Environmental Science with tracks in Biogeochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Public Policy

The pressing needs for sustainable development, acceptable environmental quality, and the urgency to address climate change are placing increasing demands upon governments and industries locally, nationally, and worldwide. To help meet those demands, the Environmental Science major provides training for students intending to enter environmental professions or to pursue graduate study in environmental science and related fields such as biology, chemistry, public health, law, and policy. The major offers an interdisciplinary course of study that combines elements of the natural and social sciences relevant to understanding the biosphere and its interaction with human society.

The Biogeochemistry track is designed for students interested in analysis of links between environmental systems and other Earth system processes including biological, chemical, and geologic forces.  Studies focus on global and local cycles of chemicals like carbon, nitrogen, and water that ultimately lead to global environmental change.  Students selecting this major and track will receive interdisciplinary training in environmental science with a focus on ecosystem sciences and will be uniquely prepared to solve short and long-term challenges related to human-mediated global climate change and environmental degradation.

The Biology track is designed for students interested in a biological perspective on environmental science.  Students learn the processes that connect living organisms to their environment at the genomics, molecular, cellular, physiological, organismal, and population, community, and ecosystem levels.  The track is designed to encourage breadth in the life sciences and allows students to acquire depth in a chosen area of scientific concentration through the choice of electives. This track prepares students for careers in research, medicine, agriculture, and environmental management.

The Chemistry track within the Environmental Science major is designed for students interested in a scientific perspective on environmental issues, in particular chemistry, toxicology, and pollutant fate and transport. The track is designed to encourage breadth in the physical sciences and allows students to acquire depth in a chosen area of scientific concentration through the choice of electives. This track prepares students for careers in industry, engineering, and environmental management.

The Public Policy track is designed for students interested in the social,  economic, and political aspects of environmental sciences. In addition to identifying problems and solutions, students learn about the making, implementation, and impact of government policies. The track balances natural sciences and public policy aspects to prepare students for environmental careers in research, industry, consultancy, public affairs, and non-profit organizations.

The Environmental Science major includes both coursework and experiential learning about the underlying science, and the social, political, legal and economic factors that both encourage and hinder environmental cooperation and competition around the world. All students pursuing this major must complete a set of required Divisional Foundational courses that provide the required background and fundamentals in the discipline essential to advanced work in the major. The major includes a set of five required interdisciplinary courses (four set courses plus one to choose from a list of three courses) which provide a well-rounded, in-depth examination of environmental science and policy issues. In addition to the foundational interdisciplinary and disciplinary requirements, students also have the choice of a number of elective courses that provide flexibility to add depth in their specific field of study, and/or explore other subject matters as they see fit.

Major Requirements

(Not every course listed is offered every term, and the course list will be updated periodically. Please refer to the online Course Catalog for Courses offered in 2025-2026.)

Environmental Science / Biogeochemistry

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Environmental Science / Biology

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Environmental Science / Chemistry

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Environmental Science / Public Policy

Divisional Foundation Courses

Interdisciplinary Courses

Disciplinary Courses

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

[83]This course was named and numbered CULMOVE 101 Cultures of Globalization prior to Fall 2025.

[84] This course was numbered CULANTH 302 Ethnographic Field Methods prior to Fall 2025.

[85]This course was names SOSC 320 Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics prior to Fall 2025.