2020-2021 Residential Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Environmental Science
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The Environmental Science major, along with Environmental Studies and Sustainability are interdisciplinary programs that draw on information obtained from many areas of knowledge including the sciences, mathematics, philosophy, political science and economics. They are, by nature, global in scope because environmental issues transcend geopolitical boundaries. Both majors stress collaborative study with faculty, internships, and a hands‐on approach while developing a working knowledge of tools specific to the field. The curriculum centers on examining how the natural world functions and the use of information from diverse sources to examine the human impact on our environment.
The study of Environmental Science focuses on developing the skills necessary to be successful in the field of environmental science. Whether you are interested in the science of understanding, monitoring, and managing the environment, working with environmental advocacy organizations, working in the field of environmental and public policy, or working in the emerging discipline of sustainability, examining how organizations, businesses, and communities are addressing the environmental issues of the 21st century‐‐ students are prepared for employment directly after graduation or going into related advanced study and graduate programs.
Students completing the Environmental Science major are prepared for graduate school or employment by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies (e.g. U.S. EPA), private industry, and consulting firms. The Environmental Studies and Sustainability major is intended for students interested in careers related to environmental policy, environmental education (nature centers, parks and recreation), environmental law (pre‐law), and work with non‐profit organizations.
Learning Outcomes
Students completing the Environmental Sciences program should be able to:
1. Apply fundamental principles, concepts, and laws of the physical and natural world to solve real-world problems in environmental science.
2. Critically read, interpret, and synthesize information from research.
5. Synthesize concepts and data from a wide range of fields to creatively solve problems.
6. Collaborate across disciplines to address complex environmental problems using scientific data.
4. Carry out the scientific process including data collection, analysis and interpretation.
3. Communicate science clearly and effectively in both oral and written form to a wide range of audiences.
7. Demonstrate mastery of technical skills required for careers and post-graduate programs in the field of environmental science.
Experiential Component
Environmental Science students undertake an internship experience with recognized institutions (appropriate institutions are local, state and federal agencies, private businesses, consulting firms, and conservation/environmental oriented groups). The internship is immersive by nature. Students experience operation of organization that focuses on the natural environment and quite often civic environment(s).
ProgramsMajorMinorCoursesEnvironmental Science
All undergraduate courses are 4 credits unless otherwise noted.
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