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¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University / Academics / Biology / Undergraduate / Programs / Environmental Science Major

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Science

As an environmental science major, you will receive some of the broadest training of all the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ science majors and be able to apply that diverse training to a growing variety of opportunities focused on helping to protect natural resources and plant and animal wildlife to conserve and sustain them for future generations.

Through the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science program, you will explore and understand the full range of human and environmental systems and interactions: physical, biological and cultural. Field work (local, national and global) will introduce you to a range of ecosystems and dynamics, all of them intertwined and mutually dependent, as you lead the effort to restore the planet’s health and create a more sustainable humankind-environment balance.

Environmental Science at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University

You will engage in both classroom and lab work, with faculty and your peers, as you master basic biological and chemical principles, plant and animal anatomy and physiology, biodiversity, along with many other foundational skills. After these introductory courses, you’ll learn about terrestrial and aquatic ecology, global climate change, and environmental policy as you pursue your Bachelor's degree.

Environmental Science is experiencing growth in areas of global climate change, wildlife ecology, biodiversity monitoring and studies, conservation biology, landscape ecology, and community ecology. ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University environmental science majors pursue careers in environmental consulting, government, teaching, research, and environmental law. The degree also prepares you for graduate programs in ecology and environmental science. Job titles can include:

  • Environmental health specialist
  • Environmental educator
  • Environmental consultant
  • Hydrologist
  • Seismologist
  • Meteorologist
  • Conservationist
  • Climate change analyst

Top Employers

90%

Of earth’s excess heat/energy is stored in the top 100 meters (about 328 feet) of the oceans, which have warmed more than 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.33 degrees Celsius) since 1969.

200

The total GW increase in installed renewable power capacity in 2019 (mostly solar PV), the largest increase ever.

44%

China’s share of the global EV market (Europe 31%. US, 17%).

BS in Environmental Science Program Highlights

Field Work

Dr. Ralph Saporito’s Tropic Field Biology class has travelled over Spring Break to Costa Rica to do field-based research on the biological makeup of tropical rainforests, including the behavior of Oophaga pumilio, the strawberry poison dart frog. Field work has also taken students to Mentor Headlands along the Lake Erie shoreline, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Mojave Desert of California where students monitor drought conditions and the impact on large bird populations.

Two Great Watersheds

At ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½, environmental science majors have easy access to two of the world’s great watersheds and ecosystems. The Great Lakes basin ecosystem sustains the lives of 33 million people and holds one-fifth of all freshwater on the earth’s surface and 80 percent of the lake and river water in North America.  A few miles to the south, all water drains into the Ohio River watershed, which connects six states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and provides drinking water for more than five million people.

Featured Faculty

“In this challenging time in our world's history, we need future scientists, mathematicians, technology experts, and health professionals like you to solve these difficult problems.  As a ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ student, you will learn how to approach these issues with strong critical thinking skills as well as with care and empathy.â€
—Rebecca Drenovsky, Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor, Biology

Featured Course

BL 2240 Terrestrial Ecology

You will develop skills in ecological data collection and analysis, and study model organisms to examine various aspects of terrestrial ecology, including animal behavior, food web dynamics, competition, and population dynamics. Mastering the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems is fundamental to their conservation and necessary for remediation of impacted environments.

Notable Alum

Esther-Salata

Esther Salata, Environmental Science and Biology ’13

Status: Founder at Benesafe Solutions LLC

Recipient of the Pedro Arrupe Scholarship for service to others, is an entrepreneur using her Environmental Science degree to advocate for pet safety. Inspired by her dog, she founded Benesafe Solutions. Using her knowledge of cyanobacteria taxonomy to create lawn care treatments safe for everyone –pets, people, and the environment.

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Environmental Science Alumni Across The Region

¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University alumni live, work, teach and support communities throughout the region from Northeast Ohio to Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Rochester, Pittsburgh, New York City, Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Research Opportunities Graduate Programs