Environmental Science
Course List
ES 110. Conservation Workshop
This one-week summer field workshop for high school students is offered in collaboration with
the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation Districts of South
Carolina. Topics include lectures and field or laboratory experiences in groundwater,
watersheds, cartography, forestry, water quality, wildlife habitat management, boater safety
certification, impoundments and power generation, Global Positioning Systems, Geographical
Information Systems, natural resources management, surveying, remote sensing, water safety,
H2Olympics, peer-tutoring, and a whitewater raft trip. Graded on Pass/Fail basis. No
prerequisites. One semester hour.
ES 301. Introduction to Environmental Science 1
First semester study of the environment emphasizing the physical, chemical and
biological foundations of human society and the interactions between people and their
environment. Topics include the Earth and its hydrological and biogeochemical cycles,
population dynamics, environmental ethics, politics, economics and law, environmental
sustainability, renewable and nonrenewable resources and their use, and climate change. Three
semester hours.
ES 302. Introduction to Environmental Science 2
Second semester of study of the environment emphasizing the chemical, geological,
biological, and physical effects of human society on the biosphere and our responses to them.
Topics include the environmental issues such as Water pollution, solid waste disposal, risk
assessment, species extinction and conservation, land use, and urban development. Geological
Information Systems (GIS) are introduced to analyze selected issues. Three semester
hours.
ES 310. Environmental Geology
Human interactions with geological processes, including topics such as soil and rock
properties, slope stability, fluvial geomorphology, river flooding, soil conservation, coastal
hazards, water resources and supply, land subsidence, natural resource extraction, acid drainage,
waste disposal, soil contamination, geologic catastrophes, and land use planning. Prerequisite GEOL
111, ES 301. Three hours lecture weekly. Three semester hours.
ES 390. Special Topics in Environmental Science
This course is designed to provide in-depth study of different topics in
Environmental Science. Specific topics will be announced in advance.
Prerequisite: Completion of two or more laboratory science courses with a grade of “C” or
better. (Limited to a maximum of four semester hours toward ES requirements, additional hours
will go toward elective credit.) One to four semester hours.
ES 407. Research in Environmental Science
Special topics research problems for juniors or seniors in Environmental Science.
May be taken for additional
credit but is limited to a maximum of four semester hours toward degree requirements. Offered on demand to qualified students and with the approval of the instructor. One to four semester hours.
ES 415. Limnology
A study of the physics, chemistry, geology, and biology of freshwater ecosystems
with emphasis on the ecology of lakes and reservoirs. Including lake origins, geomorphology, heat,
light, waves, currents, gasses, nutrients, biogeochemical cycles, streams, lakes, reservoirs,
plankton, benthos, periphyton, pleuston, psammon, productivity, energy flow, succession, and
paleolimnology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab weekly. Cross-listed as BIOL
415. Prerequisites: MATH 121 or 131, and 211, BIOL 306, CHEM 111. Four semester
hours.
ES 420. Environmental Chemistry
Origins, transport, reactions, effects, and fates of chemical species in water,
air, terrestrial, and biotic environments. The theory and practice of modern chemical
instrumentation are applied to environmental samples from a variety of sources. Three hours
lecture, three hours lab weekly. Cross-listed with CHEM 420. Prerequisites CHEM 222,
CHEM 331. Four semester hours.
ES 490. Internship in Environmental Science
Practical experience with an approved governmental or private organization involved in
environmental regulation, monitoring, assessment, or compliance. A minimum of 6 hours/week of on
the job experience for at least 13 weeks is required for each hour of credit. The experience
will be supervised by the coordinator of the Environmental Science Program who will schedule
conferences with the student, will maintain a folio of experiences, and will submit a final paper
describing the experience and the knowledge gained from it. The student is responsible for meeting
all living and travel expenses. Prerequisites BIOL 111, CHEM 111, 3.0 GPA and permission of
the coordinator of the Environmental Science Program. Graded pass/fail. Variable credit with
a maximum of four semester hours.
ES 499. Senior Forum
Topics of interest and importance to Environmental Science seniors, including ethics,
employment opportunities, regulatory agencies, advanced training and graduate school, and
preparation for the Graduate Record Examination. The Environmental Science Senior Exit Examination,
senior writing sample, and oral competency check will be administered. One hour weekly.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Division’s Laboratory Safety Training Program is
required. Environmental Science major. Senior status. Graded pass/fail. One
semester hour.
GEOL 111. Physical Geology
Basic concepts of geology including rocks, minerals and their formation, and the evolution of
terrestrial and submarine topographic features through weathering, erosion, sedimentation,
faulting, mountain building, volcanism, tectonics, and glaciation. Three hours lecture, three
hours laboratory weekly. Four semester hours.
GEOL 405. Hydrogeology
Interactions between water and geologic materials with an emphasis on groundwater.
Water quantity and flow, including the hydrologic cycle, aquifer properties, and principles of
groundwater flow, water quality aspects, such as water chemistry, and groundwater contamination and
remediation problems, and management problems related to water quality and quantity.
Prerequisites: MATH 121 or 131, "C" or better in GEOL 111. Three semester
hours.
