Environmental Science & Ecology

Department Chair:
Kathryn Amatangelo
Location: Lennon 119
Email: kamatang@brockport.edu
Phone: (585) 395-5743
Fax: (585) 395-5969

Department Website
Program Webpage

Faculty & Staff

Kathryn Amatangelo
(Stanford University)
Associate Professor + Chair

Dan Beers
(SUNY Brockport)
Field and Lab Manager

Michael Chislock
(Auburn University Main Campus)
Associate Professor

Thomas Mark Evans
(SUNY College Of Environmental Science And Forestry)
Assistant Professor

Andie Graham
(SUNY Brockport)
Instructional Support Technician

Kristen M Malone
(University Of Florida)
Assistant Professor

Richard Price
(Duquesne University)
Adjunct Lecturer

Jacques J Rinchard
(University of Namur)
Professor

Rachel Schultz
(Ohio State University-Main Campus)
Associate Professor 10 Months

Matthew Silverhart
Research Associate

Jacob Straub
Research Associate

Matt Futia
Research Associate

James Haynes
Emeritus-Professor

Joseph C. Makarewicz
Emeritus - Distinguished Professor

Christopher Norment
Emeritus-Professor

Tara L White
Administrative Assistant 1

Douglas A. Wilcox
Emeritus - Professor of Wetland Science

Environmental Science Major

Description

Environmental problems are among the most urgent issues facing our civilization. To manage Earth’s environment well, we must understand the processes that shape its surface; control the chemistry of its air, water and soil; and produce and maintain biological and other resources upon which humans depend. We must also understand the ecological interactions of animals, plants and other living organisms with their physical and chemical environments.

Through a curriculum with a common core in biology, ecology, chemistry and geology, and a track with a more specialized focus, Environmental Science majors develop the conceptual knowledge and technical skills necessary to address environmental problems.

Three tracks are offered in the Environmental Science major: Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecology, and the combined Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology.

What can I do with an Environmental Science major?

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare this major.

Program Requirements

Students in the Environmental Science major pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete its requirements.

The major requires a minimum of 70 credits balanced between required courses in the core curriculum (42 credits) and required, elective, or co-requisite courses in the student’s chosen track (28 credits).

Academic Planning Seminar (1 or 3 credits)

General Education Requirements (31-40 credits)

Major Department Requirements (42 credits)

ENV 202 Environmental Science (4 credits)
ENV 204 Biology of Organisms (4 credits)
ENV 303 Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 337 Biostatistics (3 credits)
ENV 414 Data Collection and Management (1 credit)
ENV 452 Environmental Laws and Regulations (3 credits)
ENV 492 Global Environmental Issues (3 credits)
CHM 205 College Chemistry I (4 credits)
CHM 206 College Chemistry II (4 credits)
CHM 313 Quantitative Chemical Analysis (4 credits)
GEL 201 Introduction to Physical Geology (4 credits)
ESC 371 Essentials of GIS (1 credit)
One of the following:
- ANT 331 Environmental Anthropology (3 credits)
- HST 308 American Environmental History (3 credits)
- PLS 328 Politics of Energy Policy (3 credits)
- SOC 307 Environmental Sociology (3 credits)

Cognate or Additional Requirements (0-3 credits)

MTH 111 College Algebra (3 credits)
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits) required for SOC 307

Students in the environmental science major pursue one of the following tracks:

Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Track
Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecology Track
Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology Track

Additional Requirements for the Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Track (28 credits)

ENV 419 Limnology (4 credits)
ONE of the following:
- ENV 436 Water Quality Analysis (4 credits)
- ENV 462 Aquatic Toxicology (4 credits)
TWO of the following*:
- ENV 404 Stream Ecology (4 credits)
- ENV 446 Wetland Ecology (4 credits)
- ENV 484 Fish Biology Fisheries Science and Management (4 credits)

Electives courses chosen by advisement (12 credits)

