Environmental Studies
Mount Wachusett offers three programs for students interested in studying the Earth's environment. The Earth/Environmental Science program is a multi-discipline program designed for students intending to transfer to a four-year school to earn a baccalaureate degree in environmental science or geology.
For students more interested earning a two-year degree that would enable them to have careers in fields such as stewardship, forestry, agriculture, or park ranger the Environmental Conservation degree is the right fit for you. This degree also prepares students who wish to continue in these fields at a four-year institution.
The third option within the field of environmental studies is our Regenerative Agriculture Certificate. This is a one-year degree with a focus on getting your hands dirty in the process of obtaining the skills and knowledge to not only successfully grow plants but to regenerate the soil. Those who choose this option and decide they want to continue their studies could easily continue and purse our Environmental Conservation degree. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations.
Earth / Environmental Science (EAES)
The Earth Systems/Environmental Science Associate of Science Degree is designed for students to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor's degree in earth systems, geology, meteorology, or environmental science. With a bachelor's degree, students may pursue careers as a geologist, seismologist, environmental consultant, environmental safety consultant, meteorologist, soil scientist, atmospheric scientist, or earth science teacher. Embedded within the MWCC Associate Degree is a Geospatial Technologies course (EAS 130), which provides the student with current technology skills crucial to this field of study. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| EAS 125 | Physical Geology of the Earth | 4 |
| MAT 162 | College Algebra (or higher) | 4 |
| CHE 107 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 102 | College Writing II | 3 |
| PSY 105 | Introduction To Psychology | 3 |
| MAT 163 | Pre-Calculus (or higher) | 4 |
| Professional Elective (students planning on studying environmental science are encouraged to take EAS 110) (see list below) | 3-4 | |
| CHE 108 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHY 105 | College Physics I (or PHY 120) | 4 |
| EAS 130 | Fundamentals of Geospatial Technologies | 4 |
| Humanities Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Professional Elective (see list below) | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHL 235 | The Philosophy of Nature, Science, and Mathematics | 3 |
| Social Science Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Professional Elective (see list below) | 4 | |
| Professional Elective (see list below) | 4 | |
| Total Credits: | 61-62 | |
- 1
Humanities Electives: See Elective Courses by Abbreviation.
- 2
Social Science Electives: See Elective Courses by Abbreviation.
Professional Electives
| Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| BIO 118 | Biology I | 4 |
| BIO 119 | Biology II | 4 |
| BIO 116 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIO 130 | Botany: Plant Science | 4 |
| CHE 207 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE 208 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| EAS 110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| EAS 120 | Soil Science (formerly BIO 220) | 4 |
| EAS 126 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| MAT 211 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MAT 212 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHY 106 | College Physics II | 4 |
| PHY 121 | Physics for Engineering and Science II | 4 |
See Earth / Environmental Science program student learning outcomes and technical standards.
Campus
This program is offered at the Gardner campus only.
Transfer Options
For transfer options, please click here. It is recommended that you also consult with your academic advisor.
MassTransfer
Students who plan to transfer to a Massachusetts state university or a University of Massachusetts campus may be eligible to transfer under the MassTransfer agreement, which provides transfer advantages to those who qualify.
Please click here for the MassTransfer information.
Career Options/Earning Potential
Environmental Conservation (ECS)
Environmental Conservation covers a range of environmental occupations in the horticulture/floriculture, agriculture, forestry, parks and recreation fields. Because of an emerging appreciation and heightened awareness of the nation’s natural resources, opportunities in these fields are growing. The Environmental Conservation degree program provides students with a variety of environmentally-oriented subjects. MWCC offers the perfect setting by providing hundreds of acres of undeveloped plant communities and forested areas, two pond ecosystems, and a life studies center consisting of a greenhouse, potting area, and lecture facility. Embedded within the MWCC Environmental Conservation Degree is a Geospatial Technologies course (EAS 130), which provides the student with current technology skills crucial to this field of study. The lab and lecture portions of this program frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| BIO 109 | Concepts in Biology | 4 |
| ECR 120 | Regenerative Agriculture (formerly BIO 120) | 4 |
| Social Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 102 | College Writing II | 3 |
| MAT 126 | Topics In Mathematics 2 | 3 |
| Humanities Elective 3 | 3 | |
| BIO 122 | Zoology: The Biology Of Animals (Or EAS 115 Paleontology)) | 4 |
| CHE 120 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECR 102 | Introduction to Forestry (formerly BIO 102) | 4 |
| BIO 130 | Botany: Plant Science | 4 |
| EAS 120 | Soil Science (formerly BIO 220) | 4 |
| LAS Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECR 220 | Practicum In Environmental Conservation (formerly NRD 220) | 3-4 |
| BIO 116 | Ecology | 4 |
| EAS 130 | Fundamentals of Geospatial Technologies | 4 |
| Professional Elective (see list below) | 3-4 | |
| Total Credits: | 60-62 | |
- 1
Social Science Electives: See Elective Courses by Abbreviation.
