Environmental Science Major
All over the world, societies have become increasingly concerned about the safety of the air, food and water. Current weather‐related events have sparked an interest in understanding the Earth's climate and the human factors that play a role in global climate change. This increased public awareness of the perils facing our natural resources and open spaces has spurred a demand for environmental scientists and specialists.
Saint Joseph’s environmental science major offers you a strong foundation in the natural sciences, which is the basis for understanding these complex issues. You will also learn about the history and study the literature of the movement, as well as the politics that affect it. Noted experts and researchers in their fields, the interdisciplinary faculty who will be your mentors in the classroom, the laboratory and in the field are intensely dedicated teachers.
Your coursework begins with the basic principles of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and then moves on to a series of upper level courses in three broad areas – environmental policy, biological sciences or physical sciences. This allows you to design your own unique course of study.
A distinctive benefit of the program is the opportunity to engage in faculty-mentored research during the academic year and the summer, in areas such as plant biology, ecology, animal behavior, environmental chemistry, geochemistry and environmental history and policy. A semester-long internship is also required as part of the major. Majors and minors participate in the environmental student group, which organizes hikes, field trips, lectures, plants trees on campus, helps with campus recycling programs, and is active in coordinating campus Earth Day activities.
Recent graduates of the program have pursued careers as consultants, field scientists, in education and government service, or have continued their education in graduate school.