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Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management B.S.

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College of Food, Agri & Natural Resource Sciences (TCOA)201 - Bachelor of Science
Completion requirement
Earn at least 10 credits from the following:
  • 0126071
  • 7989281
  • 8270991
  • 0081501
    OR
    8004651
Completion requirement

ESPM Capstone

Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0053631
  • 7989531

ESPM 4021W can fulfill either the ESPM Capstone core requirement for the major, or the Environmental and Systems Management requirement for subplan PPLS, but one course cannot fulfill both requirements.

Completion requirement

Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.

Complete up to 1 course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 0053631
  • 7989531
Completion requirement
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0038811
  • 7961761
Completion requirement
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0054191
  • 0054161

CRM track: BIOL 1009 is required when taking BIOC 2011

Completion requirement
Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
  • 0001191
    OR
    0001201
  • 7995071
    OR
    0016181
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0054181
  • 8257621
  • 7989311
  • 0053671
  • 0082441
  • 0051151
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0065781
Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Earn at least 7 credits from the following:
  • 7976141
  • 7976151
  • 7882031
    OR
    0076011
OR
Earn at least 7 credits from the following:
  • 8077531
  • 8077521
  • 7882031
    OR
    0076011
OR
Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
  • 8077531
  • 8077521
  • 8077561
  • 8077541
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0048841
  • 0071661
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 7950771
  • 0097361
  • 0082231
  • 0046591
  • 0085221

ESPM3031 can fulfill either the Additional Geospatial/Resource Analysis requirement or the Field Experience requirement, but one course cannot fulfill both requirements. 

Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0053691
  • 0062811
  • 0099201
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0082071
  • 7989321

ESPM3241W and ESPM3271 each can fulfill either the Social Sciences Policy requirement or the Social Systems requirement, but one course cannot fulfill both requirements.

Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0149621
  • 0082071
  • 7989321
  • 7975891
  • 7975911
  • 7989331

ESPM3241W and ESPM3271 each can fulfill either the Social Sciences Policy requirement or the Social Systems requirement, but one course cannot fulfill both requirements. 

Earn at least 2 credits from the following:
  • 7950771
  • 7919751
  • 8106551
  • 8182561
  • 0106321
  • 0053641
  • 0082211
    AND
    0046821
    AND
    0046501

ESPM3031 can fulfill either the Additional Geospatial/Resource Analysis requirement or the Field Experience requirement, but one course cannot fulfill both requirements. 

FNRM 2101/2102/2104 take place in August at the Cloquet Forestry Center, Cloquet, MN. These classes must all be taken to fulfill the Field Experience requirement. FNRM 2101 and 2104 are summer registration. FNRM 2102 is fall registration.

Requires advance approval by ESPM Internship Coordinator. See academic advisor and ESPM website to determine which course to take.

Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
  • 8095531
  • 8199021

A contract for 23 credits, signed by your faculty mentor, is required for graduation for the Conservation and Resource Management subplan.

The contract is an opportunity for the student to develop a focus area. This can be done with a minor, appropriate study abroad experience, and/or a student designed area.

Courses taken to meet other ESPM requirements cannot be counted here. All courses must be upper division.

Sample courses are listed below; courses listed in the subplan but not taken are also good options for use in a focus area.

Consult with your faculty mentor about creating your focus area, and learn more about courses not on this list, appropriate minors, and study abroad and other opportunities related to your focus area.

It is recommended that you meet early and regularly with your faculty mentor and academic advisor to develop the best plan for your focus area contract courses, and that you have a signed contract with your faculty mentor in place no later than the end of your junior year.

The ESPM contract for subplan contract courses is an online contract form that is tied to your APAS report, used for degree clearance. You must submit the electronic ESPM contract form, with your faculty mentor's approval (and 'electronic signature'), before the university can award your bachelor's degree.

Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 7989311
  • 0080041
  • 0105981
  • 7975891
  • 7975901
  • 0125311
  • 0053671
  • 8187791
  • 0129871
  • 7889721
  • 0076021
  • 8084941
    OR
    0070131
  • 7927091
    OR
    0079951
  • 8051461
  • 7975941
  • 7994301
  • 7898941
  • 0054951
  • 0051151
  • 0064141
  • 0069791
  • 8182571
  • 0066391
  • 7978531
  • 7987351
  • 0093761
  • 0076011
  • 7956941
  • 0026261
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 7950771
  • 0097361
  • 0082231
  • 0046591
  • 0085221
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 8153421
    OR
    8153431

Students in the CRM sub-plan are involved in what Thoreau suggested was "environmental wisdom," or the ability to make effective decisions about the environment by synthesizing natural and human created facts and information. Students integrate this understanding with diverse economic and social insight to make effective decisions for the environment and society.

This sub-plan prepares students for technical support, operational, and managerial positions in diverse aspects of resource conservation and management with local, state, and federal agencies and the private sector. This sub-plan also prepares students for graduate study in a wide range of areas.

