Suffolk’s Environmental Science program examines environmental issues from a scientific perspective. You’ll receive a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Thanks to these required courses, many environmental science majors have completed enough classes to minor in another science, such as biology or chemistry. Graduates often pursue careers at government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, at environmentally focused nonprofit groups, or in public health.
A World of Possibilities
An environmental science degree prepares you to understand and preserve one of the world’s most crucial resources—the environment. In addition to rigorous laboratory and coursework, you’ll participate in a practicum, similar to an internship, which will give you hands-on learning experience and allow you to apply your scientific knowledge to real-world issues. Options include placement at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Suffolk alumnus Kenneth Sherman is a scientist at the NOAA, and he recently won the Goteberg Award for Sustainable Development, the environmental equivalent of the Nobel Prize. He’s director of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Marine Ecosystem Studies, which is another coveted practicum opportunity.
A Personalized Approach
Suffolk’s course sequence provides a strong foundation in the sciences and also offers flexibility: You’ll be encouraged to take electives, such as ecology or ethics, to make the major your own. The department is small and close-knit, and you’ll enjoy personal attention and tailored guidance. Suffolk offers an honors program in Environmental Science, wherein you complete a thesis that delves into your specific area of interest, under the advisement of a faculty adviser.