- 2
MAT 162 College Algebra (or higher) recommended for transfer.
- 3
Humanities Electives: See Elective Courses by Abbreviation.
SPC 113 Speech (formerly THE113) recommended.- 4
LAS Elective: See LAS Elective Options.
ECS Professional Electives
| Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| BIO 128 | Plants And Society | 3 |
| BIO 140 | Introduction To Greenhouse Management | 4 |
| BIO 142 | Entomology: Insect Biology | 3 |
| EAS 110 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| EAS 125 | Physical Geology of the Earth | 4 |
| EAS 126 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| ECR 107 | Plant Nutrients | 1 |
| ECR 108 | Plant Pathology | 4 |
| ECR 109 | Fruit Production | 1 |
| ECR 181 | Integrated Pest Management | 1 |
| ECR 197 | Forest Fire Control and Management (formerly NRD 197) | 4 |
| MAT 143 | Statistics | 3 |
| MAT 163 | Pre-Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 211 | Calculus I | 4 |
See Environmental Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture program student learning outcomes and technical standards.
Campus
This program is offered at the Gardner campus only.
Transfer Options
For transfer options, please click here. It is recommended that you also consult with your academic advisor.
MassTransfer
Students who plan to transfer to a Massachusetts state university or a University of Massachusetts campus may be eligible to transfer under the MassTransfer agreement, which provides transfer advantages to those who qualify.
Please click here for the MassTransfer information.
Career Options/Earning Potential
Regenerative Agriculture Certificate (RAC)
The Regenerative Agriculture certificate provides students with the theoretical and practical skills necessary for careers in local food movements and agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is modeled after the cycles of natural systems, relying on nutrient pathways, building and preserving soils and its fertility. You will learn to build food systems that provide healthy food and build local communities. You will study fundamental ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, effective solar capture, efficient use of water, and interactions among plants and animals in their environment. You also will learn to analyze the ecological, economic, and cultural dimensions of complex food systems. The lab and lecture portions of this program frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ECR 181 | Integrated Pest Management | 1 |
| EAS 120 | Soil Science (formerly BIO 220) | 4 |
| ECR 108 | Plant Pathology | 4 |
| BIO 142 | Entomology: Insect Biology | 3 |
| Spring | ||
| ECR 107 | Plant Nutrients | 1 |
| ECR 120 | Regenerative Agriculture (formerly BIO 120) | 4 |
| ECR 109 | Fruit Production | 1 |
| BIO 130 | Botany: Plant Science | 4 |
| ENG 101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 25 | |
Special Requirements
Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.
Career Options/Earning Potential
Program Student Learning Outcomes for EAES, ECS, RAC
Upon graduation from this program, students shall have the ability to:
- Formulate clear and precise questions about complex problems and ideas relevant to a variety of disciplines — math, science, technology— and gather, assess, and interpret information to reach well-reasoned conclusions and solutions.
- Successfully complete a substantial scientific research paper that demonstrates the ability to formulate a research question, conduct research using the library’s databases, and synthesize information from a variety of sources into a cohesive and in-depth analysis of a topic.
- Demonstrate knowledge of important ideas and events that have shaped, and continue to shape, their world.
- Demonstrate scientific literacy, which can be defined as the matrix of knowledge needed to understand enough about the universe to deal with issues that come across the horizon of the average citizen, in the news or elsewhere.
- Demonstrate the ability to collect, record and organize scientific data correctly.
- Demonstrate the ability to work safely in a laboratory environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to manipulate and use scientific tools, such as the microscope, pH meter, measurement tools, glassware and other scientific instrumentation. This would include independently conducting an experiment using written directions such as lab manuals or Standard Operating Procedures as a guide.
- Demonstrate the ability to use mathematical tools as applied to science. This could include building and interpreting graphs, using equations and formulas to solve problems, and fitting data to a mathematical model.
- Demonstrate the ability to search scientific literature and use the information.
