May 15, 2024  
2023-2024 University Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University Catalog

Natural Resources and Environmental Science: Emerging Environmental Challenges Concentration, BS


About the Program


Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) is an interdisciplinary program that combines broad environmental knowledge and technical competency, with understanding of the economic, policy and human factors of environmental management to develop graduates who are well-equipped to deal with the environmental challenges of the 21st century.  Students can choose from one of six concentration areas: energy and climate solutions, environmental policy and analysis, watershed management, environmental quality and restoration, sustainability science or emerging environmental challenges. NRES graduates work in an exciting variety of environmentally related careers in the public and private sector, including state and federal agencies, consulting firms and non-profits.

Students selecting Emerging Environmental Challenges work with the faculty directors to build a meaningful plan of study in an environmental focus area of their choosing.  

Natural Resources and Environmental Science Website

Natural Resources and Environmental Science Major Change (CODO) Requirements  

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (35 credits)


Emerging Environmental Challenges Concentration Courses (24 credits)


  • Additonal Mathematics or Statistics Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Emerging Environmental Challenges Selective - Credit Hours: 21.00

Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements (69-75 credits)


Electives (10-16 credits)


  • Electives - Credit Hours: 10.00-16.00

 

College of Agriculture & University Level Requirements


College of Agriculture Pass/No Pass Policy


College of Agriculture Undergraduate Pass/No Pass Policy 

Courses Not Applicable in Agricultural Plans of Study


The following courses are not applicable as credit toward graduation in any College of Agriculture baccalaureate degree program:

  • CHM 10000; ENGL 10000, 10900, 11100; ENGR 19100, 19200, 19300; MA 11100, 12300, 13300, 13400, 15100; 15555, PHYS 14900; STAT 11300, 11400; and all General Studies courses except GS 49000 - Discovery Park Undergraduate Research. 

Credits earned in one of the following course - MA 15200, 15300, 15400 or MA 15800 - may be used as an unrestricted elective in the College of Agriculture undergraduate plans of study, but may not be used as a Mathematics and Sciences Selectives.

 

GPA Requirements


  • 2.0 GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.

Transfer Credit Policy


  • Transfer courses listed in the Purdue Transfer Equivalency Guide with specific Purdue Subject codes (e.g. BIOL) may be used to fulfill degree requirements at the discretion of the College of Agriculture. However, Agriculture transfer courses listed with “UND” Purdue Subject codes cannot be used for any requirements in the College of Agriculture at Purdue.

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course).

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Sample 4-Year Plan


16-18 Credits


Spring 1st Year


14-18 Credits


14-16 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


17-18 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


16-17 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


12 Credits


Fall 4th Year


12 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Emerging Environmental Challenges Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Emerging Environmental Challenges Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Humanities or Social Science Selective (30000+ level) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 2.00-4.00

13-15 Credits


World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japenese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, click here.