Environmental Science Major | BS

Campus Majors
Environmental Science (BS)

Change Your Environment with an Environmental Science Major

Learn how to think and act critically and creatively to tackle important environmental challenges with an environmental science major from Southern New Hampshire University. With the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, you'll examine today's most vital environmental topics, including climate change, alternative energy, sustainability and the loss of biodiversity.

Based on a strong foundation of natural and physical sciences, the program offers three concentrations to choose from: Compliance and Sustainability, Energy and Natural Resources, and Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

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Concentrations

Environmental Science (BS) - Compliance and Sustainability

Environmental Science (BS) - Energy and Natural Resources

Environmental Science (BS) - Wildlife and Conservation Biology

See Yourself Succeed as an Environmental Science Major

Through coursework, research, independent study and working closely with your professors, you'll gain the communication, interpersonal and technical skills needed to make a difference in the world. Whether you choose to work for a private company, nonprofit or governmental agency, or continue your studies at the graduate level, you'll leave prepared to meet the growing environmental challenges around the world. Highlights specific to this BS program include:

Numerous field research opportunities on and off campus
Faculty-led domestic and global learning experience opportunities
Small classes that foster individual learning, independent study projects and internships to fit your career goals

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of majoring in environmental science at SNHU include:

Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of students who are closely connected with faculty and staff dedicated to your success
Affordability. SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships. (This scholarship amount is only for students who do not need a visa to study in the U.S.)
Innovative programs. Study abroad at little or no extra cost
Accessible faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty who are experts in their fields and interact with you in the classroom, dining hall, fitness center and the stands
Opportunity. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni and strong connections with employers for internship and career opportunities
Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, N.H., named a "Best Place to Live" by Money magazine

Internships & Outcomes

With employment opportunities for environmental scientists and specialists expected to grow by 11% through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, earning a college degree in environmental science prepares you to capitalize on the growing need for highly skilled environmental professionals.

Regardless of your particular area of interest, the program gives you the technical expertise and interdisciplinary knowledge base you'll need to address multifaceted environmental challenges creatively and analytically. As an undergraduate environmental science major at SNHU, you'll learn how to:

Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate and present solutions to environmental problems
Describe the structure and function of ecological systems and the interfaces between human and natural systems
Construct solutions to environmental problems using interdisciplinary approaches
Demonstrate thorough competence in understanding quantitative and qualitative research methods as applied to questions related to the natural environment
Apply comprehensive concepts and practical experience to ethical issues related to environmental science
Prepare for the challenges and expectations of graduate degree programs and/or environmental careers

Curriculum

The environmental science curriculum is based on a solid foundation in the natural and physical sciences, so you gain a broad-based interdisciplinary skill set that companies and organizations are looking for to solve complex environmental problems. Because your professors are passionate about environmental issues and bring specific expertise to the program, you can delve deeply into subjects that most interest you.

If you have a specific interest within the environmental science field, you can choose to focus your degree with one of three concentrations; compliance and sustainability, energy and natural resources or wildlife and conservation biology.

Courses To Prepare You For Your Career

SNHU's bachelor's in environmental science program includes:

General education
Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

Writing
Communication
Analysis
Problem solving

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog

BS in Environmental Science

Courses May Include

GEO 200 World Geography

This course examines the implications of global location and topography for the people of planet Earth. Students will explore how geography shapes the dynamics of human societies, with an emphasis on the geoenvironmental, geopolitical, and geosocial phenomena that help to define the modern world.

HIS 270 American Environmental History

The course examines the history of the American environment, paying particular attention to the impact of European settlement on the landscape and the subsequent commodification of resources that defined the American experience in the modern age. it will pay close attention to such phenomena as industrialization, pollution, population trends, urbanization, chemically-dependent food production, and energy consumption, to name only a few. Particularly important, the course will delve into the process of political responses to environmental and ecological challenges as they have evolved over time.

PHL 363 Environmental Ethics

This course analyzes the application of ethical theory to moral questions about the environment. A number of different traditions in environmental ethics will be discussed and their strengths and weaknesses evaluated by applying them to practical moral problems.

BIO 120 General Biology I

General biology course that includes mammalian cell structure and function, cellular reproduction and physiology, and Mendelian genetics. Laboratory exercises (BIO 120L) to follow lecture topics.

BIO 120L General Biology I Lab

Laboratory course to follow topics presented in BIO 120.

BIO 315 Ecological Principles and Field Methods

This course introduces students to the principles of ecology and practical methods used in the field. Students will explore theoretical topics in the ecological systems including the level of the population, community and ecosystem; energy flow and biogeochemical cycles; and the concept of sustainability. Students will read literature and conduct research projects in the field and will use critical thinking to evaluate research, design studies, present findings and debate on the issues.

CHM 120 General Chemistry I

First semester of a one-year sequence covering the basic principles of chemistry. Topics include atomic and molecular theory and structure, the chemical and physical behavior of gases, liquids, solids, and solutions; chemical bonding; chemical equations and thermochemistry.

CHM 120L General Chemistry I Lab

This course will introduce laboratory techniques that will be used to gain fundamental knowledge of chemical systems associated with the subject matter of CHM 120 - College Chemistry I

ENV 101 Environmental Science

This course provides an introduction to the scientific aspects of the environmental field. The first part of the course introduces students to the foundations of environmental science, while the second part concentrates on the application of these foundations to real life environmental problems. Therefore, the course not only engages the fundamentals of environmental science but also shows students how science informs sustainability, environmental policies, economics and personal choice.

ENV 111 Environmental Science Compass

This 1-credit course familiarizes students with the structure and personnel of the Environmental Science degree program, and the resources in place for their support and success. Course sessions focus on introducing students to science faculty members and their areas of expertise, to lab spaces on campus and the equipment available to them, and to additional resources such as the Shapiro Library's science databases. Students will also be introduced to professional experiences through Career Services and guest talks from local Environmental Science professionals from a variety of organizations.

ENV 220 GIS, Field Methods and Technology

This is an issue- and methods-based course that will introduce students interested in environmental field work to the tools and technology of the profession. Students will read and discuss primary literature that use these techniques and will participate in hands-on activities to improve their skills. Main topics of the course will be the use and application of geographic information systems (GIS), multiple environmental field research techniques, and statistical and data analysis software.

ENV 250 Environmental Science Research Methods

This course provides students with an understanding of how to evaluate, conduct, write and design research. Required for environmental science majors, it introduces the why, when and how quantitative and qualitative methods are used as investigative tools. The course follows the scientific method and focuses on how to search the literature, write a literature review, formulate research questions/hypotheses, and design experiments to test these hypotheses. We will also explore qualitative methods and discuss their use in the field with special attention to conducting interviews, case studies, and focus groups. Students will prepare a research proposal on a topic of interest. Formulation of this project begins early, forms the basis for a final project, and is presented in a mock scientific conference.

ENV 440 Senior Seminar

This is an issue-based discussion course designed to define and explore the multifaceted consequences of environmental science issues. Several topics will be explored from either long-standing or current environmental science issues. Students are expected to conduct extensive research on relevant topics and communicate their knowledge in both oral and written assignments.

PHY 105 Geology

This course surveys the major themes in geology. Students will examine topics such as plate tectonics, the rock cycle, surface processes, and concept of geologic time.

Total Credits: 120

Program Outcomes

Campus Undergraduate Costs

Undergraduate Day Students Tuition Financial Aid

Our Manchester campus aims to keep tuition and related costs low for our students so that you can pursue your degree and your goals. More than 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships.

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.