Requirements
The environmental chemistry option is structured to provide a quality foundation for working in government, industrial or university labs studying the behavior of chemicals in the environment. Students can earn a chemistry degree in four years while targeting their career. This option includes eleven courses in biology, microbiology, toxicology, environmental chemistry and health, soil science and hydrology.
Chemistry core (79 - 81 credits)
Environmental chemistry option (30-33 credits)
Notes
a MTH 112 is a prerequisite for MTH 251, a required course for all chemistry majors. MTH 112 is not a required course for the chemistry degree.
b From elective list (term varies). Requires three electives from the list:
- BI 211: Principles of Biology (4)
- CH 692: Environmental Transformation of Organic Compounds (3)
- ENVE 541: Microbial Processes in Environmental Systems (4)
- BI 370: Ecology (3)
- CSS 305: Principles of Soil Sci (EOU Campus) or SOIL 205: Soil Science (3)
- GEO 487: Hydrogeology (4)
- CE 514: Groundwater Hydraulics (4)
- ENVE 531: Fate and Transport of Chemicals in Environmental Systems (4)
- TOX 413: Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment (3)
- CH 401: Research (3)
- ENVE 532: Aquatic Chemistry - Natural and Engineered Systems (4)
- TOX 490: Environmental Forensic Chemistry (3)
c As of fall 2020, BI 22X replaces BI 21X. A minimum of C- in BI 22X is an enforced prerequisite for BB 314. BI 22X must be taken in order. If you completed the previous BI 21X series before fall 2020, this series still meets the requirements here.
d Chemistry majors are strongly encouraged to take the chemistry major's orientation course, "Careers in Chemistry," fall term. This is 1 credit (P/N).
This order of courses is suggested. For the track-two core courses (CH, MTH, PH), the order is critical because of prerequisites and the fact that most CH courses are taught only one term per year. The TOX option courses are also only taught once a year. The option courses (BI, MB, ST, etc.) can be taken at different times than indicated, but one must be concerned with the prerequisites for these courses and some of these courses are taught only one term per year.
Baccalaureate Core courses are not shown on the chart above.
Additional information
1. CH 411 and CH 412 are a sequence so that CH 411 is the specified inorganic chemistry course.
2. CH 463 is the recommended WIC course but CH 462 is the recommended alternative course or an extra lab course.
3. The three elective courses for the environmental chemistry option are to be approved by the student's academic adviser by the end of the winter quarter of the junior year.
4. As of fall 2020, BI 22X replaces BI 21X. A minimum of C- in BI 22X is an enforced prereq for BB 314. BI 22X must be taken in order. If you completed the previous BI 21X series before fall 2020, this series still meets the requirements here.
Also see policies for other information including external research.