Freshwater Sciences B.S.

Location(s): Tahlequah

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OSHRE Program Code: 177
CIP Code: 030101
Major Code: 7050

Transfer Agreements

CSC Multidisciplinary Studies in STEM AS to NSU Freshwater Biology BS

Freshwater Sciences is an interdisciplinary degree focused on understanding freshwater ecosystems (rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries) and ecosystems at the interface between aquatic and terrestrial habitats (wetlands, bogs, fens, riparian forests, and grasslands). Students pursuing this degree explore the freshwater systems through a variety of sciences and also learn about regulation of water.

Student Learning Outcomes

Be knowledgeable about the various sciences, technologies, and management issues related to freshwater in order to facilitate interdisciplinary approaches to solving problems related to freshwater.
Perform standard water monitoring tests and basic site assessment.
Demonstrate skills required for communicating and working with natural scientists, engineers, social scientists, managers, business leaders, policy makers, and the general public.
Be cognizant of the economics of freshwater in our region.
Be knowledgeable about the regulations pertaining to water.

General Education Requirements - 41 hours

While NSU requires a minimum of 40 hours of academic work in general education during the freshman and sophomore years, some majors may require other specific general education courses as program prerequisites or program requirements. These prerequisites raise the general education requirement for this major to 41 hours. For students transferring with an Associate of Arts degree or Associate of Science degree from a public institution in Oklahoma, all general education requirements will be satisfied, except where program prerequisites are required. Students should consult advisors and the program’s plan of study for further information. Students are required to complete general education requirements by the time they have completed 90 semester hours of college work. See General Education Requirements for more information.

Freshwater Sciences General Education Requirements

The following are course prerequisites that may be completed as part of the General Education requirements.

Freshwater Sciences Required Courses - 40 hours

Courses in the major must be completed with a minimum grade of C.

Major Electives - 13 hours

In consultation with your advisor and faculty mentor, choose 13 hours from:

Total Degree Hours- 120 hours

General Education Requirements- 41 hours

Major Total - 53 hours

Minor - 18 hours

A minor is required for the Freshwater Sciences major.

Open Electives- 8 hours

Accelerated B.S. Freshwater Sciences to M.S. Natural Science Degree

Note: Please refer to Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program for complete information concerning the Accelerated Degree Program (ADP). Refer to the current Graduate Catalog for master’s degree requirements.

IMPORTANT:

Students admitted to the Accelerated B.S. Freshwater Sciences to M.S. Natural Science or M.S. Applied Geographic Information Systems degree program will complete up to 6-9 hours of graduate level credit to apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Students may not receive credit toward both the undergraduate and the paired graduate-level course. A student completing an undergraduate course and the paired graduate-level course will only receive credit for one course toward the bachelor’s degree.
A minimum grade of C is required for all 5000 level graduate courses.
Students who do not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated degree program.
Prior to completing the undergraduate degree, if the undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA and/or overall GPA fall below a 3.00, the student becomes ineligible to continue in the ADP.
Students may withdraw from an approved accelerated degree pathway. Graduate credit hours completed prior to the student withdrawing or becoming ineligible to continue in the ADP apply toward the undergraduate degree only.

ADP Paired Courses

SCI 4292 Freshwater Sciences Internship	SCI 5530 (2 hrs) - Research in the Natural Sciences
Approved Undergraduate-Level Electives (3 hrs)	SCI 5803 - Topics in Natural Sciences
SCI 4261 Freshwater Science Senior Seminar	SCI 5511 - Research Seminar
Approved Undergraduate-Level Electives (3 hrs)	Approved Graduate-Level Electives (3 hrs)

Accelerated B.S. Freshwater Sciences to M.S. Applied Geographic Information Systems

IMPORTANT:

Students admitted to the Accelerated B.S. Freshwater Sciences to M.S. Natural Science or M.S. Applied Geographic Information Systems degree program will complete up to 6-9 hours of graduate level credit to apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Students may not receive credit toward both the undergraduate and the paired graduate-level course. A student completing an undergraduate course and the paired graduate-level course will only receive credit for one course toward the bachelor’s degree.
A minimum grade of C is required for all 5000 level graduate courses.
Students who do not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated degree program.
Prior to completing the undergraduate degree, if the undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA and/or overall GPA fall below a 3.00, the student becomes ineligible to continue in the ADP.
Students may withdraw from an approved accelerated degree pathway. Graduate credit hours completed prior to the student withdrawing or becoming ineligible to continue in the ADP apply toward the undergraduate degree only.

ADP Paired Courses

Approved Elective for Freshwater Science Degree	GEOG 5453 - Field Techniques in GIS
GEOG 4803 - Geospatial Technologies (elective)	GEOG 5803 - Advanced Geospatial Technologies
GEOG 4833 - Advanced GIS (elective)	GEOG 5833 - Advanced GIS and Spatial Analysis
GEOG 4853 - GIS Automation and Scripting (elective)	GEOG 5853 Advanced Automation and Scripting

Additional Degree Information - Gregg Wadley College of Science and Health Professions

In addition to general education and program requirements stated above, additional hours may be needed to satisfy all minimum degree requirements listed below.

English Proficiency: Components I and II of English proficiency should be met with grades of “C” or better prior to the completion of 60 credit hours.
A minimum of 120 hours is required althout several science and health profession majors require more. PE activity hours cannot be counted toward the total degree credit hours. Prior learning credit (CLEP, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc) is limited to 30 hours.
A minimum of 30 hours in residence (from NSU) is required for graduation. Hours in residence exclude zero-level courses and prior learning credit such as CLEP, Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc.
A minimum of 40 hours of 3000/4000 level courses is required for graduation.
A minimum of 60 hours from a 4-year school is required for graduation excluding zero level and PE activity courses.
At least fifty percent of the major requirements must be upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level).
At least 18 hours or fifty percent of the major, whichever is greater, must be satisfactorily completed at NSU.
The minimum number of credit hours required in the Liberal Arts and Sciences varies based on the type of degree. B.S. degrees require at least 55 hours and B.S.Ed., B.S.M.L.S., B.S.N., and B.S.S.L.P. degrees require at least 40 hours. Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) courses are identified in catalog course descriptions.

For additional information, see Bachelor’s Degree Requirements .