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BS - Environmental Science

What is an Environmental Science degree?

An environmental science degree at Florida Tech is perfect for students who want to make the world a better place, literally. The environmental science degree program provides advanced academic studies in the use and preservation of environmental resources and hands-on coursework focused on developing solutions to current and future environmental problems. Here, you'll develop a strong background in science and get hands-on experience in environmental research and problem solving.

Our environmental science degree program is dynamic and focused. You'll get started right away, taking core courses like The Whole Earth Course and Biological Discovery as a freshman. Guided by highly accomplished faculty who care about your success, you'll hone your strengths and begin specializing as early as sophomore year.

Advantages

Why Florida Tech:

• Wide application in the world of business
• Nearby Atlantic Ocean and other marine environments
• Undergrads often involved in faculty research
• Hands-on experience with high-tech instruments
• Perfect weather to study meteorology
• Interdisciplinary approach = experience employers look for

The Numbers: DMES classes are kept small (13-15 students in sophomore\, junior\, and senior level courses)

Facilities: Florida Tech has marine laboratories and field research sites both on the Indian River Lagoon and at the Vero Beach oceanfront marine research facility. The Ralph S. Evinrude Marine Operations Center houses a fleet of small craft. Small boats are available for class work and research, and scuba diving can be incorporated in research and course work. Other teaching facilities include a computer-aided design center, and numerical modeling and computer facilities for data analysis. The Marine Geology and Geophysics Laboratory provides facilities for core boring and sediment analysis, beach and hydrographic surveying, and oceanographic instrumentation for coastal research activities. The Underwater Technologies Laboratory has a 500-square-foot electronic workship with all of the systems necessary to design and maintain autonomous underwater vehicles. In the Surf Mechanics Laboratory, students have access to two wave tanks for theoretical and experimental measuring of water waves.

Learning

Clubs and Organizations: American Meteorological Society, Florida Tech Sailing Club, Florida Tech Diving Club, Florida Tech Surfing Club, Marine Technology Society, Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Society)

Research: Every undergraduate with an environmental science degree has the opportunity to work with professors on funded research projects. Recent science and engineering projects include: the design and construction of a 30-foot high-speed research boat, a 30-by-20 twin hull research platform and a boat-mounted underwater camera testing of antifouling coatings instrumentation system design for waves and weather artificial reef designs and monitoring ocean instrumentation development lightning and thunderstorm forecasting the study of: tsunami wave inundation, harmful algal blooms, sediment transport and beach erosion, Earth remote sensing, and the Coastal Ocean Observing System (COOS)

Internships and Cooperative Learning: Students with oceanography, ocean engineering, meteorology and environmental science degrees at Florida Tech are able to choose from a variety of hands-on internships. Undergraduates have recently completed internships at: American Airlines Brevard County Natural Resource Management Caribbean Marine Research Center Disney World's The Living Seas Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University Florida Department of Environmental Protection Mote Marine Laboratory National Park Service National Weather Service, Melbourne Forecast Office NASA's Kennedy Space Center NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and meteorological Laboratory Sea World Sierra Club Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce St. John's River Water Management District Army Corps of Engineers

Future Outcomes

Outcomes - Grad School: 20% of graduates with an environmental science degree or any degree from DMES go directly onto graduate school, many of them continuing their studies at Florida Tech. Recent graduates have also been enrolled at: MIT Stockton University of Alaska University of Rhode Island University of North Carolina Cambridge University (UK)

Outcomes - Career and Salary: Graduates with an environmental science degree or any degree from DMES are employed all over the world, in a variety of exciting positions. Most are employed as research scientists and coastal and oceanographic engineers for government and private companies. Employers of DMES alumni include: Rockwell Aviation Northrop Grumman Dynamac Boeing Epcot Center U.S. Environmental Protection Avency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NASA National Science Foundation Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Curriculum

Curriculum program plans shown reflect current degree requirements. Previous academic year requirements can be accessed from the catalog page by choosing the appropriate academic year.

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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

The environmental sciences are those areas of applied science concerned with the relationship between human activities and the supporting environment; they provide the scientific framework for rational environmental decisions.

Environmental sciences offerings at Florida Tech include two programs, both solidly based on coursework in chemistry, mathematics and physics, combined with specialized environmental science courses and courses in either biology or meteorology, as well as the humanities. Technical electives during the junior and senior years allow flexibility to meet individual interests while building a strong foundation in the environmental sciences. Theoretical concepts are reinforced by laboratory programs and multidisciplinary field studies.

The undergraduate environmental science program is designed to provide graduates with opportunities to pursue careers and advanced academic studies in the use, control and preservation of environmental resources and the enhancement of the quality of life. Graduates have a strong background in biological, chemical and physical sciences, coupled with basic and applied environmental science field, laboratory and coursework to help develop solutions to current and future environmental problems. Needs exist throughout the private sector and in local, state and federal agencies for the talents and expertise developed by graduates of this program.

Candidates for a bachelor’s degree in environmental science complete a minimum program of 132 credit hours as outlined below. Elective course options from other programs enable the student to either broaden the scope of coverage of the curriculum or to develop a concentration of courses in some specific area of interest. For example, the curriculum can be designed to emphasize biological, chemical or remote sensing studies. The curriculum was developed to give students the solid, well-rounded background necessary to meet the needs of the numerous career opportunities available to graduates.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 132

*Science (including aviation science), engineering or business courses, subject to the approval of the environmental sciences program chair before registering.

Not all humanities core courses are offered online or every term; check the current schedule of classes for humanities core options.