2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2025  
2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Earth and Environmental Sciences, BA (EARTHENVS-BA)


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CIP Code: 400601

Program Description

The Earth & Life Science education program combines fundamental courses in earth sciences with basic courses in related sciences. It also requires courses in areas outside of science. The Bachelor of Arts program is flexible enough to combine with a dual major in an unrelated field. The Bachelor of Science degree is more focused in earth and related sciences.

Admission Requirements

All students having a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher are accepted to this program.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can: 

  • solve problems using critical thinking
  • combine a range of sciences (chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics) in creatively solving practical problems
  • collaborate to complete projects with others
  • interpret various types of information, including numbers, graphs, and text
  • present insights and information in writing and speaking

Career Opportunities

The Earth & Life Sciences Education program is designed for students planning to teach Environmental Science in the K-12 education levels. 

For More information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours


As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours. 

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements

First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour


All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year.  Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category. 

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours


Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours


Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.  

Required: 

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours


Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.  One course must fulfill the History requirement. 

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours


Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements

Element E - Natural Sciences: 8 Credit Hours


Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.  At least one course must contain a laboratory. 

Required:

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours


Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core.  Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student.  When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.   

Additional Core Requirements


Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

· One Global Inquiry (GI) course

· Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

· One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Departmental Core Requirements: 15 Credit Hours


IV. General Electives: 9.5 Credit Hours


Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree.  If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours.  Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit. 

Total: 120 Credit Hours


Graduation Planning Strategy


A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables. 

This GPS is valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and is subject to change. This GPS is a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion. 

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