Return to: Undergraduate & Graduate Academic Degree Offerings

The Environmental Science Department offers undergraduate degrees in Earth Sciences (B.S., B.A.), Environmental Science (B.S., B.A., minor), Environmental Planning and Policy (B.A.), Environmental Studies (B.A.), and Marine Biology (B.S., B.A., minor). These degree programs focus on a firm, conceptual understanding of the natural world in order to more clearly view human impacts on the natural world. Course, lab, and field work cover topics in the natural sciences, conservation, resource management, environmental policy, and quantitative approaches. Concentrations within the Environmental Science Degree include Earth Systems Science, Biological Science, and General Environmental Science. The B.S. differs from the B.A. degree in that it requires more physical science and quantitative courses. Students who have graduated with degrees from the Environmental Science Department have gone on to graduate school, or found employment with environmental consulting firms, industry, non-government organizations, and government agencies.

Graduates of the Environmental Science Department degree programs:

• Have gained knowledge in a diverse array of natural and management sciences
• Have completed significant environmental projects including class exercises, internships, and field experiences, culminating in a senior project
• Possess technical abilities in mathematics, statistics, GIS, as well as field and laboratory practices to address contemporary environmental and natural resource issues
• Have good oral and written communication skills

Environmental Science Major or Minor

The Environmental Science B.A. and B.S. degrees allow students to focus on the natural sciences as they apply to the environment by providing a solid foundation in laboratory and field techniques. The B.A. in Environmental Science is tailored for students who wish to enter the professional environmental field. The B.S. degree in Environmental Science requires additional coursework in the natural sciences and quantitative methods. This degree is especially useful for students intending to pursue a graduate degree in environmental science or related fields. Environmental science majors must complete the environmental science Major Requirements and specify an area of concentration in Earth Systems Science, Biological Science, or General Environmental Science. The Environmental Science minor offers students in other majors, such as Outdoor Studies, Education, or Liberal Studies, an opportunity to strengthen their analytic and scientific background.

Marine Biology Major or Minor

The B.A. degree in Marine Biology (MAR) provides students with expertise in the biological sciences applied to marine environments. The B.S. degree in Marine Biology requires additional coursework in the physical and natural sciences while maintaining the traditional B.A. degree program focus on active learning and project-based learning experiences. The B.S. degree is recommended for students who intend to pursue a graduate degree or who intend to work professionally in the field of marine biology. Marine Biology majors must complete 64 credit hours in the Marine Biology Core (B.S.) and 16 credit hours of Marine Biology electives.

The Marine Biology minor offers students in other majors, such as Education or Liberal Studies, an opportunity to strengthen their analytic and scientific background; and offers students in Environmental Science an opportunity to learn applications of their field to marine systems and resources.

Return to: Undergraduate & Graduate Academic Degree Offerings