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undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Degrees:
Undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Management

 

Undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Management [top]

The program consists of a minimum of 27 hours of coursework, many of which can be counted, with appropriate planning, towards the fulfillment of B.S. or B.A. requirements in Biology, Geography and Earth Systems Science, Urban Systems Engineering, and other natural and social sciences. The curriculum is designed to provide a substantial appreciation of the biological, physical, and social aspects of environmental problems and methods for their analysis and resolution. The certificate is a separate diploma, and is recorded on the student’s official academic transcript.

Benefits

The Undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Management is open to all enrolled undergraduate students at George Mason University and should be of interest to students wishing to pursue graduate work or seeking employment in the environmental field. Experience with similar programs across the nation indicates that it could make the student’s undergraduate degree more marketable.

Inquiries

Inquiries about the Undergraduate Certificate Program should be directed to Dr. Chris Parsons, ESP Undergraduate Advisor, Environmental Management Certificate.

 

Environmental Science Checklist for Undergraduates

Download the requirements checklist (.pdf)

 

Certificate Requirements [top]

The student must hold a baccalaureate degree or be receiving a baccalaureate degree from the university at the time they receive the certificate. As an entry-level requirement, students must complete a two-semester laboratory science sequence in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or geology.

Students select at least 27 hours of coursework with the assistance of the Certificate Director. The courses are divided into five categories. Courses listed in more than one category can only satisfy the requirements of one. Any substitution from the following list requires prior permission from the Certificate Director. Only courses with a grade of C or better can be counted toward the Certificate. (See also Course Catalog listing).

  • I. Environmental Certificate Core (4 courses):

    1. EVPP/BIOL 377-Applied Ecology.
    2. One course from either GEOG 303-Conservation of Resources and Environment or GEOG 503-Problems in Environmental Management.
    3. One course from ECON 103-Contemporary Microeconomic Principles or GOVT 351-Adminstration in the Political System or GOVT 357-Urban Governance and Planning.
    4. One university course in statistics.

  • II. Physical Perspective (1 or 2 courses)

    BIOL/GEOL 309-Introduction to Oceanography, BIOL 535-Ancient Plants and Their Environment, EVPP/BIOL 550-Waterscape Ecology and Management, EVPP/BIOL 577-Biogeochemistry: A global perspective, GEOG 102-Physical Geography, GEOG 309-Introduction to Meteorology and Climate, GEOL 313-Hydrogeology, GEOL 317-Geomorphology, GEOL 403-Geochemistry, GEOL 405-Geology of Mineral and Energy Resources, or CEIE 440-Water Supply and Distribution.

  • III. Biological Perspective (1 or 2 courses)

    BIOL 307-Ecology, BIOL 309- Introduction to Oceanography, BIOL 344-Taxonomy of Flowering Plants, BIOL 345-Plant Communities, BIOL 371-Animal Distributions, BIOL 440-Field Biology, BIOL 446-Environmental Physiology, BIOL 449-Marine Ecology, BIOL 471-Evolution, BIOL 532-Animal Behavior, BIOL 535-Ancient Plants and Their Environment, BIOL 536-Ichthyology, BIOL 537-Ornithology, BIOL 543-Tropical Ecosystems, EVPP/BIOL 546-Estuarine and Coastal Ecology, BIOL 547-Terrestrial Plant Ecology, EVPP/BIOL 550-Waterscape Ecology and Management, EVPP/BIOL 577-Biogeochemistry: A global perspective, or HEAL 450-Epidemiology.

  • IV. Social Perspective (1 course)

    ANTH 305-Hunter-Gatherer Societies, ANTH 365-Race and Racism, ANTH 370-Ecology and Culture, ANTH 440-Applied Anthropology, CONF 501- Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution, ECON 350-Regional and Urban Economics, ECON 360-Economics and Developing Areas, GEOG 301-Political Geography, GEOG 304-Geography of Populations, GEOG 305-Economic Geography, GEOG 306-Urban Geography, GEOG 316-Geography of Latin America, GEOG 325-Geography of North Africa and the Middle East, GEOG 406-Suburban Geography, GOVT 318-Interest Groups, Lobbying and the Political Process, GOVT 357-Urban Governance and Planning, GOVT 364-Public Policy Making, GOVT 366-Public Policy Analysis, MGMT 312-Principles of Management, NURS 543-Global Health: Trends and Policy, PHIL 555-Environmental Ethics, PRLS 300-People with Nature, PRLS 402- Human Behavior in Natural Environments, PRLS 526-Environmental Education and Resource Interpretation, PUAD 502-Administration in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, SOCI 306-, SOCI 541-, CEIE 400-Civil Engineering Planning and Management, CEIE 452-Waste Water Management, CEIE 456-Environmental Law.

  • V. Environmental Methods (1 course)

    GEOG 310-Introduction to Digital Cartography, GEOG 411-Advanced Digital Cartography, GEOG 412-Aerial Photography Interpretation, GEOG 416-Satellite Image Analysis, GEOG 550-Mapping Foundations, GEOG 553-Geographic Information Systems, GEOG 579-Remote Sensing, GEOG 580-Digital Remote Sensing, GEOG 585-Quantitative Methods, DESC 301-Operations Management, DESC 352-Methods and Models of Management Science, or CEIE 340-Water Resource Engineering.

NOTES

1. Substitutes for the above-listed courses require prior approval of the Certificate Director.

2. Courses listed in more than one category can only satisfy the requirement of one.

3. Biology majors are required to complete 2 courses in Physical Perspective.

4. Geology and Geography majors are required to complete 2 courses in Biological Perspective.

5. All other majors can choose either Physical or Biological Perspective for 2 courses.

6. It is highly recommended that Certificate students develop a proficiency in computer programming.

7. Only courses with a grade of C or better can be counted towards the Certificate.

8. Undergraduates must complete at least 12 semester hours of advanced level courses at the 300 level or above.

9. Post-baccalaureate students must complete at least 12 semester hours of courses at the 500 level or above.