Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science
About this program
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science prepares you to study and manage the natural world. You’ll build a foundation in earth systems, biology, chemistry, and math, then apply that knowledge to real-world environmental problems. You’ll use tools like GIS and field research to explore climate, sustainability, and resource management. This program supports careers in science and government or further study in graduate school.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science prepares students for graduate school or for direct entry into a career as an environmental scientist or environmental manager in industry, government, or NGOs.
The curriculum comprises a core providing a foundation of science and methods courses -- introductory earth systems and environmental science, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics – as well as distributed electives in environmental science, environmental management and analytical methods, culminating in a capstone seminar where students pursue a senior thesis or internship. A unique strength of this program compared to many environmental science programs is in geospatial analytical methods at the introductory and advanced levels.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- apply the scientific method to solve problems in the Earth sciences, which includes making observations, asking scientific questions, forming and testing hypotheses, and analyzing and evaluating the results.
- collect, analyze, and interpret observations, and use field and laboratory equipment and data analysis software appropriate to their area of emphasis in the Earth sciences.
- explain that all observations contain uncertainty, be able to quantitatively evaluate this uncertainty, and assess the implications of that uncertainty.
- retrieve, use, and critically interpret the scientific literature.
- create and interpret graphical representations of data.
- create, manipulate, and interpret mathematical representations of Earth systems.
Graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate a qualitative understanding of the processes driving the major Earth systems, including within the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and Earth’s energy budget, as well as the fluxes of mass and energy within and between Earth systems, such as plate tectonics and climate system.
- demonstrate a quantitative understanding of the processes driving the Earth systems in their area of emphasis.
- demonstrate an understanding of the widely varying temporal and spatial scales of surface, subsurface, and deep-Earth processes that control changes in the Earth systems.
Graduates will be able to:
- use scientific principles and the understanding of physical processes to interpret the societal implications arising from anthropogenic and environmental change, such as natural hazards, resource management, and climate change.
- Give an informed critique of the scientific data and literature underlying current policy discussions that relate to their emphasis area.
Graduates will be able to:
- collaborate effectively
- effectively communicate scientific information in a variety of oral, visual, and written formats.
- accurately and effectively record and document data, evidence, and findings.