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Environmental Science
CENTER for ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
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?
Do 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 study
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:
- 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
“You can’t study dirt without getting dirty!”
-Kevin Spigel, Assistant Professor of Geosciences
“Everyone is focused on the environment in one way or another."
-Lois Ongley, Associate Professor of Chemistry
-Jerry Cinnamon, Professor of Geology
Where your major can take you
Environmental Science graduates typically go on to become:
Earth 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
Maine Conservation School
City of New Bedford, Buttonwood Park Zoo, XX
Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory, XX
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife