Why Environmental Science at Seattle University?
Seattle is a great place to study environmental science. One of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States, Seattle is also built on the shoreline of one of the world’s great estuaries, Puget Sound. Unfortunately, urban growth and other environmental stressors have had significant environmental impacts. Managing our unique natural heritage is one of the greatest challenges faced by the region.
Thankfully, the fragility of the natural systems is being addressed by federal, state, and local research agencies as well as by a range of consulting companies and foundations. Seattle is a regional and national hub for this kind of research, meaning that there are a number of opportunities for SU students both during their time at SU and post-graduation, as they begin to work with resource management agencies, private consulting firms, or as they pursue environmental graduate studies.
INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION
Our faculty is well-connected with the local community of environmental scientists and provides hands-on training on real projects. Following the model of Seattle University’s nationally-recognized engineering Project Center, the program connects teams of students with outside professional sponsors and faculty advisors who provide hands-on training on a real problem over the course of an entire academic year. We believe that we have the best technical Capstone program, and this is supported by the long list of awards that our engineering teams regularly receive. These capstone experiences provide professional preparation and professional connections, and our students consistently say that their capstone projects are defining features of their academic careers.
With a broad range of applied science courses that support environmental management, our students are well-situated to pursue careers in conservation, environmental consulting, ecological restoration, environmental education, fisheries, natural resource management and business sustainability.Wes Lauer, Ph.D., P.E.Professor, Environmental Science
Degree Requirements
ECOTHEOLOGY MINOR
30 Credits Minimum, Including 15 Upper Division (UD)
ECOTHEOLOGY CORE
Course
Attributes
Credits
- THEO 3540 Creation Care
- WE, UD
5
SECTION CREDITS REQUIRED
5
INTRODUCTORY ECOLOGY*
Course
Attributes
Credits
- BIO 1104 Environmental Science (5)
- BIO 1106 Ecological Fundamentals (5)
- BIO 2103 General Biology (5)
- WKAS
- WKFS
- WKAS
5
SECTION CREDITS REQUIRED
5
SCIENCE ELECTIVES**
Course
Attributes
Credits
- BIO 1105 Marine Restoration Ecology (5)
- BIO 1121 Coral Reef Ecology (5)
- BIO 1123 Humans and Coral Reefs (5)
- BIO 3302 Coral Reef Ecology (5)
- BIO 3303 Evolutionary Ecology Galapagos (5)
- BIO 3305 Marine Restoration Ecology (5)
- BIO 3310 Ecology (5)
- BIO 4810 Marine Ecology (5)
- BIO 4815 Aquatic Ecology (5)
- BIO 4825 Forest Ecology (5)
- BIO 4835 Conservation Biology (5)
- BIO 4840 Chemical Ecology (5)
- BIO 4940 Internship in Biology (1-5)
- CHM 2410 Envrnmntal Chem&Sustainability (5)
- ECN 3500 Environmental Economics (5)
- FCS 3100 Sustainable Food Production (5)
- PHY 3011 Global Climate Change (5)
- CUE, WKAS
- CUE, WKFS
- CUE, WKAS
- CUE, UD
- UD
- CUE, UD
- UD, W
- UD, W
- UD
- UD
- UD
- UD, W
- UD
- CUE, WKAS
- UD
- WE, UD
- WE, UD
10
SECTION CREDITS REQUIRED
10
THEOLOGY ELECTIVES
Course
Attributes
Credits
- THEO 2730 Intro:Christian Reconciliation (5)
- THEO 3501 Christian Ethics (5)
- THEO 3510 Theology, Culture, and Society (5)
- SJC 3510 Theology, Culture, and Society (5)
- CUE, WE
- UD
- UD
- UD
5
SECTION CREDITS REQUIRED
5
SOCIAL SCIENCE & HUMANITIES ELECTIVES***
Course
Attributes
Credits
- BUS 2500 Integrated Topics:BUS, ECN,POL (5)
- PHI 1002 Ethics and the Good Life (5)
- PHI 2222 Social Ethics (5)
- PHI 2500 Science, Technology & Society (3)
