit-hours required for a major. For more information about minor policies, please see the Declaring Majors and Minors page in the catalog.
Requirements for the Environmental Science Minor
The environmental science minor requires BIO 320 (field ecology with its lab), BIO 360 (Environmental Health), at least one physical science course and its lab, and three additional upper-level classes, at least one of which must include the associated laboratory.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 320 | Field Ecology | 4 |
BIO 360 | Environmental Health | 3 |
1 Physical Science Course (must include its associated laboratory if offered) | 3-4 | |
3 electives (1 must include the associated laboratory) | 10 | |
Total Credits | 20-21 |
Physical Science courses (must choose 1)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
GEOL 120 & 120L | Introductory Geology and Introductory Geology Laboratory | 4 |
ENV 200 | Introductory Hydrology | 3 |
CHM 232 & 232L | Environmental Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
Environmental Biology Electives (Must choose 3, at least 1 with lab)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ABEC 341 | Urban Ecology | 3 |
ABEC 345 | Herpetology | 3 |
ABEC 347 | Avian Conservation and Management | 3 |
BIO 305 | Medical Microbiology and its Ecological Basis 1 | 3 |
BIO 322 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
BIO 307 | Microbiology | 3 |
BIO 335 | Plant Biology | 3 |
BIO 343 | Entomology | 4 |
BIO 364 | Zoology: Diversity of Animal Life | 3 |
BIO 366 | Ornithology | 4 |
BIO 375 | Community Ecology | 3 |
BIO 377 | Freshwater Biology | 4 |
BIO 378 | Wetlands | 3 |
BIO 406 | Population and Conservation Genetics | 3 |
EVST 235 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
SOC 315 | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the Social Sciences | 3 |
or ECO 310 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems |