Revised Program [Fall 2023]
If you are concerned about the natural environment and its significance for built environments and human well-being, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Society will give you broad, interdisciplinary knowledge for understanding and critically assessing the interactions between humans and the environment.
Learn
Students develop an understanding of major environmental issues and their potential solutions by appreciating the importance of scientific methods, ethical values and principles, diverse worldviews, and social and political constraints relevant to addressing these issues. In addition, students learn about the complex connections between natural and built environments and between these environments and our social and cultural institutions. Many disciplinary perspectives and tools are employed to understand and analyze these connections, including those offered by the natural and social sciences and the humanities. The Environmental Science and Society program can be the basis for further study in graduate school in atmospheric and climate science, environmental chemistry, environmental law, environmental management, environmental policy, ecology, hydrogeology, landscape architecture, and sustainability studies.
Environment and Society concentration - The Environment and Society concentration provide students with an understanding of the importance of ethical values and principles for framing laws, policies, and economic approaches to address environmental issues. Students in this concentration can also focus on nonprofit organizations and their relevance in addressing environmental concerns. No other minor is needed to complete the graduation requirements.
Environmental Science concentrations - Students in the Environmental Science concentration choose an emphasis on Atmosphere and Climate, Environmental Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Geoscience, or Water Quality. The environmental science concentrations offer students an understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, climate variability, hydrologic forecasting, land-use dynamics, environmental chemistry and geochemistry, and biogeochemical cycles. No minor is needed to complete graduation requirements.
Opportunities
Students in the Environmental Science and Society program are active members of environmental student groups and maintain active social relationships through various events and activities (continually updated through our website).
Many upper-level course projects are completed outdoors at EMU’s Fish Lake Environmental Education Center, local nature preserves, and fossil dig sites. They are often done in coordination with local environmental organizations. The Environmental Science and Society program also has capstone requirements that provide real-world experience and help students apply their coursework in professional internships and research projects.
A degree in Environmental Science and Society can have you working in Governmental Agencies; Nature/Science Centers; Consulting firms; Universities and Colleges; Nonprofit organizations; Animal Rehabilitation/Rescue Organizations; Parks, Forests, and other natural areas; and Environmental Conservation/restoration organizations.
The Environmental Science and Society degree prepares students to pursue several possible careers, such as being an environmental or wildlife advocate, environmental educator, environmental lobbyist, or park ranger. In addition, the Environmental Science concentrations prepare students to pursue diverse careers as environmental consultants, environmental health and safety officers, environmental regulatory compliance officers, environmental technicians, hydrologists, resource managers, restoration ecologists, water quality chemists, wildlife biologists, or wildlife refuge specialists.
This is a STEM-designated program (see OPT Extension).
