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Environmental Science

College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment

Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences

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Discover our world!

Studying environmental science at UD, you will learn how natural processes shape the natural environment and how humans impact nature. If you are passionate about the outdoors, the environmental science major can help you find solutions to environmental issues like habitat loss, sustainable development, water quality, biodiversity, climate change, renewable energy, and more. Environmental science takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying the atmosphere, ocean, earth, and ecosystems, which you then develop into a specialty through studying one of the concentrations listed below.

AREAS OF STUDY

Climate and Society
Ecoscience
Energy and Environment
Geoscience
Marine Science
Water Science

CAREER OPTIONS

Environmental Scientist
Watershed Planner
Green Energy Coordinator
Natural Resource Manager
Environmental Compliance Officer
Water Quality Technician
Climate Scientist

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Meteorology and Climatology
Environmental Science
Environmental Policy
Ecology
Natural Resource Management
Marine Science
Geology

What’s special about this program?

The undergraduate research experiences, hands-on learning in the classroom and close collaboration with environmental experts that you will have in the environmental science major will appeal to employers and graduate programs trying to balance the needs of citizens with environmental sustainability and conservation. In addition to rigorous traditional classroom and laboratory studies, you will be able to study in locations as close as White Clay Creek—a wild and scenic river whose tributaries begin on campus—to as far as the polar regions or tropical islands while studying abroad during winter session.

Get Involved

There are many opportunities on campus for students interested in the environment, such as serving as an EnvironMentor, going on extracurricular environmental field trips, and joining registered student organizations like Students for the Environment.

Sample curriculum

Courses are recommendations, but subject to change year-to year. Please refer to the UD Undergraduate Catalog for a more accurate four year plan. Students should also reach out to their academic advisor for recommendations.

FIRST YEAR

FALL	SPRING
ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing	CHEM 103 - General Chemistry and CHEM 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory
ENSC 101 - Introduction to the Environment (FYS)	GEOG 220 - Meteorology
GEOL 107 - Geology of Dynamic Earth	MATH 241 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus A
Foreign Language Requirement (1/2)	Foreign Language Requirement (2/2)
Breadth Requirement (1/6)
Credits: 17	Credits: 15

SECOND YEAR

FALL	SPRING
APEC 150 - Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources or ECON 101 - Introduction to Microeconomics	BISC 207 - Introductory Biology I
BISC 208 - Introductory Biology II or CHEM 104/CHEM 134**	GEOG 412 - Physical Climatology
ENWC 201 - Wildlife Conservation and Ecology	PHYS 201 - Introductory Physics I and PHYS 221 - Introductory Physics Laboratory I or PHYS 207 - Fundamentals of Physics I** and PHYS 227 - Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory I
MATH 242 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus B	Breadth Requirement (3/6) (should satisfy Multicultural Requirement)
Breadth Requirement (2/6)
Credits: 17	Credits: 15

*See program page for approved courses
**Option depends on concentration, see program page for required course

THIRD YEAR

FALL	SPRING
GEOG 372 - Introduction to GIS or APEC 480 - Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resource Management	ENSC 300 - Earth Systems: Science and Policy
MAST 382 - Introduction to Ocean Sciences	POSC 350 - Politics and the Environment
PLSC 204 - Introduction to Soil Science	Concentration Requirement (1/5)*
PLSC 205 - Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory	Field Experience Requirement (DLE)*
Breadth Requirement (4/6)	Breadth Requirement (5/6)
Credits: 17	Credits: 15-16

*See program page for approved courses
**Option depends on concentration, see program page for required course

FOURTH YEAR

FALL	SPRING
Concentration Requirement (2/5)*	ENSC 450 - Proseminar in the Environment (Capstone and Second Writing Requirement)
Concentration Requirement (3/5)*	Concentration Requirement (4/5)*
Breadth Requirement (6/6)	Concentration Requirement (5/5)*
Free Elective (1/4)	Free Elective (3/4)
Free Elective (2/4)	Free Elective (4/4)
Credits: 15-17	Credits: 15
Total Credits: 126