Undergraduate Program
For students who wish to explore the earth, weather and the environment, the Department has three program concentrations that offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Science: Atmospheric Science (Meteorology), Environmental Studies and Geoscience (Geology).Interdisciplinary Faculty
The programs of study provide a strong foundation in science and mathematics and a broad understanding of the natural environment. The diverse faculty, comprised of geologists, geophysicists, chemists and meteorologists, reflects the program's multidisciplinary approach. Its aim is to successfully prepare students for graduate school and for careers in research labs, industry, consulting, weather forecasting firms, and state and federal governmental agencies, such as the DEP and EPA.
Environmental science is a relatively new academic discipline, having been founded only a little more than 20 years ago. Program graduates have achieved considerable success in the environmental and meteorological fields. Internships are available with many private and governmental organizations. These provide students with practical experience and potential entry into the job market. Undergraduate research also is encouraged and students in the department are active participants in the University's Honors Program.
The department also provides core courses for the University's General Education Program by encouraging intellectual inquiry into the critical issues of the earth and the environment. Such courses recognize that the understanding of environmental processes is fundamental to ecologically sound and sustainable development in a variety of fields.
Resources and Affiliations
The department has over 35 PC, Macintosh, and Unix based computer systems and work stations and a wide variety of software applications and languages, such as air-pollution and weather models, FORTRAN and C/C++ compilers, Mathematica and Maple computer mathematics systems. Geographic Information Systems, word processing, spread sheets and databases are available. Also housed in the department is a weather center with satellite links and remote observation platforms, an air pollution laboratory, a chemistry laboratory for environmental analysis, an instrumental neutron activation analysis laboratory used to measure trace constitutents in natural samples, and a fission-track geochronology laboratory. In addition, faculty in the department are affiliated with the Center for Atmospheric Research, the Center for Environmental Engineering and Science, and the Radiation Laboratory, and maintain active collaborations with other universities and research facilities.
Student Organizations
There are a number of student organizations in the department. The student chapter of the American Meteorological Society, a national organization, serves as a focal point for those students interested in the atmospheric sciences. The Society of Environmental Scientists encompasses students interested in a broad range of environmental activities and issues. Sigma Gamma Epsilon is a national earth science honorary society open to all qualified students. These student organizations sponsor speakers, organize field trips, and provide career and job placement seminars.
For more information about admission, retention and degree requirements, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.
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