Department of Environmental Science & Policy

RICHARD S. FELDMAN, Ph.D., Chair

MISSION:

The Department of Environmental Science & Policy educates students to become professionals ready to investigate and solve society’s challenging environmental issues. We offer three degrees: B.S. in Environmental Science, B.A. in Environmental Studies, and a B.A. in Environmental Earth Science. This last degree can be combined with a fifth year of education graduate study to earn a MAT in Earth Science Education. Within each of the three majors, students can choose from a wide range of courses to build a strong foundation in their area of interest. The program allows students the flexibility to pursue their interests in the scientific, political, economic, legal, social, or natural resource realm of environmental issues. The flexibility and interdisciplinary nature of our curriculum is also well-suited to accommodate dual majors and minors.

Taking advantage of the scenic and historic Hudson River Valley, our curriculum offers numerous opportunities for hands-on study at nearby field sites. Some courses include labs taught on the Hudson River, as well as a fleet of canoes to explore and study a variety of waters. The abundance of protected lands in the region provides a great diversity of life, ecosystems and geology to support education about the environment in many courses and to conduct research.

The curriculum extends beyond coursework through internship and research included in our major requirements. These opportunities expose students to different environmentally-focused career paths and prepare them to be competitive candidates either in the professional sector or in graduate school.

As a result of combining our curriculum with extensive individual guidance and attention from faculty, the Department has gained a reputation among employers in both government and private sectors for educating students into professionals with a high-level of environmental consciousness and scientific talent who are well-prepared for challenging environmental careers.

Students who wish to pursue graduate studies complete undergraduate research, leading to placement in excellent graduate programs. Some features of the research program include extensive hands-on field and laboratory experience, regional and national conference presentations, and placement guidance into graduate school.

NOTE: Please refer to http://www.marist.edu/science/environmental/ for current information about the program.

CURRICULUM:

The B.S. in Environmental Science provides academic preparation for in-depth understanding of effects of human activity on the dynamics and interrelationships of complex ecosystems and the health and well-being of humans and other species. Whether a student’s personal career interest lies in field-work, laboratory research, being actively involved in environmental concerns, or continuing their education with graduate studies, our program’s coursework, combined with internships or faculty-mentored research, provides the diversity necessary to thoroughly prepare our students to pursue their desired goals.

The B.A. in Environmental Studies is designed for students interested in a multi-faceted approach to environmental problems, while being well-versed in the science behind the problems. This major requires an in-depth exploration of an additional area of interest such as: economics, environmental law, international affairs, government & policy, ethics & justice, or finance, to name a few. Career preparation is enhanced through the requirement of completing either internships or research mentored by a faculty member. This major is particularly well-suited to dual majors.

The B.A. in Environmental Earth Science, like the B.S. in Environmental Science, emphasizes understanding the science of the environment and addressing related issues. This major emphasizes effects of human activity on the dynamics and interrelationships of physical earth systems, through study of the physical and earth sciences; it places less emphasis on research and internship. With a fifth year of graduate-level education courses, it can lead to the MAT in Earth Science Education, thereby qualifying to teach this subject in middle and high schools.

NOTE: Please refer to http://www.marist.edu/science/environmental/ for current information about the program.

Department of Environmental Science & Policy

Programs