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Environmental Science Bachelor’s Degree

Overview

The bachelor’s degree in environmental science (EnvSci) produces scientists that are able to solve complex and important environmental problems at the intersection of the natural and social sciences. Students receive interdisciplinary training and become skilled in the use of theory from the biological, chemical, geoscience, and social sciences to solve applied problems and contribute to sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship in Idaho, the region, and elsewhere. Students will develop understanding of complex environmental systems, the organisms that inhabit and interact in them, the social systems that structure our interactions with the environment. They will learn how to analyze and communicate scientific information, to employ data science to develop and communicate novel solutions to existing environmental challenges, and to assist with the sustainable stewardship of our economy.

View catalog and course requirements

Degree Emphasis Areas

Students can also pursue one of the following emphases as part of obtaining their environmental science degree.

  • Applied Environmental Science Emphasis: Receive focused training in entrepreneurship, project management, and leadership, preparing these students to be critical developers of environmentally-oriented private and public industries.
  • Data Science in Environmental Science Emphasis: Graduates will be well equipped to lead in data-driven fields.
  • Environmental Science Communication and Translation Emphasis: Environmental science graduates emphasizing science communication and translation will practice communicating with other scientists as well as translating science to non-scientists. These skill sets are in high demand for work as professional science communicators, science policy analysts, and interpreters and implementers of science building towards best practices in private and public environmentally-oriented industries.

View catalog and course details on the Registrar’s website.

Why get a B.S. degree in Environmental Science?

  • Receive focused career readiness training.
  • Enjoy a  flexible elective structure that will enable students to obtain additional specialized training in a field or fields of their choice.
  • Get certified in Data Science!

Get trained in a field that is in high demand

A student at a computer wears a I'm a Broncos Fan t-shirt
  • Environmental Scientists are in demand and the demand is expected to grow.
  • The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for BS trained Environmental Scientists has been growing, and will continue to grow at a pace of 5% per year, or at approximately 3,800 jobs/year.
  • The 2021 median annual income of an Environmental Scientist is $76,530/year, a pay rate that is expected to keep pace with, or increase faster than inflation.

Blend your interests in multiple fields

The EnvSci degree has a well-crafted core coursework structure focused on two of three natural science core course sequence options (i.e., biological sciences and/or chemistry and/or geosciences) and one social science core course sequence (i.e., economic systems or social systems or political systems)

Get hands-on training in an area of interest.

  • All students receive a significant experiential learning component to their training
  • Acquisition of experience outside the classroom is important in the pursuit of Environmental Science careers.
  • Students may participate in faculty research projects, vertically integrated project courses (i.e., VIP), or internships with government agencies, private or non-profit organizations, businesses, and other programmatically relevant professionals.
  • These experiences can be local, regional, national, or international.
  • These experiences are designed to help students explore different career pathways and gain valuable skills that are directly applicable in the workplace.

What can you do with a degree in Environmental Science?

You could pursue careers in the following areas (these are just some of the examples and range from non-profit, private, local, state, and federal jobs):

  • Wetland Scientist
  • Environmental Consulting
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Environmental Compliance Specialist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Project Manager
  • Environmental Remediation Manager
  • Environmental Specialist
  • Environmental Manager
  • NEPA Communications Specialist
  • Product Sustainability Engineer/Project Manager Environmental Planner
  • Range Management Specialist
  • Soil science
  • General natural resources management and biological sciences
  • Environmental Health Specialist
  • Hydrology
  • Water quality scientist
  • Non-profit sector (manager, scientist, etc.)