Environmental Science Associate of Science

Program Overview:

RCTC offers an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Environmental Science, which prepares students for jobs in the environmental sciences and includes excellent internship opportunities for students. The program provides students with foundational coursework to transfer into four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs in environmental science-related and biological fields of study.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Environmental Science program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Explain the scientific method and demonstrate the ability to apply all aspects of it during scientific investigation.
• Demonstrate an ability to understand and apply biological concepts and processes.
• Show proper use of instruments and techniques in the laboratory.
• Demonstrate an ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Additional Information:

An articulation agreement has been established between RCTC and Winona State University.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AS

MINNESOTA TRANSFER CURRICULUM (MnTC)/GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (31 CREDITS)

GOAL 1: COMMUNICATION (11 CREDITS)

• COMM 1114 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 cr)
• ENGL 1117 – Reading and Writing Critically I (4 cr)
• ENGL 1118 – Reading and Writing Critically II (4 cr)

GOAL 3: NATURAL SCIENCES (7 CREDITS)

• BIOL 1102 – Plant Biology (3 cr)
• BIOL 1220 – General Biology I (4 cr)

GOAL 4: MATHEMATICS/LOGICAL REASONING (4 CREDITS)

• MATH 2208 – Fundamentals of Statistics (4 cr)

GOAL 5: HUMANITIES AND THE FINE ARTS (3 CREDITS)

• SOC 1614 – Introduction to Sociology (3 cr)

GOAL 6: HUMANITIES AND THE FINE ARTS (3 CREDITS)

• PHIL 1130 – Environmental Ethics (3 cr) Recommended OR PHIL 1125 – Ethics (3 cr)

GOAL 10: PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3 CREDITS)

• BIOL 1100 – Environmental Biology (3 cr)

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (29 CREDITS)

• BIOL 1230 – General Biology II (4 cr)
• BIOL 1300 – Biological Applications of GIS Technology (3 cr)
• BIOL 1310 – Environmental Science Seminar (2 cr)
• BIOL 2000 – Ecology (4 cr)
• BIOL 2200 – Zoology (4 cr)
• BIOL 2300 – Genetics (4 cr)

Choose one of the following series:

• CHEM 1127 – Chemical Principles I (4 cr) AND
  CHEM 1128 – Chemical Principles II (4 cr)
  or
• PHYS 1117 – Introductory Physics I (4 cr) AND
  PHYS 1118 – Introductory Physics II (4 cr)
  or
• PHYS 1127 – Classical Physics I (5 cr) AND PHYS 1128 – Classical Physics II (5 cr)

RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES

FULL-TIME

• Semester 1 Fall (15 CREDITS): BIOL 1100, BIOL 1220, BIOL 2200 (even years) OR BIOL 2000, ENGL 1117, MATH 1127, PHYS 1127
• Semester 2 Spring (14 CREDITS): BIOL 1102, BIOL 1230, BIOL 1300 (even years) OR BIOL 1310, ENGL 1118
• Semester 3 Fall (15 CREDITS): BIOL 2200 (even years) OR BIOL 2000, CHEM 1127, MATH 2208, PHIL 1130
• Semester 4 Spring (16 CREDITS): BIOL 1300 (even years) OR BIOL 1310, BIOL 2300, CHEM 1128, COMM 1114, SOC 1614

PART-TIME

• Semester 1 – Fall (7 CREDITS): BIOL 1100, BIOL 1220
• Semester 2 – Spring (9 CREDITS): BIOL 1102, BIOL 1230, BIOL 1300 (even years) OR BIOL 1310
• Semester 3 – Summer (4 CREDITS): ENGL 1117
• Semester 4 – Fall (16 CREDITS): BIOL 2200 (even years) OR BIOL 2000, CHEM 1127
• Semester 5 – Spring (7 CREDITS): BIOL 1300 (even years) OR BIOL 1310, BIOL 2300, CHEM 1128
• Semester 6 – Summer (4 CREDITS): ENGL 1118
• Semester 7 – Fall (7 CREDITS): BIOL 2200 (even years) OR BIOL 2000, COMM 1114
• Semester 8 – Spring (11 CREDITS): BIOL 2300, MATH 2208, PHIL 1130
• Semester 9 – Summer (3 CREDITS): SOC 1614

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions