Environmental Science

We have only one world to live on - the third planet from the sun. By many measures, we are doing a very poor job of keeping it habitable for future generations. Environmental Science addresses crucial matters about Earth, its ecosystems, and their services. The concerns dealt with in this major revolve around use of key resources and human impacts on our world. Some specific matters that environmental scientists address include ecosystem function and protection, land-use planning, waste management, water quality, recycling, decontamination, revegetation of disturbed sites, and agriculture's impacts on the environment.

The Environmental Science Program at Virginia Tech

The Environmental Science curriculum is science and technology oriented. The major offers four options: Aquatic Resources, Land Resources, Plant Resources, and Waste Management. The basic sciences and computational skills are at the core of each option, while technical requirements make each option unique.

Aquatic Resources- Learn about a key ecosystem resource, fresh water, which is dangerously depleted or degraded in many places. This option concentrates on water quality and quantity for drinking, irrigation, recreation, and industry. Employers include agencies involved in protecting water resources and industries that help keep water resources safe.

Land Resources - Students gain an understanding of intelligent use of landscapes. We need to understand the land's capacity to support human activities like agriculture, development, and waste disposal while maintaining healthy ecosystems. Employment opportunities include the federal government, private foundations, and local planning commissions.

Plant Resources - This option focuses on the many uses of plants to solve environmental problems. These include establishing wetlands, revegetating drastically disturbed areas, and using plants to clean up polluted sites. Employers include companies involved in environmental clean up and land restoration.

Waste Management - Students gain knowledge on how to deal with or prevent the mountains of waste that our society generates. Waste reduction, recycling, and proper disposal are all important issues in waste management. Opportunities in this field are strong. Many governmental and private agencies are working to help solve waste-related problems.

Academic Preparation

All admission offers for this program of study are made through the University's Admissions Office. To be a competitive candidate for freshman admission, follow the guidelines listed on the Admissions homepage. In order to be a competitive candidate, students seeking to transfer into the Environmental Science program after one year of college work should have a 3.0 grade point average and successfully complete transferable course work in English, mathematics, biology, and chemistry. Students planning to transfer under the Guaranteed Admissions Articulation Agreement between Virginia community colleges and the College should follow the academic guidelines noted under College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on the Admissions homepage Articulation Agreements webpage.

Career Opportunities

Many federal, state, and local agencies that deal with environmental matters hire environmental scientists. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and municipal planning commissions are a few examples of employers in the public sector. Many major industries, particularly those involved in extraction and manufacturing, employ environmental scientists to handle regulatory compliance, environmental monitoring, and public relations. Private consulting firms also offer a large employment opportunity for graduates. Many private firms deal with land-use planning and development, water-quality monitoring and protection, waste disposal, toxic-site remediation, government subcontracting, and policy analysis.

Beyond the Classroom

Students with outstanding academic records will be able to qualify for the Honors Program and graduate "In Honors" in Environmental Science.

Other opportunities for growth and recognition include:

  • Membership and leadership in the department-sponsored Environmental Student Organization, the Soil Water Conservation Society, and other on-campus professional, social, and honorary organizations.
  • More than $25,000 in scholarships are awarded annually to qualified students.
  • Valuable on-the-job training and exploring future career opportunities through internships and co-op experiences with industry and agency partners.
  • Encountering new cultures, ecosystems, and environmental perspectives through study-abroad and student-exchange programs.
  • Conducting research alongside top-notch faculty using state-of-the-art equipment.

Facilities

Environmental Science is administratively housed within the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences. The facilities of that department and of sister departments are available to students working in the Environmental Science major. These facilities include analytical labs with state-of-the-art equipment for rapid detection of both organic and inorganic contaminants, teaching and research labs for studying physical and chemical properties of soils, geographic information system (GIS) tools, modern microbiological equipment, nearby field locations for research on various environmental processes, and a highly diverse locale, Southwest Virginia, that demonstrates many of the critical functions of healthy ecosystems.

Overview of Course Work

All Environmental Science options build on a strong foundation in the sciences. For example, a progression of chemistry courses leads from general through organic and analytical lectures and laboratories. Biology is also important, especially in the Aquatic and Plant Resources options. Geological and soil sciences are crucial in the Land Resources and Waste Management options. Three semesters of calculus and one semester of statistics provide important computational skills for all options, while writing-intensive courses, such as Senior Seminar, stress professional-style communication. Courses in environmental engineering and in policy and planning provide technology and regulatory insights to supplement the major's scientific approach. Each option has coursework specific to its field, and technical electives allow students to tailor their degrees to particular career choices. Additional information on each option is available on the major's webpage.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Matt Eick
Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
236 Smyth Hall (0404)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-8943
eick@vt.edu

Environmental Science Major webpage

Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Homepage