Environmental Sciences Curriculum

Core Education is OSU's state-of-the-art, 21st-century-focused general education program. OSU's program prepares students alongside their majors to be proactive members of society who are ready to take on any challenge, solve any problem, and help build a better world. Core Education embeds career readiness and advancement, a signature element of our curriculum that students won't find anywhere else.  See the Core Education page for more information.

Environmental scientists need a solid grounding in sciences and math to enable an understanding of environmental problems and potential solutions. To that end, students complete a full year of biology and chemistry, as well as courses in calculus, statistics and physics. Some of these courses may serve as a foundation for the upper level science courses that students take in their junior and senior years.

The ENSC Core curriculum is intended to give students breadth in the field as a whole, and is divided into two categories: Natural Environmental Systems and Humans & the Environment.

• In Natural Environmental Systems, students learn about each of the spheres of the environment: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere, by choosing among selected courses for each category.
• In Humans & the Environment, students learn about the interactions of humans with the environment by taking coursework in economics, ethics and environmental ethics, environmental law and policy, and environmental management.

The Environmental Sciences (ENSC) program requires that each student complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of experiential learning related to environmental sciences. The requirement can be met with an approved internship, research experience, or approved coursework.

Students choose an area of specialization in line with their academic interests and career goals. There are eight specialization options available, as well as four certificates and a minor. In addition, students may work with an advisor to propose the use of a minor as their specialization area. Some possibilities include Renewable Materials, Environmental Safety and Health, or Bioenergy.