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What are the required courses for
this major, minor, or certificate?
The Environmental Science degree programs are designed to provide students with
a strong
foundation of required general knowledge about the environment, while giving
each student the
flexibility to gain a deeper understanding in the areas of his or her particular
interest. A list of the required courses for the B.S. and B.A. degrees can be
found in this brochure. Students in both
degree programs take a “core” set of courses that provides a foundation of
knowledge about the
Earth’s environment. The more specialized courses within the tracks provide
students with a
depth of knowledge that prepares them for employment, graduate school, or
professional studies.
What classes should a student take to get
a sense of what the major will be like?
It is difficult to suggest an ‘all-encompassing’ first-year course that will
convey a sense of the
major since the program is designed to bring together several natural sciences
and apply them to
understanding Earth’s environment. The more advanced courses within the major
typically require
introductory courses as prerequisites, so the best courses to take first are the
science
components of the environmental science core. The two Earth’s Dynamic
Environment courses (EAS 101 and EAS 103) provide a strong introduction to the Earth’s surface environments, oceans, and atmosphere, which play a critical role
in almost every aspect of environmental science. Many students will benefit from
taking these early since they provide a ‘natural world’ context for their other
science
classes. It is highly recommended that students also take the Principles of Biology and General
Chemistry courses as early as possible.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement for
this major?
There is no minimum GPA required to enter or remain in this major. The program
is rigorous and
demanding, however, and we have high expectations of our majors.
Are there any student clubs or
organizations that a student can join?
Our students have not had a need to form a club because there are numerous
opportunities to
spend time outside of classes with other students and faculty during the
academic year. Weekend
field trips, canoe trips, and social events are scheduled throughout the year.
One perk associated
with this major is the opportunity to join other faculty and students on annual
weeklong field trips
across the country. We visit environmentally important sites, and during those
trips you will get
know the faculty, other students, and even alumni who join the trips.
Is there an advantage of having a double
major versus a major and a minor?
Depending on which majors and minor you combine, you may take more courses with
one choice or
the other. It never hurts to learn as much as possible in your fields of
interests while obtaining a
well grounded understanding of the Earth’s environment by majoring in
Environmental Science. One
can pursue many different careers under the broad field of environmental
science: a geoscientist
working to provide safe drinking water to the third world, a computer scientist
modeling climate
change, a chemist concerned with lead poisoning in children, a biologist
striving to preserve
precious ecosystems, a lawyer handling the water rights of communities in the
arid Southwest, a
business person managing the finances of an eco-friendly business.
What courses in your department are open
to non-majors?
All courses are open to non-majors as long as you have satisfied the course
prerequisites. If you
are interested in enrolling in a particular course but are not sure if you have
the necessary
background, then do not hesitate to ask the faculty member teaching the course
or the program
director, Dr. Kirschner.
What about internships and field
experience?
Internships are very important since they provide exposure to, and experience
in, potential
environmental science careers. Many of our students do internships, and
fortunately, many
students are able to find internships that pay a stipend or salary. Although it
is not possible to
guarantee each student will find an internship, we will help you in your search.
Also we often take
students into the field so that they can see and experience things firsthand
that they have only
heard or read about. In addition to our weeklong trips, students will have the
opportunity to do
field work in some of their courses and labs. Some of our faculty welcome
undergraduate student
assistants on their research projects. You should actively seek out these
opportunities if you are
interested.
Is studying abroad a good pursuit for a
student with this major?
Many issues in environmental science - such as the melting of polar ice caps,
loss of rainforests in
the tropics, and warming of the climate - extend far beyond the borders of the
U.S. Study
abroad may be very fruitful to your education if you take advantage of learning
firsthand about
environmental issues in the part of the world you visit. Just be sure to plan
your course schedules
in advance to ensure that they can satisfy the major’s requirements.
What are the career options in this major?
Environmental science is an umbrella term that encompasses many disciplines and
many career
paths. One can be employed in the environmental field as a chemist solving a
groundwater pollution
problem, or a biologist studying a wetland ecosystem that is being stressed by
an expanding
community, or a lawyer working with community groups that have competing
interests for limited
water resources, or a geologist mitigating the negative impacts of a river’s
flooding on local
communities. Many Fortune 500 companies now employ environmental scientists
regardless of
their products, in an effort to better understand the new opportunities—and
consequences—provided by our changing world. As long as Earth’s resources continue to be
depleted and the
adverse impacts of our societies continue to increase, environmental scientists
will be able to work
in their chosen careers. Click here to see examples
of where some of our alumni are employed.
Will a bachelor’s degree in this major
prepare me for a job in this field,
or will I more than likely need to pursue a graduate degree and beyond?
Depending on a student’s choice of “track” and his/her academic record, a
graduate can often find
work immediately after graduation. Some students choose to continue their
studies by pursuing a
master’s degree after graduating from SLU. In many environmental science fields,
a person with a
master's degree has greater possibility to move up in a company, non-profit
organization, or
government agency. Other students may choose to pursue professional degrees -
such as law or
public health - after graduation. There are many career options available to
students who are
willing to work hard, seek out opportunities, and strive to excel in their
academic studies. Our
advice is that you pursue your field of interest or passion, while gaining
additional skills that can
help you find gainful employment.
Who can I talk to if I have additional
questions?
Numerous faculty and support services are knowledgeable about this program and
can answer many
of your questions. At the present time, Dr.
David Kirschner
(977-3128; dkirschn@gmail.com) in
the Department of Earth and Atmospheric
Sciences is serving as the initial contact for many
students who are seeking more information. In addition, you can find help from
Drs. Steven
Buckner and Chuck Kirkpatrick of the
Chemistry department,
Drs. Tom Valone, Rob Wood, and
Shawn Nordell of the Biology department, and
Drs. John Encarnacion (jpe@eas.slu.edu) and
Rob Ripperdan (ripperdan@eas.slu.edu)
of the Earth and Atmospheric Science department. Any of these faculty members
are willing to answer your questions. Ms. Wendy LaBenne (wlabenne@slu.edu;
977-2828) in the Office of Career Services can provide information on careers in environmental science. In addition, you can get more information from our
environmental science web site at
www.eas.slu.edu.
We hope this information has helped you learn more about the University’s
Environmental Science program. We wish you the best and hope that your time as a
student is challenging and rewarding.