Associate in Arts
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Environmental Studies
Course Descriptions
Interim Dean: Dr. Charles Wilson
Coordinator: Dr. Edward Kremer
Academic Advisor: Ernie May
Curriculum pathway leading to an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences for students seeking a transfer degree to a 4-year institution:
Environmental issues are among the most urgent facing our society. These issues have broad implications for economics, politics, business, and social welfare. Our ability to affect the environment causes changes in the quality of life of people around the world and threatens the existence of many species.
The Environmental Studies degree is a liberal arts program that provides the student with a broad background in science, math, economics, and sociology. The student will develop the ability to understand concepts related to the environment and our effect on it, and to solve practical problems and find better ways of meeting complex environmental issues.
The Environmental Studies degree is designed to prepare the student for transfer to a related bachelor's degree program. The first two years of a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, for example, may be completed at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Upon successful completion of courses chosen in consultation with a KCKCC environmental studies advisor and advisors at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, students may transfer as juniors.
Students should meet with an environmental studies advisor as soon as they are admitted to Kansas City Kansas Community College. Many courses are sequential and careful selection of classes each semester is necessary to complete the program without delay.
Since the transferability of courses will vary depending on the specific four-year institution, it is strongly recommended that if students are intending to transfer to four-year institutions, they must consult with the transfer institution and with their respective KCKCC advisors before enrolling in order to determine the transferability of their courses. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the transferability of his/her courses.
General Education Requirements
College Requirement - All first time degree-seeking students who score 75 or above on the ACCUPLACER reading exam are required to take HUDV0100, Freshman Orientation (1 credit hour). All degree-seeking students who score below 75 on the ACCUPLACER reading exam will take HUDV 101, Strategies for Academic Excellence/Lifelong Learning (2 credit hours). (See exemptions)
| Course Number |
Course Title |
Hours |
| Basic Skill Requirements (12 credit hours) |
| ENGL 101 |
Composition I |
3 |
| ENGL 102 |
Composition II* |
3 |
| MATH 120 |
Calculus I (Non-Engineering)* |
3 |
SPCH 151
SPCH 153 |
Public Speaking or
Interpersonal Communication |
3 |
| Total Basic Skill Requirements |
12 |
| Humanities Requirements (12 credit hours from at least 3 disciplines) |
HIST 115
|
World Civilization I and
|
3 |
HIST 117
|
Western Civilization Readings I |
1 |
HIST 116
|
World Civilization II |
3 |
| HIST 118 |
Western Civilization Readings II |
1 |
| |
Humanities Core Elective
(from Art, Literature, Modern Language, Music, Philosophy or Theatre) |
4 |
| Total Humanities Requirements |
12 |
| Social and Behavioral Science Requirements (12 credit hours from at least 3 disciplines) |
| |
Social Science Core Electives
(from Sociology, Psychology, Geography, Anthropology, Political Science & Economics) |
|
| Total Social and Behavioral Science Requirements |
12 |
| 9 hours of Natural and Physical Science courses from at least two disciplines (lecture with lab) |
| BIOL 121 |
General Biology |
5 |
| CHEM 111 |
College Chemistry I with Lab* |
5 |
| Total Natural and Physical Science Requirements |
10 |
| Total General Education Hours |
47-49 |
| Total for an Associate in Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree |
68 |
| Environmental Studies Requirements |
| BIOL 131 |
Environmental Science |
3 |
| BIOL 132 |
Environmental Science Lab |
2 |
| BIOL 251 |
Ecology |
3 |
| CHEM 112 |
College Chemistry II and Lab* |
5 |
| CHEM 211 |
Organic Chemistry I* and |
3 |
| CHEM 213 |
Organic Chemistry I Lab* |
2 |
| Total Environmental Studies Requirements |
18 |
| Total hours required for an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree |
65-67 |
*See course description for prerequisite.
** Mathematics sequence is contingent upon math placement test scores. 3 hours college-level mathematics is required; statistics will be required of transfer students where University curriculum requires it.