The environmental science major is the only one at the University that falls under no specific college. The University has revised the Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science for both majors and minors.

According to William Winner, coordinator of the environmental science academic program, the program provides a rigorous, contemporary opportunity for faculty members and students to explore the issues of climate change, sustainability, energy and the environment.

Winner said the University has, for the past 15 years, had a bachelor’s degree and a minor in environmental science.

“The bachelor’s degree wasn’t working very well for several reasons and the primary problem was that the curriculum was not stimulating and was not contemporary,” Winner said.

For the last several years a large number of faculty members and administrators of the University have been planning to retool the bachelor’s degree in environmental science, according to Winner.

“We just finished last fall so all we are doing now is creating the environmental science academic program. All the colleges in that residence with that specific college or department will own the environmental science academic program,” Winner said.

Winner said before the revised program, there were five departments and three colleges for the environmental science program which had seven specific concentrations.

“It was so fractured and disconnected it wasn’t an integrated, systematic, cohesive program,” Winner said. “Now all of the colleges all really have strong interest, strong programs and numbers of faulty and students interested in the themes building around environmental science.”

Erin Champion, the environmental science and natural resources assistant coordinator, said the environmental science program is a more specific study of degree.

“Everyone will be in one major that before was all broken up into different concentrations,” Champion said.

Champion said the students who were in environmental science did not really connect with other students in different concentrations in environmental science.

“Now that everyone is all under one major, they all have one home and it’s easier for them to form those kind of connections and see that we’re here,” Champion said. “Now there is a place where students can go.”

Winner said all the colleges are involved, except the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 

“This is a special opportunity to give students internships to have the flexibility in their focal area, give them 15 credits in climate changing, sustainability and exposure to all sciences,” Winner said.

According to Winner, some of the elements of the environmental science academic program include: an office with advising support, the environmental science faculty, an environmental science advisory committee, the Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science and the environmental science minor.

 ”We want environmental science majors to exploit the existing minors on campus, wherever that may be to build their own interest and connect to other disciplines,” Winner said. 

Key attractions for environmental science students are flexibility and the ability to build their own program, Winner said.

 ”Students now have the opportunity to explore the University and develop their own personal interest in environmental science while getting an education,” Winner said.

Winner said the program is rigorous and flexible. It is designed to give students a defined area of study and to help them find a job in any field or in graduate school.

“Looking across landscapes, looking at the environment, the environmental science program we created is a belt for all of them,” Winner said. “It is reflecting our culture. It is the most innovative environmental program you can find at any university.”