- SOC 3215 Soc Inequality:Power & Privlge (5)
- SJC 1000 Introduction to Justice (5)
- SJC 3510 Theology, Culture, and Society (5)
- WE
- WKH
- WE
- –
- CUE, UD
- –
- UD
5
SECTION CREDITS REQUIRED
5
FIELD REQUIREMENT (5-CR, MAY BE MET IN OTHER GROUPS)
Course
Attributes
Credits
- BIO 1104 Environmental Science (5)
- BIO 1105 Marine Restoration Ecology (5)
- BIO 1121 Coral Reef Ecology (5)
- BIO 1123 Humans and Coral Reefs (5)
- BIO 3302 Coral Reef Ecology (5)
- BIO 3303 Evolutionary Ecology Galapagos (5)
- BIO 4810 Marine Ecology (5)
- BIO 4815 Aquatic Ecology (5)
- BIO 4825 Forest Ecology (5)
- BIO 4835 Conservation Biology (5)
- CHM 2410 Envrnmntal Chem&Sustainability (5)
- WKAS
- CUE, WKAS
- CUE, WKFS
- CUE, WKAS
- CUE, UD
- UD
- UD, W
- UD
- UD
- UD
- CUE, WKAS
0
SECTION CREDITS REQUIRED
0
MINIMUM TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED
30
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION
- *BIO 2571 fulfills the requirement, with instructor approval
- **BIO 1104& 1105 OK here, if not used in Intro Ecology group
- ***Additional Theology Elective may substitute here
Bachelor of Science in Ecology Major
When you receive a bachelor of science in Ecology at SPU, you will be ready to work in ecology or biological subdisciplines such as marine biology, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, behavioral ecology, and wildlife management. This major prepares you for graduate studies or a professional ecology/biology career.
ABOUT THE ECOLOGY MAJOR
As an Ecology major, you will focus on principles that enhance environmental quality and make efficient use of nonrenewable resources. You will also learn to apply this knowledge to help address agricultural and environmental challenges.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
After graduation, you’ll be on your way to serving in a position such as:
- Marine biologist
- Agricultural economist
- Crop scientist
- Biological photographer
- Conservation scientist
- Environmental ecologist
- Soil conservationist
- Science writer
- Plant physiologist
- Wildlife ecologist
COURSES AND REQUIREMENTS
For a BS in Ecology, you are required to take a minimum of 105 credits, including at least 40 upper-division biology credits. Review all of the BS in Ecology courses and requirements, as well as a suggested course sequence.
Elective courses should be discussed with your biology faculty advisor.
If you are interested in graduate school, consult with your advisor as to whether coursework beyond degree requirements (e.g., physics, cell biology, MAT 1235) is appropriate.
This major has a special emphasis on undergraduate research, and you are required to complete an Undergraduate Research Project for graduation. You will collaborate with a faculty member on an investigation that requires a formal proposal (BIO 4978 “Biological Research Proposal”), and original research and presentation of results (BIO 4979).
BIO 4950 “Special Topics in Biology” may be used to meet certain stated requirements if the topic is determined to be appropriate by the Biology Department in advance.
As a part of either core requirements or electives, you are required to take a minimum of three credits of field biology, taught primarily in the field and emphasizing field methods.
No more than six credits of courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 may be applied to this major.
To apply to the BS in Ecology major, you must make a formal application through your Degree Status Check page in Banner.
FACULTY CONTACT
Cara Wall-Scheffler
Professor and Co-Chair of Biology
PhD, University of CambridgeEmail:cwallsch@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2201
Office:Eaton 107
Jenny Tenlen
Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Biology
PhD, University of WashingtonEmail:tenlenj@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2007
Office:Eaton 113