Program Overview

Environmental & Marine Science, B.S.

The Environmental Systems and Sustainability Studies degree provides specialized training in researching and addressing some of the largest environmental challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and overconsumption of natural resources.

As the human impact on the environment continues to grow, so does the need for trained professionals in environmental fields that integrate the biological, physical, and earth sciences. Students gain hands-on learning experiences both in and out of the classroom, especially in the form of student-faculty research collaborations or faculty-supervised research projects. They also conduct cutting-edge research in environmental studies, geography, marine science, and science education.

Environmental Science is a diverse, multi-faceted field that offers environmentally-minded students a number of rewarding paths to careers. At Southern, students learn via hands-on educational experiences, participating in environmental and geographic courses and activities, student-faculty research collaborations or faculty-supervised research projects, cutting-edge field data collection methods and technologies, and lab-based data analysis procedures.

Concentrations

• Environmental Systems and Sustainability, B.S. - Coastal Marine Systems: The Coastal Marine Systems concentration is focused on environmental problem-solving in terrestrial and coastal marine settings, with courses that explore the area's geography, processes, and pollution. This concentration has a greater reliance on science and understanding the environmental science of the coastal marine environment. Approximately 40% of humanity lives within 60 miles of the coast. This is a critical environment that requires an in-depth understanding of aquatic ecosystems and processes.
• Environmental & Marine Science, B.S. - Environmental Systems: The Environmental Systems concentration focuses on solving environmental problems that are essentially terrestrial in nature, the solutions to which require understanding the very complex interactions between human systems and natural systems. Students focus on environmental problem-solving in terrestrial and coastal marine settings, with an emphasis on solving environmental problems such as water, food, and climate change, which are essentially terrestrial in nature.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and interrelatedness of environmental issues, and the need to invoke elements of science, economics, law, politics, and ethics when formulating solutions.
2. Students will build an understanding of the theoretical and historical events that underpin the multidisciplinary field of environmental sustainability.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate abilities in geospatial technologies and apply those technologies to geographic and/or environmental analyses.
4. Develop oral and written communication skills that demonstrate knowledge of the objectives of management strategies in a broad range of issues and for a diverse group of stakeholders.
5. Students will demonstrate knowledge gained from first-hand experience in addressing the practical aspects of making environmental decisions through internships, research experiences, exposure to professional outside lecturers, and/or attendance of local wetland or zoning board committee meetings.

Research and Educational Opportunities

The Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies provides innovative research and educational opportunities for all undergraduates and serves as a model for facilitating faculty collaboration in teaching and research.

Study Abroad

Southern provides students with the option of two short-term study-abroad experiences. You can choose to spend your summer in Iceland, earning 6 credits, or explore South Africa during the winter for 3 credits. Both programs count directly for the major and allow you to get ahead in credits over your break.

School / College

College of Arts & Sciences

Department

Environment, Geography, and Marine Sciences