Environmental Science (BS)

Federal CIP: 03.0103 Environmental Science

The Environmental Science major focuses on the organismal and ecological aspects of the world and the management and conservation thereof. The goal of the program is to create an engaging, relevant, multi-disciplinary program of study that prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in environmental consulting, environmental services, environmental education, and research arenas as well as for graduate degree programs in a variety of related fields.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Science are expected to be able to:

• Describe how distributions and abundances of species are not random and how the underlying causes can be investigated and uncovered.
• Explain why maintenance of the Earth’s biodiversity is of utmost importance and identify factors which influence biodiversity.
• Identify common species of local flora and fauna by sight and sound.
• Discuss the fundamental principles, practical benefits, appropriate methods, and unique challenges inherent to the concept of sustainability in the 21st century.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the range of environmental issues existing today through knowledge of environmental law and policy at local, national, and international levels.

Note: Students planning to attend graduate or professional programs following completion of their BS degree should regularly review the needed prerequisites for their desired programs and work with their advisors to incorporate these classes into their program of study.