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Dec 07, 2025
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Environmental Science (BS)
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 Return to: Degrees and Certificates Offered
The Environmental Science degree prepares students for careers with specialization in water resources, earth systems, conservation and sustainability, analytical and geospatial methods, or agroecosystems. Curriculum is designed so students will accomplish the following:
• Develop an understanding of the Earth as an integrated system and an appreciation for how humans and social systems shape our environment.
• Engage in impactful experiential learning opportunities to include undergraduate research and internships as well as laboratory, computer-based, and field methods.
• Add focused depth to their learning to target specific career fields with strong workforce demand and societal need.
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Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours
K-State Core is the foundation for an impactful life and career after time at K-State. The K-State Core framework covers six disciplinary areas: English, Communications, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. In addition, a seventh area is reserved for institutionally designated use, which K-State is keeping as free electives. In total, the framework takes up 34-35 credit hours of 100 and 200-level coursework. Students who complete their general education elsewhere cannot be required to take additional general education coursework in the disciplinary areas of the framework without permission from KBOR to continue requiring courses in the K-State Core. Program Requirements: (minimum of 5 credit hours not overlapping program)
Orientation: (1 credit hour)
DAS 101 or any other 1 credit orientation course Outside Concentration: (4-9+ credit hours)
Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit). OR Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for DAS) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). OR Any 9 credit hour microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). Overlays: ([9] credit hours)
May be filled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself. - Ethical Reasoning Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
- Global Perspectives Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
- US Multicultural Overlay, 1 course Credits: [3]
Environmental Science Degree Requirements - 80-82 Credit Hours
The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take Calculus.
Fundamental Science and Math: (11 credit hours)
Credit total assumes MATH 205 OR MATH 220 counted as part of the K-State Core 3 Environmental Foundations: (24 credit hours)
Environmental Science Degree Customization Areas
Natural Environmental Systems: (12-14 credit hours)
Students must complete one course from each group: Atmosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere, and Hydrosphere. Atmosphere (3-4 Credit Hours)
Choose one of the following courses Biosphere (3 Credit Hours)
Geosphere (3 Credit Hours)
Choose one of the following courses
Hydrosphere (3-4 Credit Hours)
Choose one of the following courses
Individual Experiential Learning: (3 credit hours)
Students must complete 3 credits of an internship OR research course from those listed below. Research Course Codes
Research may be completed in separate semesters and add up to 3 total credits.
Humans and the Environment: (15 credit hours)
Students are required to take SOCIO 536 and one additional class from the Social Systems list, one class from the Ethics list, and two classes from the Human-Environment Interactions list. All three A&S overlays may be fulfilled through approved courses in this section. A&S approved overlay list may be found at: College degree requirements, electives and overlays Social Systems: (6 credit hours)
Students are required to take one additional class from the Social Systems list in addition to SOCIO 536
Human-Environment Interactions: (6 credit hours)
Students choose two courses from the list below Specialization: (15 credit hours)
Select 12 credits from one specialization and an additional 3 credits from any of the specialization lists. These courses may not be counted toward fulfilling any other requirement within the degree other than the ouside concentration. Agroecosystems Specialization
Analytical and Geospatial Modeling Specialization
Conservation and Sustainability Specialization
Earth Systems Specialization
Water Resources Specialization
Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120
Arts & Sciences common degree requirements for the BS are satisfied by the following: Orientation: DAS 101 (listed in Program Requirements: Orientation) Natural and Quantitative - Natural Science: BIOL 198 (listed in Environmental Foundations)
- Quantitative: STAT 225 (listed in Fundamental Science and Math)
- Additional at 300+: GEOG 508 (listed in Environmental Foundations)
- Additional w/pre-req or 300+: Will be met with a course from the Specialization
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences - Fine Arts or Humanities: PHILO 295 or 595 (listed in Humans and the Environment: Ethics)
- Social Science at 300+: SOCIO 536 (listed in Humans and the Environment: Social Systems)
Overlays (suggested courses to meet each) - Ethical Reasoning Overlay: PHILO 295 or 595 (listed in Humans and the Environment: Ethics)
- Global Perspectives Overlay: ANTH 310 (listed in Humans and the Environment: Human-Environment Interactions)
- US Multicultural Overlay: GEOG 370 (listed in Humans and the Environment: Social Systems)
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