Program: University Parallel, A.S. - Environmental Science - Volunteer State Community College

Mar 13, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Degree: Associate of Science
Major: University Parallel
Area of Emphasis: Environmental Science

For more information, contact the Math and Science division at 615-230-3261 or at mathscience@volstate.edu.

This pathway is for students planning to continue their education to earn a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or Environmental Studies. This timely curriculum investigates major environmental concerns including social and economic consequences of energy production, resource consumption, over-population, pollution, sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Transfer Options
The University Parallel, Associate of Science Degree is designed for transfer to universities offering a Baccalaureate degree. Contact your advisor for additional information.

All students graduating with a degree from VSCC are required to take the E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) to meet graduation requirements. More information can be found at https://www.volstate.edu/graduation/exit-exams.

CIP Code: (16) 24.0101.01

General Education Requirements - Credits (41)

COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)
OR COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking Credits: (3)
ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
ENGL 1020 - ^English Composition II Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (Must include at least one Literature Course) Credits: (9)
History Credits: (6)¹
MATH 1130 - ^College Algebra Credits: (3) ¹
OR MATH 1710 - ^Precalculus Algebra  Credits: (3)
OR MATH 1720 - ^Precalculus Trigonometry  Credits: (3)
OR MATH 1730 - ^Precalculus  Credits: (3)
OR MATH 1910 - ^Calculus I  Credits: (3)
BIOL 1050 - ^Introduction to Environmental Studies Credits: (4)
OR BIOL 1060 - ^Environmental Science Credits: (4)
BIOL 1110 - ^General Biology I Credits: (4)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (GEOG 1015 and ECON 2100 Preferred) Credits: (6)

Area of Emphasis Requirements - Credits (20)

BIOL 1120 - ^General Biology II Credits: (4)
CHEM 1110 - ^General Chemistry I Credits: (4)
Math and Science Elective Credits (Choose 12 credits from the following list) Credits: (12)¹
CHEM 1120 - ^General Chemistry II  Credits: (4)
CHEM 2010 - Organic Chemistry I  Credits: (4)
GEOL 1040 - ^Physical Geology  Credits: (4)
GEOL 1050 - ^Historical Geology  Credits: (4)
GEOL 1060 - ^Earth’s Environments  Credits: (4)
ISCI 1030 - ^Science, Society and Sustainability  Credits: (4)
PHYS 2010 - ^Non-Calculus Based Physics I  Credits: (4)
PHYS 2020 - ^Non-Calculus Based Physics II  Credits: (4)
PHYS 2110 - ^Calculus-Based Physics I  Credits: (4)
PHYS 2120 - ^Calculus-Based Physics II  Credits: (4)
MATH 1530 - ^Introductory Statistics  Credits: (3)
AGRI 1020 - Introduction to Animal Science  Credits: (3)
AGRI 1030 - Introduction to Plant Science  Credits: (3)
AGRI 1050 - Introduction to Soil Science  Credits: (4)

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (61)

Footnote

¹Student should check with the transfer institution and transfer program before choosing HIST, MATH, and any Math and Science Electives.

Recommended Schedule

This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites and other academic factors may impact this schedule. See your advisor to create a degree plan.

Degree Works, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning. Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the Degree Works audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.

First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (16)

MATH 1130 - ^College Algebra Credits: (3) ¹
OR MATH 1710 - ^Precalculus Algebra
OR MATH 1720 - ^Precalculus Trigonometry
OR MATH 1730 - ^Precalculus
OR MATH 1910 - ^Calculus I
BIOL 1110 - ^General Biology I Credits: (4)
COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking Credits: (3)
OR COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)
ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog GEOG 1015 Preferred) Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (17)

CHEM 1110 - ^General Chemistry I Credits: (4)
BIOL 1120 - ^General Biology II Credits: (4)
ENGL 1020 - ^English Composition II Credits: (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog ECON 2100 Preferred) Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (14)

BIOL 1050 - ^Introduction to Environmental Studies Credits: (4) Fall Only
OR BIOL 1060 - ^Environmental Science Credits: (4) Spring Only
Math and Science Electives (Choose one course from list above) Credits: (4) ¹
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (Literature Course - See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
History (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)¹

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (14)

Math and Science Electives (Choose two courses from list above) Credits: (8) ¹
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
History (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3) ¹