- Successfully transfer to a baccalaureate degree-granting institution if desired, with the proper educational foundation for transition into a chosen field of study.
Technical Standards for EAES, ECS, RAC
Students entering this program must be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- Comprehend textbook material at a college level.
- Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
- Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
- Stand for a minimum of two hours.
- Differentiate by touch: hotness/coldness, wetness/dryness, and hardness/softness.
- Use the small muscle dexterity necessary to do such tasks as gloving, gowning, and operating controls on laboratory instrumentation.
- Respond promptly to spoken words, as well as monitor signals and instrument alarms.
- Identify behaviors that would endanger a person’s life or safety and intervene quickly in a crisis situation with an appropriate solution.
- Remain calm, rational, decisive, and in control at all times, especially during emergency situations.
- Manipulate small parts, and make fine hand adjustments to machines and test equipment.
- Operate a computer.
EAS 110. Introduction to Environmental Science. 3 Credits.
This is an introductory course to the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies. Emphasis in this course will focus on the natural world and how it is influenced by human activities. Topics discussed will include: biodiversity, conservation, human populations, resources and sustainability, energy production, toxicology, as well as global change. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations. Prerequisite: ENG 098, MAT 092 or MAT 096, RDG 098 or placement.
EAS 115. Paleontology: Evolution of Life. 4 Credits.
In this course, students will be introduced to basic biologic principles of ecology and natural selection that have influenced the evolution of modern species. Examination of fossil and geologic records will illustrate how climate changes and major evolutionary developments over the earth's history have culminated in the domains and kingdoms of life. Students will also study what role humans are playing in the evolution and extinction of species today. Lab work will complement topics discussed during lectures. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations.
Prerequisites: ENG 098, FYE 101, RDG 098, or placement.
EAS 120. Soil Science (formerly BIO 220). 4 Credits.
Soils are the anchors of biological systems. This is a study of the physical, chemical, and biological nature of the soil. This four-credit laboratory course will study the substrate of the ecosystem. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the soil in plant pathology. Lab sessions will be hands-on experiences revolving around and applying the topics listed in the lab section of the syllabus. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations. Prerequisites: ENG 098, FYE 101, MAT 092 or MAT 096, RDG 098 or placement. Fall.
EAS 125. Physical Geology of the Earth. 4 Credits.
This is an introductory course concerning the geology of both the earth's interior and surface. The geology of the earth's interior deals with its structure, the rock cycle, the formation and characteristic of igneous sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, as well as their mineral composition. The theory of plate tectonics will be used to discuss earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building. Surface geology encompasses soil and its formation, rivers, lakes, deserts, glaciers, topographic maps, and oceans. The process of physical and chemical weathering will be discussed in relation to these topics. Laboratory sessions will involve hands on experience with rocks, minerals, and measuring techniques used in geology, as well as online exercises. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations. Prerequisites: ENG 098, FYE 101, RDG 098, MAT 092 or MAT 096 or placement.
EAS 126. Weather and Climate. 4 Credits.
This is a 4-credit on-line laboratory science course. This course describes the basic structure of the atmosphere, and atmospheric processes. Students will develop an understanding of meteorological principles and concepts in order to understand the weather phenomena that affect our daily lives. Climate and the distinction between climate and weather will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: ENG 098, MAT 092 or MAT 096, RDG 098 or placement.
EAS 127. Introduction to Astronomy. 3 Credits.
This course is a general introduction to the field of astronomy. Students will study topics such as telescopes, the history of astronomy, tides and the moon, the planets of our solar system, properties of stars, our sun, solar formation and evolution, as well as galaxies. Students will be expected to make astronomical observations from their homes, as well as collect relevant data from the internet. Prerequisite: ENG 098, RDG 098, MAT 092 or MAT 096 or placement.
EAS 130. Fundamentals of Geospatial Technologies. 4 Credits.
This course introduces students to relevant aspects of geospatial technologies. Topics to be covered include mapping techniques, the theory and application of Geospatial Data and GPS, Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Applications. Students will gain hands-on experience with geospatial software such as Google Earth, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro and other applications to establish a basic understanding and the skills needed in the broad field of Natural Resources as well as other related disciplines. The lab and lecture portions of this course frequently take place in one of our many outdoor instructional spaces. Students are to refer to the applicable semester’s course syllabus for specifics and expectations. Prerequisites: ENG 098, MAT 092 or MAT 096, RDG 098 or placement. Fall.