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Environmental Science
CENTER for SUSTAINABILITY AND GLOBAL CHANGEStudent in Boat

Environmental Science majors are fascinated by rocks, soil, weather and water. They are intensely interested in the formation, evolution and care of our physical landscape—past, present and future—and its relationship to all living things. They explore connections between all Earth systems. They study environmental problems (natural and human-induced) and try to find solutions to them.

Environmental Scientists ask a lot of questions and scour for details. They study the physical landscape at many scales: from individual hill slopes to entire mountain ranges; from the immediate effects of wildfire to changes measured on the geologic timescale, and everything else in between. They are comfortable in a pit describing soils, on a frozen lake collecting sediment and in remote areas exploring for rock outcrops or glacial landforms. They are equally comfortable indoors processing lab samples, using computers for modeling, and studying maps, aerial photographs and satellite imagery to address environmental problems.

Is this you?
Lake Sediment StudyDo you wonder what your hometown geography looked like 10,000 years ago? Are you curious why topsoil is black and subsoil is red? Do you find dirt interesting? Its smell, texture, color and taste? Do you think in terms of spheres—atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere? Would you like to study the effects of a forest fire on fish? Are floods, landslides, tsunamis and climate change hot topics for you? Does severe weather fascinate you? Have you ever wondered why rivers have pools and rapids or why we dam rivers? Have you wondered where the water you are drinking comes from, or how it might be at risk?

If yes, an Environmental Science major is for you.

What you’ll studyGrafton Loop Trail Orientation Trip
In addition to core earth systems chemistry courses, your studies will also include:

  • Geology of Environmental Problems
  • Physical Geology
  • Soil Science
  • Surface and Groundwater Hydrology
  • Weather and Climate

Complete Program Requirements

What you’ll do
Your projects may include:Student Conference Poster

  • Exploring Maine’s bedrock and glacial geologic history
  • Taking sub-samples in a soil pit and describe its formation characteristics
  • Evaluating the connections between land uses and erosion
  • Assessing water quality and sediment characteristics in local wetlands
  • Examining environment change through lake sediment analysis
  • Using computer models to assess runoff and erosion risk, predict erosion magnitude, and simulate climate change

Who will teach you

 

 J. Cinnamon  L. Ongley  K. Spigel
 -Jerry Cinnamon
Professor of Geology

Lois Ongley
Associate Professor of
Chemistry

Everyone is focused on the environment in one way or another.
 

 Kevin Spigel
Assistant Professor of Geosciences 

You can’t study dirt without getting dirty!
 

Where your major can take you
Environmental Science graduates typically go on to become: 

Leaf LabEarth Science/Environmental Educators
Environmental Consultants
Field Technicians (state and federal)
Graduate Students
Lab Technicians (state and federal)

 

Unity College Environmental Science graduates have accepted positions with these agencies, companies and organizations (partial listing):

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
City of New Bedford, Buttonwood Park Zoo
Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory
Maine Conservation School
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Explore a Career in Environmental Science