College of the Coast & Environment

Departments and Curricula

 The College of the Coast & Environment (SC&E) includes two academic departments - Department of Environmental Sciences and Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences. The college administers undergraduate and graduate degrees and facilitates the development of innovative research programs leading to a better understanding of coastal and environmental systems worldwide.

 The B.S. degree program in Coastal Environmental Science is the only academic program focusing on coastal environmental sciences in the Southern Gulf states. This degree program provides undergraduates with a solid math and science based curriculum that prepares students for graduate programs in a broad choice of advanced fields of study, professional programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, or law, and careers in environmental sciences, environmental planning and management, oceanography, coastal and marine sciences, and wetland studies. During the junior and senior years, students may choose one of four areas of specialty for their upper division courses and have the opportunity to perform an independent research project in an environmental or coastal science related field. Diversity in the upper division curriculum enables students to focus on courses and areas of study that will help them pursue their desired future careers, whether that is in additional biological and medical studies, environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, coastal restoration and management, or environmental law. This undergraduate degree program is hosted jointly by the Department of Environmental Sciences and the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences.

The College of the Coast & Environment and the LSU Law School share faculty and programs in environmental law, energy, and the environment.

For specific information concerning undergraduate degree requirements for the BS in Coastal Environmental Science, refer to the curriculum within the departmental sections above. Detailed information about graduate degree programs in Environmental Sciences or Oceanography & Coastal Sciences may be found in “The Graduate School ” section.

Admission Requirements

Students who are considering a BS in Coastal Environmental Science should pay special attention to the mathematics and science courses they select and should consult a representative of the program prior to their initial registration. Students will be admitted to the program when they have earned 24 or more semester hours of credit in courses numbered 1000 or higher; maintained a GPA of at least 2.00 on both LSU and cumulative averages; and have passed all courses in mathematics and science with a grade of “C” or better, or received special approval from the dean of the college.

Students transferring from another institution must meet university transfer admission requirements. Transfer students must also meet the current admission requirements of the college and receive approval from the dean of the college.

Students who, after initial enrollment in this college, wish to obtain credit for courses taken at other accredited institutions, and who plan to use this course credit toward their degree requirements, must obtain approval from the dean.

Degree Requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to qualify for the bachelor’s degree by meeting the following requirements:

• Meet the university’s general education course requirements.
• Achieve a “C” or better in all science and mathematics requirements.
• Achieve a 2.00 GPA, as required by the university, for all work taken at LSU and on all work attempted at U. S. institutions.
• Successfully complete a minimum of 30 hours of residence in the Coastal Environmental Science program. These hours are included in the university requirement that a minimum of 25 percent of hours applied toward the degree be earned at LSU.
• Six hours of ROTC may be allowed for degree credit as long as they are taken at 3000-level or above.

Minor Field Requirements (Optional)

The Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences offers a minor in oceanography and coastal sciences. Students majoring in Coastal Environmental Science may not choose oceanography and coastal sciences as a minor.

The Department of Environmental Sciences offers an undergraduate minor in environmental sciences. This minor provides students with a background in fields of science immediately relevant to problems facing modern society. Students majoring in diverse fields of study will gain an understanding of the broad field of environmental sciences.

It should be noted that students may be eligible for undergraduate minors in both chemistry and biological sciences depending upon the courses selected. See the “College of Science ” curriculum notes for specific requirements regarding minors in these programs.

College Probation

A student in the College of the Coast & Environment who fails to earn a 2.00 semester GPA in a regular semester will be placed on college probation. In addition, students who fail to meet the college academic requirements noted in the section on degree requirements, or who enter the college with deficiencies, may be placed on college probation. At the discretion of the dean, a student who is on college probation and fails to meet the academic requirements, including earning a 2.00 or better semester GPA, may be declared ineligible to continue in the college at the end of a regular semester. A student on college probation who does earn a 2.00 or better semester GPA, who remediates course deficiencies, and who makes satisfactory progress in the degree program will be removed from college probation at the end of a regular semester or summer term.

Undergraduate Career Plan

Students are encouraged to enrich their studies and prepare for their careers by using the Four Year Career Plan in addition to their academic course of study.