Academic Programs

Department of Environmental Science

Environmental scientists are on the front line of documenting environment change and developing solutions to modern problems that impact everyone on Earth. Rowan University's Environmental Science programs prepare students to be leaders for positive change.

Environmental Science is one of the fastest-growing career fields and job prospects are excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2017), environmental science jobs are growing by 11% every year. Median pay is almost $70,000 a year.

Students who join Rowan's Environmental Science programs change the world as they build their better future.

Environmental Science majors engage with relevant experiences and coursework every year they are at Rowan. This ensures that BS and BA students integrate the foundations of biology, chemistry, physics, and other core STEM disciplines with their understanding of environmental issues as they progress through their major. In addition to engaging classroom experiences, students will participate in regular field trips to experience ecosystems hands-on, and will work with researchers in the field to gain real-world experience before they leave Rowan University. Students who Minor in Environmental Science gain exposure to the scientific investigation of environmental issues: it is designed for students from all backgrounds but is also an excellent complement to other STEM majors. Our new Minor in Climate Science provides students with a deeper understanding of the structure and dynamics of the climate system, the changes that are underway, and solutions. The interdisciplinary CUGS in Marine Science draws from courses in environmental science, biology, and geology.

Check out this video about one of our Environmental Science courses!

FAQs

What classes will I take?

An undergraduate degree from the Department of Environmental Science emphasizes putting knowledge into practice. Here is a sample of some of the required courses for a degree in Environmental Science.

Year One Courses:

Environmental Experience - Introduction to field methods with weekly trips to environments such as the NJ Pine Barrens, salt marshes, streams, and the ocean.
Environment in the Headlines - Explore the science behind select environmental issues and monitor how that science is discussed in the media.

Year Two Courses:

EVSC 01.202 - Experimental Design
Biology
Statistics

Year Three Courses:

EVSC 01.305 - Examine the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment.
Chemistry
Physical Geology

Year Four Courses (choose one):

Practical experience (Internship or Research)
Senior Seminar (Focus on particular research topic)

Which degree is right for me?

BS Environmental Science

The Bachelor of Science degree is designed for students interested in scientific careers or pursuing graduate studies. Field experiences are an essential element of our curriculum, beginning in the first year.

Students earning a BS in Environmental Science will leave Rowan University with a broad understanding of several scientific disciplines and mathematics. Course requirements offer flexibility within the degree, not only with a number of elective credits but with choices among specialized courses. Focused, majors-only classes such as "Field Methods in Environmental Science" (EVSC 01.350) prepare students for careers in the environmental technical field or graduate level research. Click here for a downloadable list of degree requirements.

BA Environmental Science

The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for careers in environmental consulting, management, science writing, or science education. While also rigorous, the BA is a more flexible pathway with enough free electives to permit a second major in areas such as Education, Communications, Environmental & Sustainability Studies, or Geology.

Environmental Science Minor

Minoring in Environmental Science would nicely complement a wide range of degrees in areas like communications, art, or business for students who want to formally demonstrate environmental literacy.

Can I transfer into the program?

Transfer students are welcome in both the BS and the BA degree programs. Environmental Science has designed flexibility into the coursework and experiences for these degrees in order to allow for students to efficiently join the program mid-degree.