6 to 12 Credits from Aquatic Ecology Courses

ENV 401 Water Conservation and Management (3 credits)
ENV 404 Stream Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 435 Northern Wetlands (3 credits)
ENV 436 Water Quality Analysis (4 credits)
ENV 446 Wetland Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 447 Wetland Delineation (3 credits)
ENV 462 Aquatic Toxicology (4 credits)
ENV 464 Aquaculture (3 credits)
ENV 466 Great Lakes Issues (3 credits)
ENV 484 Fisheries Science and Management (3 credits)
ENV 486 Fish Biology (4 credits)
ENV 497 Undergraduate Internship (1 to 3 credits)**
ENV 498 Collaborative Environmental Biology Research (1 to 3 credits)**
ENV 499 Independent Study in Environmental Science (1 to 3 credits)**
ESC 318 Watershed Science (3 credits)
ESC 412 Hydrology with lab (4 credits)
GEL 462 Groundwater (4 credits)

0 TO 6 Credits from General Courses

ENV 407 Invasion Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 424 Movement and Migration Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 427 Animal Behavior (3 credits)
ENV 438 Ecological Data Analysis in R (3 credits)
ENV 439 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
ENV 448 Restoration Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 476 Animal Ecophysiology (3 credits)
ESC 380 Remote sensing (3 credits)
ESC 431 GIS Applications in Earth and Environmental Science (3 credits)
BIO 302 Genetics (4 credits)
BIO 411 Evolution (3 credits)
CHM 305 Organic Chemistry (4 credits)

*Additional courses may be chosen from these groups as electives.

**Can apply up to 3 credits from these courses combined toward the 28 credits required for the track.

Additional Requirements for the Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecology Track (28 credits)

ENV 400 Plant Diversity (4 credits)
ENV 406 Wildlife Ecology (4 credits)
ONE of the following*:
- ENV 430 Ornithology (4 credits)
- ENV 440 Herpetology (4 credits)
ONE of the following*:
- ENV 444 Plant and Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)
- ENV 446 Wetland Ecology (4 credits)

Elective Courses Chosen by Advisement (12 credits)

6 to 12 or 13 Credits from Terrestrial Ecology Courses

ENV 407 Invasion Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 408 Principles of Wildlife Management (3 credits)
ENV 424 Movements and Migration Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 427 Animal Behavior (3 credits)
ENV 430 Ornithology (4 credits)
ENV 438 Ecological Data Analysis in R (3 credits)
ENV 439 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
ENV 440 Herpetology (4 credits)
ENV 444 Plant and Ecosystem Ecology(3 credits)
ENV 446 Wetland Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 448 Restoration Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 459 Mammalogy (3 credits)
ENV 476 Animal Ecophysiology (3 credits)
ENV 477 Field Biology (4 credits)
ENV 497 Undergraduate Internship (1 to 3 credits)**
ENV 498 Collaborative Environmental Biology Research (1 to 3 credits)**
ENV 499 Independent Study in Environmental Science (1 to 3 credits)**

0 TO 6 Credits from General Courses

ESC 313 Environmental Climatology (3 credits)
ESC 380 Remote sensing (3 credits)
ESC 431 GIS Applications in Earth and Environmental Science (3 credits)
ESC 455 Introduction to Soils Science (3 credits)
BIO 302 Genetics (4 credits)
BIO 411 Evolution (3 credits)
CHM 305 Organic Chemistry (4 credits)

*Additional courses may be chosen from this group as electives.

