Environment, Sustainability, and Management - Associate in Science

  • Environment

ESMD

The Environment, Sustainability, and Management Associate in Science degree prepares students to achieve professional employment in sustainable agriculture, horticulture, land management, and related businesses in the Green Sector. The program introduces students to key concepts in resource management, pollution, our evolving interactions with an ever-changing ecological landscape, and industry practices necessary to operate a business effectively yet conscientiously. The curriculum explores topics in land, water, and air; how humans positively and negatively impact their local and global environments; business management, entrepreneurship, innovation, and design, and includes a cooperative work experience with an employer in agriculture, sustainability, or a related field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:

  1. Understand and correctly apply principles of environmental and sustainable science.
  2. Understand and correctly apply principles of business practices, including management, accounting, and design.
  3. Apply {sound ethical} business practices to situations in environment and sustainability.
  4. Integrate knowledge of geological, chemical, and biological sciences, environment, and sustainability.
  5. Critically research opportunities and effectively design solutions in environment, sustainability, and management.
  6. Evaluate and discuss important business practices impacting environment and sustainability with peers, mentors, and community leaders.
  7. Gain relevant work experience with one or more established industry partners.

Requirements

General Education Requirements
BIOL 1001Introductory Biology: Organismal MSCI; Critical Thinking; Social and Professional Responsibilities4
BUSN 1010Introduction to Business SSCI; Written Communication; Social and Professional Responsibilities3
CHEM 1030General Chemistry I MSCI; Scientific Reasoning; Quantitative Literacy5
COMM 1010Communication Fundamentals^ HUMN; Non-Written Communication; Social and Professional Responsibilities3
ECON 2030Principles of Microeconomics SSCI; Critical Thinking; Quantitative Literacy3
ENGL 1010Composition I (or ENGL 1010A) HUMN; Written Communication; Information Literacy3
History Elective 1; SSCI3
Literature Elective 1; HUMN3
MATH 1240Statistical Analysis I MSCI; Scientific Reasoning; Quantitative Literacy4
Subtotal31
Major Requirements
BIOL 1050Humans and the Environment3
BIOL 2410Biology of Insects4
BIOL 2420Introduction to Soil Science4
BUSN 1145Entrepreneurship 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship3
BUSN 1165Entrepreneurship 2: The Design Process3
BSTM 2499BSTEM Cooperative Work Experience I^3
BSTM 2500Human Environmental Impacts and Ethical Business Practices Capstone3
Choose one of the following:3-4
Financial Accounting
Leadership Development
Operations and Supply Chain Management
Entrepreneurship 3: The Lean Startup
Principles of Management^
Principles of Marketing
Choose ONE of the following:2-4
ArcGIS I: Introduction to ArcGIS
AutoCAD (Basic)
Choose ONE of the following:3-4
Biology of Trees and Shrubs
Food from the Sea
Choose ONE of the following:4
Introduction to Geology - How the Earth Works
Urban and Environmental Geology
Introduction to Oceanography (Formerly OCEN 1010 and 1030)
Choose ONE of the following: 23
PLS 132G
Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, and Society (Take at URI)
PLS 150
Plants, People and the Planet (Take at URI)
Subtotal38-42
Total Hours69-73
1

See specified list of general education history or English literature electives in the list below.

2

Courses taken at URI.

3

Supervised cooperative work experience placement during last academic semester. Contact department chair for further information.

^

Work-based learning course

History or English Literature Electives

AAAF 1248African-American Literature and Culture4
ENGL 1021American Literature since 18653
ENGL 1040World Literature to 16th Century3
ENGL 1200Introduction to Literature3
ENGL 1210Introduction to Film3
ENGL 1250Readings in the Short Story3
ENGL 2040World Literature from 16th Century3
HIST 1010Survey of Western Civilization I3
HIST 1020Survey of Western Civilization II3
HIST 1210History of the United States to 18773
HIST 1220History of the United States from 18773

Recommended Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Semester 1Hours
BIOL 1001 Introductory Biology: Organismal 4
BUSN 1010 Introduction to Business 3
COMM 1010 Communication Fundamentals^ 3
ENGL 1010 Composition I (or ENGL 1010A) 3
MATH 1240 Statistical Analysis I 4
 Hours17
Semester 2
BIOL 1050 Humans and the Environment 3
BUSN 1145 Entrepreneurship 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3
CHEM 1030 General Chemistry I 5
Choose ONE of the following: 2-4
ArcGIS I: Introduction to ArcGIS  
AutoCAD (Basic)  
ECON 2030 Principles of Microeconomics 3
 Hours16-18
Year 2
Semester 1
BIOL 2410 Biology of Insects 4
BIOL 2420 Introduction to Soil Science 4
BUSN 1165 Entrepreneurship 2: The Design Process 3
Choose ONE of the following: 3-4
Introduction to Geology - How the Earth Works  
Urban Geology  
Introduction to Oceanography (Formerly OCEN 1010 and 1030)  
Choose ONE of the following: 3
 
 
 Hours17-18
Semester 2
Choose ONE of the following: 2 3
PLS 132G
Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, and Society (take at URI)
 
PLS 150
Plants, People, and the Planet (take at URI)
 
Choose ONE of the following: 3-4
Financial Accounting  
Leadership Development  
Operations and Supply Chain Management  
Entrepreneurship 3: The Lean Startup  
Principles of Management^  
Principles of Marketing  
Choose ONE of the following: 3-4
Biology of Trees and Shrubs  
Food from the Sea  
BSTM 2499 BSTEM Cooperative Work Experience I^ 3 3
BSTM 2500 Human Environmental Impacts and Ethical Business Practices Capstone 3
 Hours15-17
 Total Hours65-70
1

See specified history and English literature general education electives in the list below.

2

Courses taken at URI.

3

Supervised cooperative work experience placement during last academic semester. Contact department chair for further information. 

History or English Literature General Education Electives

HIST 1010Survey of Western Civilization I3
HIST 1020Survey of Western Civilization II3
HIST 1210History of the United States to 18773
HIST 1220History of the United States from 18773
ENGL 1021American Literature since 18653
ENGL 1040World Literature to 16th Century3
ENGL 1200Introduction to Literature3
ENGL 1210Introduction to Film3
ENGL 1250Readings in the Short Story3
ENGL 2040World Literature from 16th Century3

Transfer

Please meet with an Academic Advisor/Student Success Coach if you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree. Your Academic Advisor will help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Check out the Joint Admissions Agreement if you are interested in transferring to Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island. The JAA program offers seamless transfer to RIC or URI with additional benefits. Transfer information, events, and articulations are available on the Transfer Center website