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What is Environmental Science?

Environmental science is the study of the natural environment, integrating the sciences with knowledge of our impacts on the planet and a desire to solve environmental problems.  The Environmental Science major is an interdisciplinary major designed to prepare students to face increasingly complex environmental challenges in the context of environmental quality management and sustainable development.  Environmental Science majors are prepared to monitor, model and manage environmental systems in the areas of environmental quality and risk evaluation, sampling and analysis, remediation, research and regulatory compliance.

What do environmental scientists do?
Job titles of Environmental Scientists

Graduates pursue careers in environmental consulting, regulatory agencies or corporations.  They may choose field-oriented positions in pollution monitoring and remediation including air, water or soil quality assessment and remediation.  Environmental Scientists also control and minimize the impacts of technology and waste on the environment.  Graduates may choose specialized positions in environmental policy, environmental risk assessment, ecological assessment or computer modeling.  Corporations and government agencies require environmental science graduates to ensure compliance with applicable law and regulations intended to preserve the environment.  Students with environmental research interests are also prepared to pursue advanced degrees.

Why major in Environmental Science?

	Maintain a high quality environment for this and future generations.
	Develop a personal environmental commitment into a professional career.
	Pursue a flexible curriculum that enables them to specialize in a particular area of interest.
	Turn a longtime interest in a particular area of environmental science into a professional career.
	Acquire the interdisciplinary training necessary for many environmental science careers or for graduate school.

The goal of the Environmental Science major at UW-River Falls is to provide students with the necessary foundation to pursue either a general or specialized career in the multidisciplinary field of Environmental Science.  Departments contributing to the major include Agricultural Engineering Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Physics and Plant & Earth Science. This goal is accomplished through a curriculum that provides a core of essential courses as well as courses chosen to prepare the student for the chosen academic area. Ample elective courses then allow for as broad or specific a focus as the student desires.  The academic program includes lecture, hands-on and field-oriented laboratories and an internship to provide the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to begin a career in Environmental Science. 

A sample 4 year course of study.

Questions about Environmental Science?  E-mail Dr. Laine Vignona