University Studies - BS, Environmental Business Concentration
A University Studies Degree differs from a traditional “major” in that it consists of a concentration of 21-24 hours and two minors of 15-18 hours each. The University Studies Degree format was created to provide students the flexibility to combine areas of study that are of special interest. Under the guidelines of the University Studies degree requirements, the student’s diploma will list “University Studies” in the place where the major is currently listed. The student’s area of concentration (Environmental Business) and the two minors (Rangeland Ecology & Management AND Business) will be indicated on the student’s transcript.
This new degree option features a blending of environmental science coursework and business coursework in a truly unique combination unlike any other degree at Texas A&M University. The Environmental Business concentration draws heavily from the established Bioenvironmental Sciences degree already offered at Texas A&M, but this concentration is significantly different in that it lacks the larger number of life science courses that serve as a necessary foundation in any environmental science degree. The focus on environmental coursework (through the BESC and ECCB courses) coupled with core business coursework allows this University Studies concentration to provide a very well-rounded and marketable degree in a variety of arenas.
This interdisciplinary degree plan provides a highly-marketable focus from an already fast-rising, multi-faceted discipline. The coursework retains the “customizable” nature of the university studies degree within the concentration itself, allowing students a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity for their bachelor’s degree. The Environmental Business concentration provides a solid foundation of Bioenvironmental Sciences coursework that, when paired with the Rangeland Ecology & Management minor and the Business minor, provides students with a versatile, sound degree that is uniquely positioned in the job market and combines a general overview of both environmental issues/policies and business administration principals/content.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| BESC 201 | Introduction to Bioenvironmental Sciences | 3 |
| RENR 205 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| RENR 215 | Fundamentals of Ecology--Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 101 or BIOL 111 | Botany or Introductory Biology I | 4 |
| Social and behavioral sciences | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Molds and Mushrooms: The Impact of Fungi on Society and the Environment | ||
| Pathogens, the Environment and Society | ||
| Water and the Bioenvironmental Sciences | ||
| Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Plant Pathology | ||
| Plant Pathology Laboratory | ||
| Communication 1 | 3 | |
| Government/Political science 1 | 3 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BESC 367 | U.S. Environmental Regulations | 3 |
| Business minor | 3 | |
| Government/Political science 1 | 3 | |
| Rangeland ecology and management minor | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Molds and Mushrooms: The Impact of Fungi on Society and the Environment | ||
| Pathogens, the Environment and Society | ||
| Water and the Bioenvironmental Sciences | ||
| Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Plant Pathology | ||
| Plant Pathology Laboratory | ||
| American history 1 | 3 | |
| Business minor | 3 | |
| Creative arts 1 | 3 | |
| Rangeland ecology and management minor 3 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| American history 1 | 3 | |
| Business minor | 3 | |
| Mathematics 1 | 3 | |
| Rangeland ecology and management minor | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Business minor | 3 | |
| Mathematics 1 | 3 | |
| Rangeland ecology and management minor | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Molds and Mushrooms: The Impact of Fungi on Society and the Environment | ||
| Pathogens, the Environment and Society | ||
| Water and the Bioenvironmental Sciences | ||
| Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Plant Pathology | ||
| Plant Pathology Laboratory | ||
| Business minor | 3 | |
| Communication 1 | 3 | |
| Rangeland ecology and management minor | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BESC 481 | Seminar | 1 |
| BESC 484 | Field Experience | 3 |
| Business minor | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 3 | |
| Free elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | The Graduation requirements include a requirement for 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. Select in consultation with an academic advisor. |
Business Minor
The minor in business consists of six specific courses chosen to develop a foundational knowledge in the basic aspects of business, including accounting, finance, management, marketing, and management information systems.
The courses listed below constitute the 18 hours required for a minor in business.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 209 | Survey of Accounting Principles (or TCCNS ACCT 2301 or 2401) | 3 |
| ISTM 209 | Business Information Systems Concepts 1 | 3 |
| MGMT 209 | Principles of Business Regulations and Law (or Blinn College BUSI 2371) 2 | 3 |
| FINC 409 | Survey of Finance Principles 3 | 3 |
| MGMT 309 | Survey of Management 3 | 3 |
| MKTG 409 | Principles of Marketing 3 | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 18 | |
| 1 | The Information Systems CLEP exam is available for students who have not taken ISTM 209 to demonstrate mastery of the course concepts. See http://testing.tamu.edu/Exams/CLEP. |
| 2 | MGMT 212 cannot be used to meet this requirement. |
| 3 | Course must be taken in residence at Texas A&M. No transfer courses or substitutions will be allowed. |
Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course listed above to be awarded the business minor and receive transcript recognition.
Rangeland Ecology and Management Minor
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Wildland Plants of North America | ||
| Agrostology | ||
| Rangeland Plant Taxonomy | ||
| ESSM 314 | Principles of Rangeland Management Around the World | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Wildland Watershed Management | ||
| Range Ecology | ||
| Vegetation Management | ||
| Ecosystem Restoration and Management | ||
| Fire Ecology and Natural Resource Management | ||
| Ecological Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Systems | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
Students must make a grade of C or better in all courses.