Bachelor of Arts: Environmental Studies
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- interpret human & environmental patterns using spatial analysis.
- describe the components and functions of socio-ecological systems.
- analyze the complex relationships between humans and the natural environment.
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (satisfied in major requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
Students must successfully complete the major requirements below with at least 12 hours of the noted upper division (300+) course requirements completed at UMKC.
School of Science and Engineering Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Intensive Course (300-level or above; satisfied in major requirements below): | 0 | |
| Total Credits | 0 | |
Foreign Language* coursework (3rd semester level) is required for the major.
*To determine the correct placement in a foreign language, please visit: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/foreign-language-placement/
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language Requirement (3rd semester level) | 9 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| One of the following course sets: | 4 | |
| Understanding the Earth Laboratory and Understanding the Earth: Introduction to Environmental Science and Laboratory | ||
| MOTR Physical Geography with Lab | ||
| General Geology and General Geology Laboratory | ||
| GEOG/UPD 203 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOLOGY 250L | Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science | 3 |
| or GEOLOGY 251L | Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science: Off-Campus | |
| GEOG 215 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| ENV-STDY 325 | Cultural Perspectives on the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 444 | Spatial Data Analysis | 4 |
| ENV-STDY 499WI | Environmental Studies Practicum (satisfies WI requirement) | 3 |
| B.A. Supporting Requisites | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 110 | Precalculus Algebra (satisfies Math Pathway) | 3 |
| STAT 235 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or CJC 303 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology and Criminal Justice | |
| or SOCIOL 363 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology/Criminal Justice | |
| Supporting Social Sciences - Choose 4 Courses In 3 Different Subject Areas | 12 | |
| Consumer Society | ||
| Environment, Resources And Economic Growth | ||
| Climate Change Impact Assessment and Policy Response | ||
or GEOG 406 | Global Environmental Change | |
or ENV-SCI 449 | Global Water and Sustainability | |
| American Environmental History | ||
| Environmental Politics | ||
| Immigration and the City | ||
or SOCIOL 365 | Cities and Society | |
| Urban Environment Planning And Design | ||
| Environmental Electives - Choose one from each category | 9 | |
| Natural Sciences (NS) | ||
| General Ecology (prerequisite coursework required) | ||
| Marine and Freshwater Biology (prerequisite coursework required) | ||
| Vertebrate Zoology (prerequisite coursework required) | ||
| Plant Biology (prerequisite coursework required) | ||
| Environmental Sustainability | ||
Any 300- or 400-level ENV-SCI, GEOG, or GEOLOGY course except those listed under Social Sciences (SS) | ||
| Social Sciences (SS) | ||
| Urban Anthropology | ||
| Environment, Resources And Economic Growth | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| Latinx Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees in the U.S | ||
| Sociology Of Gender | ||
| Race And Ethnic Relations | ||
| Neighborhood And Community Development | ||
| Transportation Planning | ||
| Natural Hazards and Disaster Planning | ||
| Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Culture (EJC) | ||
| Water Law (with permission) | ||
| Law And The American Indian (with permission) | ||
| Preservation Law (with permission) | ||
| Environmental Law (with permission) | ||
| Culture and Society | ||
| Planning Theory And Practice | ||
| Planning Law And Practice | ||
| Total Credits | 61 | |
General Electives
Students must take elective credit hours to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree, including at least 36 credit hours of coursework at the 300-level or above. The minimum required by the university is 120 credit hours, of which at least 30 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, but some degree programs require more.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 29 | |
Total Credits: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
