Environmental Science

Administrative Committee: Professors Aljobeh (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Devaraj (Economics), Eberhardt (Biology), Ganesh Babu (Geography and Meteorology), Iceman (Chemistry), Longan (Geography and Meteorology), McCool (Geography and Meteorology), and Peller (Chemistry).

Objectives

The Environmental Science Program, through collaboration with faculty in multiple disciplines who demonstrate excellence in teaching and scholarship of environmental merit, gives its students the requisite scientific background necessary for assessing environmental systems, along with philosophical, pedagogical, and social reflection on environmental issues. The core curriculum includes perspectives on scientific knowledge, field work, and communication skills. Elective courses expose students to a wide range of environmental topics from a variety of disciplines, providing both an engaging curriculum that promotes interest in and passion for environmental issues and opportunities for cross-disciplinary interaction. An Environmental Science major positions the student to enter into graduate work in environmental science or policy, or into the professions of environmental management and protection.

Degree

Students who complete the Environmental Science program will fulfill the major field requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Students who complete the Environmental Science Complementary Major of 32 credits with a first major in a disciplinary science field (astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geography, mathematics, meteorology, physics, psychology) will also have fulfilled the major field requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Students who complete the Environmental Science Complementary Major of 32 credits with a first major in a non-science field, including the B.A. option in geography, will have fulfilled the major field requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree.