The Environmental Science program is an interdisciplinary science major, designed for students interested in the scientific study of the interactions of human and natural systems. Students are provided with an education that fosters knowledge of environmental systems through a background in basic and applied science; promotes engagement with environmental issues and assessment of environmental and social systems; and the need for participatory action that responds to the 'cries of the Earth and poor' across society – thus training students to be integral ecologists and to serve others in a diverse and changing world.

After completion of the environmental science program, students have the necessary skills and knowledge for introductory employment and graduate continuing education in environmental science and related fields. Students are trained in the collection and analysis of environmental data and statistics and complete coursework in the natural and applied sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics, and/or physics). They will be able to use their knowledge and skills from both their science courses and courses in humanities and social sciences to assess interactions between human and natural systems so that they may effectively contribute to solutions that address the environmental and social crises.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Environmental Systems - Students will analyze and describe the dynamics of Earth's environmental systems, evaluate human-environmental system interactions across different temporal and spatial scales and apply interdisciplinary knowledge from natural and applied sciences.
• Environmental, Social, & Political Systems - Students will critically evaluate the relationships between humans and nature, articulate the roles of cultural, socio-economic, political, and ethical factors in environmental processes, and assess environmental justice implications.
• Critical Understanding and Interpretation - Students will employ moral and ethical frameworks alongside quantitative analysis to construct and critically assess arguments and synthesize diverse sources of information using established qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Communication - Students will prepare and deliver clear, well-structured communications that convey the complexities of environmental issues and justice, suitable for academic, policy, and public audiences, as evidenced by presentations, reports, and advocacy materials.
• Participatory Action - Students will design, advocate for, and, when appropriate, implement equitable and just solutions to environmental challenges, demonstrating an understanding of the complex interplay between environmental, social, cultural, and ethical factors, with consideration of their systematic impacts.