Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with Environmental Biology Option

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Be a Problem-Solver for the Planet

Do you have the desire to make a difference in the world? Join a community of driven, passionate students at Eastern Washington University. 

The Environmental Biology option of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science gives you the knowledge and skills to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Whether it’s combating climate change, managing natural resources, or improving environmental health, this program prepares you to drive meaningful solutions. 

You’ll dive into the complexities of environmental science and specialize in one of three concentrations: biology, chemistry, or geology. Throughout your studies, you’ll explore the relationship between humans and the environment, understand the science behind environmental issues, and gain insight into how our actions impact the planet.

Your learning will extend beyond textbooks and lectures—through fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and research opportunities, you’ll get valuable hands-on experience that helps you develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to devise effective solutions. 

Upon graduation, you’ll be well-prepared to either continue your studies in graduate school or jump directly into the workforce, where you can start shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for people and the planet.

Request Info Curriculum & Requirements

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Environmental Science Major with Environmental Biology Option, Bachelor of Science (BS)

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that combines physical, chemical and biological sciences with social, political, and economic understanding needed to study the environment and address environmental problems. The Environmental Science program integrates classroom work in biology, chemistry, and geosciences with extensive field, lab, and research experience. Graduates leave EWU with the necessary professional and technical skills for employment in the environmental profession or entry into graduate or professional school.

Each student should meet with an advisor when declaring environmental science as a major.

Students should start the program with the necessary mathematics background to enter into the calculus or statistics sequence.
PRECALCULUS I (or equivalent)
It is recommended that students complete these required courses within the first two years.
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
and INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LAB
BIOLOGY I
and BIOLOGY I LAB
and BIOLOGY II
and BIOLOGY II LAB
and BIOLOGY III
and BIOLOGY III LAB
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III
DISCOVERING GEOLOGY
and DISCOVERING GEOLOGY LAB
and THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER
All Environmental Science students must take a junior year and a final senior year environmental seminar.
ENVS 300ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE JUNIOR SEMINAR1
ENVS 400ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SENIOR SEMINAR1

Note: some course options may not result in there being 60 upper division credits required for graduation within the major–advisor consultation is required.

Grade Requirements: students must maintain an average GPA ≥2.0 in the major to graduate from the program.

Note: may only count BIOL 380 once.

Environmental Science Required Courses
BIOL 171
& 171L		BIOLOGY I
and BIOLOGY I LAB		5
BIOL 172
& 172L		BIOLOGY II
and BIOLOGY II LAB		5
BIOL 173
& 173L		BIOLOGY III
and BIOLOGY III LAB		5
BIOL 270
& 270L		BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
and BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION LAB		3
BIOL 440ECOLOGY4
CHEM 171
& 171L
& CHEM 172
& CHEM 172L
& CHEM 173
& CHEM 173L		GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III		15
DSCI 245BUSINESS STATISTICS 1 (may only count BIOL 380 once)4-5
or BIOL 380 DATA ANALYSIS FOR BIOLOGISTS
or MATH 380 ELEMENTARY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
DSCI 346BUSINESS STATISTICS 2 (may only count BIOL 380 once)4-5
or BIOL 380 DATA ANALYSIS FOR BIOLOGISTS
or MATH 161 CALCULUS I
ECON 100GENERAL EDUCATION ECONOMICS5
ENVS 100
& 100L		INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
and INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LAB		5
ENVS 300ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE JUNIOR SEMINAR1
ENVS 400ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SENIOR SEMINAR1
GEOS 100
& 100L		DISCOVERING GEOLOGY
and DISCOVERING GEOLOGY LAB		5
GEOS 113THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER5
GEOS 320
& 320L		ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
and ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY LAB		4
GEOS 323GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES5
GEOS 470
& 470L		GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY
and GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY LAB		4
PLAN 431ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS3
Environmental Biology–Required General Biological Knowledge–choose one of the following 5
MICROBIOLOGY
and MICROBIOLOGY LAB
BOTANY
and BOTANY LAB
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
and INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY LAB
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
and VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY LAB
Electives–Upper division electives with advisor's consent.20
Required Senior Capstone
BIOL 490
& 490L		SENIOR CAPSTONE
and SENIOR CAPSTONE LAB		5
Total Credits113-115

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
BIOL 171
& 171L		5BIOL 172
& 172L		5BIOL 173
& 173L		5
CHEM 171
& 171L (Natural Science BACR 1)		5BIOL 270
& 270L		3CHEM 173
& 173L		5
MATH 1415CHEM 172
& 172L (Natural Science BACR 2)		5ENGL 1015
 Elective - minor or general elective4 
 15 17 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENVS 100
& 100L		5BIOL 301
& 301L (BIOL 302 & BIOL 302L, BIOL 303 & BIOL 303L, BIOL 304 & BIOL 304L)		5DSCI 245, BIOL 380, or MATH 3804-5
ENGL 2015GEOS 100
& 100L		5GEOS 1135
MATH 1425GEOS 323 or ENVS 3235Humanities & Arts BACR 115
 15 15 14-15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
BIOL 4404GEOS 320
& 320L		4DSCI 346, BIOL 380, or MATH 1614-5
ECON 100 (Social Science BACR 1)5Humanities & Arts BACR 215Environmental Biology Elective25
ENVS 3001Social Science BACR 215Diversity - graduation requirement15
Environmental Biology Elective5  
 15 14 14-15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
GEOS 470
& 470L		4BIOL 490
& 490L (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)		5Global Studies - graduation requirement15
PLAN 4313ENVS 4001Elective - minor or general elective5
Environmental Biology Elective25Environmental Biology Elective25Elective - minor or general elective5
Elective - minor or general elective4Elective - minor or general elective4 
 16 15 15
Total Credits 180-182
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Electives–20 credits upper-division electives with advisor's consent.

Students who earn a BS in Environmental Science with Environmental Biology from EWU should be able to:

  • demonstrate effective oral, graphical, and written communication abilities, and critical thinking skills as related to the environmental sciences;
  • demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationships among the physical and biological components of ecosystems;
  • develop an integrated knowledge of major concepts in the area of environmental sciences and an understanding of fundamental roles that biology, chemistry, and geology play in environmental science;
  • develop sufficient preparation in the environmental sciences to successfully compete in a graduate or professional program, or to realize employment in an environmental sciences-related career;
  • use epistemologically sound quantitative techniques for the analysis of biotic and abiotic samples and systems.

Student Story

As a former Environmental Science and Biology major, Lucy Roussa was selected as a TLES Scholar and collaborated with Dr. Camille McNeely on an exciting research project. Their study focused on the abundance of algae and nutrient levels in three watersheds at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

Roussa’s experience is a testament to the impactful research opportunities available to students at EWU.

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