**Can apply up to 3 credits from these courses combines toward the 28 credits required for the track.

Additional Requirements for the Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology Track: (28 credits)

TWO of the following*:
- ENV 400 Plant Diversity (4 credits)
- ENV 419 Limnology (4 credits)
- ENV 466 Wetland Ecology (4 credits)
ONE of the following*:
- ENV 436 Water Quality Analysis (4 credits)
- ENV 462 Aquatic Toxicology (4 credits)
ONE of the following*:
- ENV 404 Stream Ecology (4 credits)
- ENV 484 Fisheries Science and Management (4 credits)
ONE of the following*:
- ENV 430 Ornithology (4 credits)
- ENV 440 Herpetology (4 credits)

Elective courses chosen by advisement: (8 credits)

ENV 400 Plant Diversity (4 credits)
ENV 401 Water Conservation and Management (3 credits)
ENV 404 Stream Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 406 Wildlife Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 407 Invasion Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 408 Principles of Wildlife Management (3 credits)
ENV 419 Limnology (4 credits)
ENV 424 Movement and Migration Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 427 Animal Behavior (3 credits)
ENV 430 Ornithology (4 credits)
ENV 435 Northern Wetlands (3 credits)
ENV 436 Water Quality Analysis (4 credits)
ENV 438 Ecological Data Analysis in R (3 credits)
ENV 439 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
ENV 440 Herpetology (4 credits)
ENV 444 Plant and Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 446 Wetland Ecology (4 credits)
ENV 447 Wetland Delineation (3 credits)
ENV 448 Restoration Ecology (3 credits)
ENV 459 Mammalogy (4 credits)
ENV 462 Aquatic Toxicology (4 credits)
ENV 464 Aquaculture (3 credits)
ENV 466 Great Lakes Issues (3 credits)
ENV 476 Animal Ecophysiology (3 credits)
ENV 477 Field Biology (4 credits)
ENV 484 Fisheries Science and Management (4 credits)
ENV 486 Fish Biology (3 credits)
ENV 497 Undergraduate Internship (1 to 3 credits)**
ENV 498 Collaborative Environmental Biology Research (1 to 3 credits)**
ENV 499 Independent Study in Environmental Science (1 to 3 credits)**
ESC 313 Environmental Climatology (3 credits)
ESC 318 Watershed Science (3 credits)
ESC 380 Remote Sensing (3 credits)
ESC 412 Hydrology with Lab (4 credits)
ESC 431 GIS Applications in Earth and Environmental Science (3 credits)
ESC 455 Introduction to Soils Science (3 credits)
BIO 302 Genetics (4 credits)
BIO 411 Evolution (3 credits)
CHM 305 Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
GEL 462 Groundwater (4 credits)

*Additional courses may be chosen from this group as electives.

**Can apply up to 3 credits from these courses combines toward the 28 credits required for the track.

General Electives (1 to 18 credits)

Total Credits (120 credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in ENV 202, ENV 204, and ENV 303.
Completion of all university-wide degree requirements.
A minimum overall GPA of 2.0.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Apply core concepts from environmental science (e.g., biodiversity and sustainability), environmental policy (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act), biological processes (e.g., evolution), and ecological principles (e.g., productivity and ecosystem services) to local, regional, and global issues.
Design scientific studies to address current issues (e.g., habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, climate change, overexploitation) in the field of environmental science and ecology using laboratory and field equipment.
Measure environmental and ecological parameters (e.g., population density, pollution concentration, photosynthetic rate) in the laboratory and in the field to analyze relationships and test hypotheses. Observations will include a combination of qualitative and quantitative variables, in addition to accurate identification and classification of taxa from diverse groups (e.g., amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, birds, fishes, plants, and reptiles), using laboratory and field equipment.
Summarize, analyze, and interpret scientific data using relevant quantitative tools from mathematics and statistics to test hypotheses.
Summarize, organize, and communicate scientific data and analyses in oral/or written formats to diverse (e.g., expert and non-expert) audiences.
Employ decision-making skills, such as evaluating competing explanations or applying scientific knowledge, to environmental issues and management approaches.
Develop professional skills necessary to succeed in the environmental science and ecology fields. Students will work collaboratively with other students and professionals in their discipline in addition to networking with stakeholders and agencies. This will be accomplished via high impact practices in courses; research experience on campus; internships with our network of local, regional, and international collaborations; and participation in meetings and scientific conferences.