Degree: B.S.

Department: Environmental Sciences

Department Chair: Donna Fennell

Department Website: www.envsci.rutgers.edu

Undergraduate Program Director: Jeffra Schaefer

The environmental sciences program is designed to provide students with an understanding of the application of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences to problems in the environment. The core emphasizes the chemical, physical, and biological principles, and options and electives allow specialization in the study of air, water, or soils, as well as pollution and treatment sciences, and environmental health. 

With the consultation of a faculty adviser, students can design a program to meet the requirements for graduate study or to provide the basis for a professional career in government, education, consulting, or industry.

The program offers a bachelor of science (B.S.) in environmental sciences, as well as a minor in environmental sciences. Within the B.S. program, we offer three options: environmental science, applied environmental science, and environmental health. The differences between the options are not large, but generally the environmental science option is more theoretical and is preferred by students considering graduate school, while the applied option is more practical and is intended to prepare students for careers in the environmental field. The environmental health option is geared toward careers in health, such as the occupational health and safety arena.

Environmental science majors may also complete a joint degree leading to a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in environmental science and a master's degree in public health (M.P.H.) from Rutgers. More information about this program can be found at https://sph.rutgers.edu/academics/ba-ru.html. Students interested in this opportunity should discuss specific course requirements with their adviser or the undergraduate program director of environmental science.

Students can meet the requirements for the 40-hour OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response certification by including the following course in their program:

11:375:434  Principles of Industrial Hygiene (3)