Environmental Geoscience (B.S.)

Stewards of the Earth

As the Earth's population approaches 8 billion, we are seeing the strain put on its resources - land, soil, and especially water. It is imperative that we monitor their use, develop methods to better conserve them, and clean areas previously polluted. This is what environmental scientists do — they are stewards of the Earth.

Many graduates work in government in advisory or regulatory roles, others in industry to reduce or mitigate waste and monitor industrial emissions and pollution. They may work in an office, a laboratory, or out in the field, or some combination of all three. Environmental geosciences focus on two major areas of environmental science that overlap the geosciences — water and soil.

Soil or water?

The EGGS department is well known for our expertise in soil and water. We have introductory and advanced courses in soils, and you can join our nationally competitive Soil Judging Team to get even more experience.

We have field-based courses in surface water hydrology, groundwater hydrology, and wetlands ecology, and two of our faculty are heavily involved in local watershed groups (one is a group president). Both soil science and hydrology have professional certifications that can make you competitive when looking for your first job. We've laid out the course work you need to sit for the exams as seniors.