Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that unites the physical and biological sciences with the social sciences and uses powerful sampling and modeling tools and analyses to address real world problems. As a student, you will complete coursework in environmental science, biology, chemistry, social sciences and statistics.
This program is designed to prepare you for a career in environmental science, sustainability, consulting, environmental policy, public health, governmental service, agriculture and forestry, and many other fields. This major also serves as an excellent foundation if you plan to enter a graduate program.
You will engage in extensive hands-on learning, both in the field and the laboratory. You will complete a series of courses specifically designed to build the skills necessary to prepare you for the job market. In these courses, you will learn field data sampling and collection techniques and how to organize and analyze data. You will learn to use GIS to create maps and complete spatial data analyses, and you will collect and analyze large datasets using modern statistical languages and machine learning models. Throughout your degree, you will complete course-embedded projects and presentations aimed at audiences specific to practicing environmental scientists. You can also complete internships and research projects relevant to your chosen career path.
Environmental Science students can choose a concentration in forensic science, giving them strong analytical skills and an understanding of the legal framework for this science.
Workforce Ready
Whether your future workspace is the lab, a classroom, a hospital or an office setting, a degree from the Department of Physical Sciences will get you where you want to go. Here are a few career options that are possible for our graduates:
- Forensic scientist, analyzing evidence related to crime
- Ecologist, studying the relationship between organisms and the environment
- Environmental scientist, analyzing environmental issues and considering solutions
- Science writer, communicating scientific ideas to the public
- Conservationist, managing and protecting natural resources
Internships and Research in Environmental Science
*See the 4-year major guide for recommended order in which to take courses