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Environmental Science

Department of Biology, Environmental Science, and Health Science

Christopher A. Cink, Ph.D., Chair

Majors

Minors

Overview

Waynesburg University offers a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science. Students entering this fast-growing and dynamic field can expect to become involved directly in addressing some of the most significant problems related to human impacts on the environment.

The Environmental Science program includes courses in biology, ecology, chemistry, geology environmental policy, mathematics, energy and geographic information science, and applies these courses to the evaluation of current environmental issues from a scientific perspective. This multidisciplinary approach is designed to meet the needs of students who desire a broadly based environmental education in preparation for careers in such areas as environmental consulting, environmental biology and ecology, remediation and restoration, environmental chemistry, and geology and natural resource management and administrative law.  The goal of the curriculum is to be flexible, to accommodate the individual career interests of each student and to provide preparation for the ever-growing job market in environmental science. The program is also designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate school.

Environmental Science majors are strongly encouraged to participate in summer internship opportunities available through many state and federal government agencies, private consulting firms and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Student interns have the unique opportunity to obtain valuable training and experience with established scientists and other professionals currently working in their field of interest. The internship will provide students with definitive career and research experience using the latest technology that will further strengthen their preparation and competitiveness for jobs or continued education in the environmental area. Second semester juniors and seniors who are interested in research and further graduate study are encouraged to take as an elective BIO 499, Senior Research Projects. This course will guide them in the development of a research investigation in their field of interest, under the direction of an appropriate faculty mentor.

This major requires the successful completion of 95 credits, and 12 of these credits must be from courses at the 300 or 400 level. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in the major in order to progress to the junior year and senior year. All required courses in the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher, and a student may repeat a required course no more than once.