What are
Capstone Projects?
Formally known as ES 495: "Senior Seminar," these projects do more than serve others in the community. They encourage you to draw from your experience to solve real problems, they promote teamwork, and they develop skills applicable to professional or continued academic pursuits.
Through these projects, our students have:
* Helped the university assess its sustainability as part of a pilot program of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
* Performed an energy audit, evaluated alternative energy options and made recommendations for improving energy efficiency at the nearby Highlands Biological Station.
* Worked with a merchant’s association to help a local town adopt “green” practices.
Many environmental science students enter the program knowing the aspect of the environment they wish to pursue while others discover their primary interests after being exposed to the different disciplines that contribute to the major, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Environmental Sciences. Many students choose biology, geology, or natural resource management as a minor.
B.S. in Environmental Sciences
Flexibility and customization is the hallmark of WCU’s interdisciplinary B.S. in Environmental Sciences. The major is divided into three areas: foundation, quantitative, and electives.
Foundation: All students take the following foundations courses:
- ES 101: “Careers and Issues in Environmental Science” (1 hr.)
- ES 150: “Introduction and approaches to Environmental Science” (4 hrs.)
- ES 495: “Senior Seminar in Environmental Problems” (3 hrs.)
Students then choose ONE course from EACH of the following four foundations categories:
- Geographic Information Systems
- Environmental Health
- Environmental Policy
- Environment and Society
Quantitative: After students have completed their foundations coursework, they develop an individualized plan of Advanced Study Courses for their remaining degree program.
Electives: Students take an additional 18-19 hours of electives to complete the 60 hours required for the degree.
- Read the major’s requirements and electives (catalog)
- Read course descriptions (catalog)
- Read the eight-semester plan
As an environmental sciences major, it’s easy to minor in biology, earth sciences, or natural resources management since approximately 75% of these minors’ requirements are covered through the major’s coursework. For more information, contact the home department for each minor or talk with your adviser.