Environmental Science Transfer to The University of Montana-Western

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The Environmental Science program at The University of Montana - Western is designed to prepare students to face the challenges and diverse career opportunities that exist within the broad discipline of the environmental sciences. Career opportunities include gaining employment in consulting firms, private industry, and state or federal agencies.

Students majoring in Environmental Science at The University of Montana - Western must select a related area to complement their major. These related areas include, biology, geology, environmental, interpretation, wildlands management, wildlife biology, sustainable natural resource management and environmental geochemistry. The environmental interpretation option does not require calculus or physics so those students should take other science courses instead. Any student considering graduate school should take more math and PHSX 222 * at FVCC as electives.

Associate of Science Degree

Suggested course of study for a transfer to The University of Montana - Western:

First Year

BIOB 160NL - Principles of Living Systems Credit(s): 4
BIOB 170N - Principles of Biological Diversity Credit(s): 3 *
BIOB 171L - Principles of Biological Diversity Laboratory Credit(s): 2 *
CHMY 141NL - College Chemistry I Credit(s): 5 *¹
CHMY 143NL - College Chemistry II Credit(s): 5 * ¹
M 115M - Probability and Linear Mathematics Credit(s): 3 * ²
OR
M 171M - Calculus I Credit(s): 5 *
PHSX 220NL - Physics I (with Calculus) Credit(s): 5 * ²
WRIT 101W - College Writing I Credit(s): 3 *
Humanities (H) Requirement Credit(s): 3

First Year Total: 33-35

Second Year

ENSC 245NL - Soils Credit(s): 4
STAT 216M - Introduction to Statistics Credit(s): 4 *
Communications (C) Requirement Credit(s): 3 ³
Electives Credit(s): 12 **
Global Issues (G) Requirement Credit(s): 3
Humanities (H) Requirement Credit(s): 3
OR
Fine Arts (F) Requirement Credit(s): 3
Social Sciences (A) Requirement Credit(s): 3 ⁴
Social Sciences (B) Requirement Credit(s): 3

Second Year Total: 35

Total Credits: 68-70

¹Not required for Environmental Interpretation option. Take BIOB 170 *, BIOB 171 *, and GEO 101 instead.
²For Environmental Interpretation option only.
³Environmental Interpretation students must take COMX 111 .
⁴Environmental Interpretation students must take PSYX 100 .

*Indicates prerequisite and/or corequisite needed. Check course description.

**Depending on which related area you choose to pursue, the following electives may be worthwhile to take at FVCC:

BIOM 260N - General Microbiology Credit(s): 3 *
BIOO 262 - Introduction to Entomology Credit(s): 3 *
CHMY 221NL - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 5 *
CHMY 223NL - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 5 *
M 172M - Calculus II Credit(s): 5 *
M 221M - Introduction to Linear Algebra Credit(s): 4 *
M 273M - Multivariable Calculus Credit(s): 5 *
PHSX 222 Physics II Credit(s): 5*

Advising Information:

For more information about this program, contact the FVCC Student Support Center or the Faculty Advisor.

Student Support Center Advisor	Faculty Advisor
Russ Lamson	Anita Ho, Ph.D.
LRC 129	RH 177
(406) 756-3885	(406) 756-3873
rlamson@fvcc.edu	aho@fvcc.edu

The Associate of Science (AS) degree requires 60 credits at FVCC, and the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree at Montana University System (MUS) colleges and universities requires 120 credits. FVCC students can usually earn as many as 75-85 credits in preparation for many transfer majors, thus reducing the number of credits required for the BS degree at MUS schools. Also, by earning the AS degree from FVCC, students will have satisfied the lower division General Education Core (see General Education Requirements for requirements) for all MUS institutions and will not be required to meet additional lower division general education core requirements upon transfer. The suggested course load in AS programs is rigorous and is recommended for only the most prepared students. A more moderate semester credit load can be achieved by taking general education core courses during summer terms or completing one or two additional semesters at FVCC before transfer.

The information on all transfer programs is subject to change. Students should see their advisor to explore other possibilities not specifically listed in the program.