EMU, BS, Environmental Science and Society, Interdisciplinary Program

The Environmental Science and Society, Interdisciplinary Program is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide a broad knowledge of the interaction between humans and the environment from various points of view. Students can tailor their curriculum by following one of several concentrations and sub-concentrations to gain a deeper understanding of an environmental issue depending on their interest. All IESS students will learn how population growth and increased economic activity affect our environment and how GIS can be used as a tool to present environmental data. Students choosing the Environmental Science concentration learn the concepts needed to understand the “Grand Challenges in Environmental Science” as identified by the National Academies of Science including biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, climate variability, hydrologic forecasting, land-use dynamics, and biogeochemical cycles. Students choosing the Environment and Society concentration learn how environmental policies and regulations have economic, political, and social impacts. Students completing the program will be competitive to enter careers such as an environmental technician, environmental advocate, hydrologist, resource manager, and environmental lobbyist. Research institutions, regulatory agencies, nonprofit organizations, and consulting firms will be the main source of employment for graduates of the program. Although, as with many science baccalaureate degrees, many of the jobs available to students who complete the Environmental Science concentration are entry-level, experience and graduate work can allow students to advance to environmental management positions. The environmental science degree, in consultation with an advisor, prepares students to enter a graduate degree or graduate certificate program in a specific environmental science such as atmospheric scientist, ecologist, or hydrogeologist.