By STEFANIE HILL

Staff Writer

Natural science requirements can now be fulfilled with Biological Science 211: Introduction to Environmental Science and Biological Sciences 212: Conservation and Management of Natural Resources.

Jay White, one of the professors teaching BISC 212 and an instructor of biological sciences, said it is important for any student to be exposed to environmental issues.

“These are important classes because students will be shown how they affect the environment and how the environment affects them,” White said.

BISC 211 deals with the basic laws, principles and issues related to the causes, effect and controls of environmental problems. BISC 212 will deal with conservation and management of natural resources. The classes will be offered in the fall and winter.

Not only are the classes a way for non-biology majors to fulfill their natural sciences requirements, but they are also cross-listed for Environmental Science 211: Introduction to Environmental Sciences for environmental science majors.

Dr. Milan Vavrek, the professor teaching BISC 211 and co-teaching BISC 212 with White and an associate professor of biological sciences, said the department were looking for a way to provide an alternative sequence for general requirements in natural sciences for non-biological sciences majors.

“The students will benefit a lot with this as alternative sequence,” Vavrek said. “This sequence doesn’t just cover biology, but it integrates biology, geology, geography and many more topics typical non-biology students will relate with and find interesting.”

White said they will cover topics such as conservation, world population, world hunger and others issues that deal with the environment.

“We want to relay to the students just how important the environment is to them and us a whole,” White said. “It’s the one thing we all have in common; we have to have the environment to survive.”

Dr. David Mills, director of the School of Biological Sciences and an associate professor of biological sciences, said many students are afraid of environmental science because they think it is all about being an environmentalist.

“These classes are multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary, from basic science studies to environmental law,” Mills said.

Vavrek said this class helps students understand the environment, but it can also help when it comes to getting a job in the future.

“There is a growing demand for people with environmental backgrounds,” Vavrek said. “So for non-majors, whether its political science, environmental law, or maybe a student who becomes interested in environmental science and switches over, students will benefit in the long run by taking this course.”

Mills said these classes are a good thing because giving students more options will give them a chance to take something that they find of interest to them.

“It fights the I-have-to-be-here syndrome, and it will make them want to learn and listen,” Mills said. “An engaged student is something that all instructors want."