This bachelorโs degree program is interdisciplinary and draws upon the expertise and resources in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. It provides students with a broad foundation in the sciences and specialized knowledge in environmental biology, chemistry and geology. The program prepares students for careers in government, consulting, and industry as well as entry into graduate school. Employment opportunities include state and federal agencies charged with monitoring and managing the environment, environmental consulting firms, and industry positions in air and emissions monitoring, pollution prevention and remediation, and safety and health. The new degree program in Environmental Science will offer our predominantly Hispanic students a degree in an area where they can find employment immediately without having to obtain an advanced degree. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for environmental scientists will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations combined through 2014. Job growth for environmental scientists should be strongest at private-sector consulting firms. Demand will be spurred largely by public policy, which will oblige companies and organizations to comply with complex environmental laws and regulations, particularly those dealing with ground-water contamination, clean air, and flood control. Because most of our graduates are bilingual in English and Spanish they will be especially attractive to multinational firms conducting business in Mexico, Central America and South America. An especially effective and marketable skill developed in this program is the use of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing techniques, which allow scientists and planners to map, analyze, and predict environmental scenarios.