Students solve problems in field settings and communicate their understanding, synthesis, and decision-making to diverse audiences. They gain experience in the actual implementation of decisions. Students may also develop special skills through electives (e.g., geographic information systems, geospatial analysis).

Completion requirement
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0016181
  • 0011481
  • 7995071
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 7976141
    AND
    7976151
  • 8077531
    AND
    8077521
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0053691
  • 0062811
  • 0099201
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0082071
  • 7989321
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 7919051
  • 7920181
  • 0009421
Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0026681
AND
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0038971
  • 0039001
  • 8069241
  • 0026411
  • 0026691
AND
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 8150611
  • 7898941
  • 8136381
AND
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 8187791
  • 0108751
  • 8099781
  • 0002251
Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0093181
  • 7901791
AND
Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 8197611
  • 0149621
  • 0067031
  • 0125311
  • 0102731
  • 7984561
    OR
    7982701
  • 0042131
  • 8082331
  • 0026261
  • 0030241
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0051151
  • 0051091
  • 8123571
  • 8125911
  • 7993281
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 8021221
  • 0129871
  • 0064141
  • 7994301
  • 0052151
  • 0024311
  • 0020411
  • 0065781

Take 3 courses - one course from each list and a third course from either list.

Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0082441
  • 0054181
  • 0106321
  • 0088031
AND
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 8257621
  • 0051871
  • 0051191
  • 8062521
  • 8007891
  • 0138531
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 7989311
  • 8084941
  • 7913831
  • 0133521
  • 7978531
  • 8152551
  • 0070131
  • 0111481
  • 0090021

Take from below or other similar field coursework.

Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
  • 8106551
  • 8095531
  • 8199021

Students in the EEC sub-plan gain a solid base of knowledge in the environmental sciences, environmental ethics, and the social context of environmental issues, and they develop a practical set of skills for teaching effectively in informal settings and for communicating clearly in written, oral, and electronic forms. This sub-plan prepares students to work at government agencies, nature centers, parks, non-governmental organizations, and similar institutions, and is appropriate for students who wish to gain a broad understanding of environmental issues and the choices humans can make to mitigate unwanted impacts of human behavior on the environment.

Students are encouraged to study abroad in ESPM topics, and/or a student designed area making choices that strengthen their expertise in an area and/or provide comparative understanding from another culture or discipline. Students should see their advisor for a list of suggestions and recommended minors.

Completion requirement
Earn at least 7 credits from the following:
  • 0053691
    OR
    0062811
    OR
    0099201
  • 0082071
    OR
    7989321
Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
  • 0001191
    OR
    0001201
  • 7995071
    OR
    0016181
Earn at least 18 credits from the following:
  • 8077531
  • 8077521
  • 8077561
  • 8077541
  • 0020661
  • 7927841
    OR
    8176881
  • 7882031
    OR
    8257621
    OR
    0054181
Earn at least 22 credits from the following:
  • 0064141
  • 0024311
  • 0065781
  • 0080791
    OR
    7924621
  • 0048841
    OR
    0071661
  • 7989311
    OR
    0051151
    OR
    0069791
    OR
    8123571
    OR
    8125911
Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
  • 8095531
  • 8199021
Earn at least 2 credits from the following:
  • 7950771
  • 7919751
  • 8106551
  • 8182561
  • 0106321
  • 0080951
  • 0082211
    AND
    0046821
    AND
    0046501

FNRM 2101/2102/2104 take place in August at the Cloquet Forestry Center, Cloquet, MN. These classes must all be taken to fulfill the Field Experience requirement. FNRM 2101 and 2104 are summer registration. FNRM 2102 is fall registration.

A contract for 9 credits, signed by your faculty mentor, is required for graduation for the Environmental Science subplan.

The contract is an opportunity for the student to develop a focus area. This can be done with a minor, appropriate study abroad experience, and/or a student designed area.

Courses taken to meet other ESPM requirements cannot be counted here. All courses must be upper division.

Sample courses are listed below; courses listed in the subplan but not taken are also good options for use in a focus area.

Consult with your faculty mentor about creating your focus area, and learn more about courses not on this list, appropriate minors, and study abroad and other opportunities related to your focus area.

It is recommended that you meet early and regularly with your faculty mentor and academic advisor to develop the best plan for your focus area contract courses, and that you have a signed contract with your faculty mentor in place no later than the end of your junior year.

The ESPM contract for subplan contract courses is an online contract form that is tied to your APAS report, used for degree clearance. You must submit the electronic ESPM contract form, with your faculty mentor's approval (and 'electronic signature'), before the university can award your bachelor's degree.

Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 0080041
  • 0053671
  • 7927091
    OR
    0079951
  • 0053991
  • 0080441
  • 0076011
  • 0080951
  • 0053641
  • 0026261
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 0129871
  • 7889721
  • 7994301
  • 0066391
  • 0053111
  • 7949711
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 0053671
  • 8187791
  • 0080721
  • 0076511
  • 0134061
  • 0128471
  • 7910651
  • 7898941
  • 0051151
  • 7908621
  • 7953831
  • 0069791
  • 8152551
  • 8018241
  • 0070131
  • 7896901
  • 0142921
  • 0142931
  • 0142911
  • 7922821
  • 0074531
    OR
    7922851
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 8123571
    OR
    8125911
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 0053781
  • 8024171
  • 8053571
  • 8176881
  • 7927071
  • 0080721
  • 8064571
  • 8064581
  • 0074021
  • 8169031
  • 0048701
  • 8107211
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 0097361
  • 7975901
  • 7889721
  • 0082231
  • 0076021
  • 0042261
  • 0023921
  • 0046591
  • 0085221
  • 8182571
  • 0074021
  • 0076631
  • 0071681
  • 0098471
  • 7983611
  • 0167011
OR
Complete course(s) and earn credit(s) from the following:
  • 8153421
    OR
    8153431
  • 8153401
    OR
    8153411
  • 8152551

The ES sub-plan focuses on the application and integration of basic and applied sciences to solve complex environmental problems. Students can earn professional licenses and certification in several areas and will be qualified to work as soil scientists, hydrologists, water quality and wetland ecology scientists, environmental remediation scientists, climatologists, and atmospheric scientists. Graduates find jobs with environmental regulatory agencies, private consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations. This sub-plan provides a diverse basic and applied science background that also prepares students for scientific research through advanced graduate studies.

Students in this sub-plan use an understanding of biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to develop a broad knowledge base in soil, hydrologic, atmospheric, and biological sciences. Students study the interaction between science and the functioning of urban, forested, and agricultural lands, as well as hydrologic, atmospheric, soil, and wetland resources.

Completion requirement
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 7976141
    AND
    7976151
  • 8077531
    AND
    8077521
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 7995071
  • 0016181
  • 0011481
Earn at least 10 credits from the following:
  • 0082071
  • 0053691
  • 7989321
Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
  • 8197611
  • 0149621
  • 0067031
  • 7989331
  • 7989341
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0066951

or Appropriate Study Abroad

Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
  • 8106551
  • 8095531
  • 8199021
  • 0082211
    AND
    0046821
    AND
    0046501

FNRM 2101/2102/2104 take place in August at the Cloquet Forestry Center, Cloquet, MN. These classes must all be taken to fulfill the Field Experience requirement. FNRM 2101 and 2104 are summer registration. FNRM 2102 is fall registration.

Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 0097361
  • 0052611
  • 7994401
  • 7919051
Earn at least 4 credits from the following:
  • 0048841
  • 0071661
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 7989311
  • 0105981
  • 0051151
  • 0069791
Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 7975901
  • 7975911
  • 0053631
  • 0129871
  • 8021221
  • 7914941
  • 0064141
  • 0066351
  • 8152551
  • 0065781

ESPM 4021W can fulfill either the ESPM Capstone core requirement for the major, or the Environmental and Systems Management requirement for subplan PPLS, but one course cannot fulfill both requirements.

A contract for 12 credits, signed by your faculty mentor, is required for graduation for the Policy, Planning, Law, and Society subplan.

The contract is an opportunity for the student to develop a focus area. This can be done with a minor, appropriate study abroad experience, and/or a student designed area.

Courses taken to meet other ESPM requirements cannot be counted here. All courses must be 3xxx level or above except for one course which can be 1xxx or 2xxx level.

Courses listed in the subplan but not taken are good options for use in a focus area.

Consult with your faculty mentor about creating your focus area and learn more about contract course options, appropriate minors, and study abroad and other opportunities related to your focus area.

It is recommended that you meet early and regularly with your faculty mentor and academic advisor to develop the best plan for your focus area contract courses, and that you have a signed contract with your faculty mentor in place no later than the end of your junior year.

The ESPM contract for subplan contract courses is an online contract form that is tied to your APAS report, used for degree clearance. You must submit the electronic ESPM contract form, with your faculty mentor's signature, before the university can award your bachelor's degree.

The PPLS sub-plan focuses on developing understanding and problem-solving skills germane to the interaction between human and natural systems. Students will be well-prepared for policy development and analysis, strategy development, and decision-making in a range of positions and institutional settings. Example positions include those as a policy analyst, community planner, social researcher, or lawyer in public agencies, with legislative bodies, consulting firms, and conservation organizations. This sub-plan also prepares students for graduate study in policy, planning, and law programs.

Students study concepts, issues, and problem-solving approaches that address the policy, legal, economic, political, planning, and sociological aspects of environment and natural resource management. This study includes ethics and conflict management. The sub-plan further emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach for examining problems, such as sustainable land use planning, resource conservation and management, law, and environmental protection at a range of political levels and spatial scales and developing effective and innovative solutions. Students develop skill in integrating knowledge from the physical, biological, and social sciences to develop policy and planning alternatives and appropriate strategies to provide real solutions to complex problems.

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