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BS in Environmental Science

Solving the world's most pressing environmental problems requires understanding the scientific aspects of sustainability. Our program in environmental science prepares students to develop innovative solutions to challenges such as climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss. 

environmental science student working in a lab

Students learn about the scientific underpinnings of problems in environmental sustainability. 

Program Highlights

  • You'll be immersed in a solid interdisciplinary curriculum rooted in laboratory and field research and informed by the humanities and social sciences.
  • You'll have the latitude to choose science electives that suit your particular needs.
  • You'll choose research projects based on your specific interests.

What You'll Learn

  • Coursework that includes both a heavy dose of basic science requirements and interdisciplinary programming to create a well-rounded environmental science major.
  • Courses spanning a variety of disciplines pertinent to understanding the context in which environmental challenges reside.
  • Students have the option of completing a four-year program to earn a BS in Environmental Science, or opting for one of our five year dual degree programs and additionally earn a Master of Business Administration; Master of Public Policy; or Master of Public Health.

Careers

This program provides a foundation for careers in

  • Environment-related businesses
  • Organizations working in environmental fields.
  • Certification as a registered environmental professional

Curriculum

Environmental Science students complete coursework that includes both a heavy dose of basic science requirements and courses spanning a variety of disciplines pertinent to understanding the context in which environmental challenges reside.

Core Curriculum

The BS in Environmental Science has the following requirements:   

  • ENVS 137 Foundations of Environmental Science I 
  • BIOL 101 General Biology I 
  • BIOL 111 General Biology I Lab 
  • CHEM 101 General Chemistry 
  • CHEM 111 General Chemistry Lab 
  • BIOL 102 General Biology II 
  • BIOL 112 General Biology II Lab 
  • CHEM 102 General Chemistry 
  • CHEM 112 General Chemistry II Lab 
  • ENVS 200 Environmental Careers and Professional Skills 
  • ENVS 203 Environmental Statistics 
  • ENVS 274 Chemistry of the Environment 
  • ENVS 275 Chemistry of the Environment Lab 
  • ENVS 280 Principles of Ecology 
  • ENVS 286 Principles of Ecology Lab  
  • PLSC 392 Environmental Politics 

Justice and Ethics Choice

Choose one:  

  • ENVS 284 Environmental Justice  
  • PHIL 287 Environmental Ethics  
  • THEO 204 Religious Ethics and the Ecological Crisis 

Economics Choice

Choose one:  

  • ENVS 335 Ecological Economics 
  • ECON 328 Environmental Economics 

Engaged Learning Choice

Choose one: 

  • ENVS 226 Science & Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems  
  • ENVS 227r Ecology of the Mediterranean Sea  
  • ENVS 267 Bird Conservation and Ecology  
  • ENVS 273 Energy & the Environment  
  • ENVS 281v Humans and the Environment in Contemporary Vietnam  
  • ENVS 283 Environmental Sustainability  
  • ENVS 340 Natural History of Belize  
  • ENVS 345 Conservation & Sustainability in Neotropical Ecosystems  
  • ENVS 350a STEP: Water  
  • ENVS 350b STEP: Biogas  
  • ENVS 350c STEP: Climate Action  
  • ENVS 350f STEP: Food Systems  
  • ENVS 391 Independent Environmental Research  
  • ENVS 395 Environmental Internship

Capstone Choice

Choose one:  

  • ENVS 390 Integrative Environmental Seminar 
  • ENVS 391C Independent Environmental Capstone Research
  • ENVS 395C Environmental Capstone Internship

Electives

The BA in Environmental Policy has electives (18 credit hours) in the following categories:

Society, Ethics, and Justice

Choose one:

  • ENVS 204 Gender, Health & Environment 
  • ENVS 260W Environmental Journalism (COMM 260W) 
  • ENVS 279W Climate and History (HIST 279E) 
  • ENVS 284 Environmental Justice 
  • ENVS 297W N American Environmental History (HIST 297E) 
  • ENVS 298 Special Topics (with SES approval) 
  • ENVS 338 Climate Change and Human Health 
  • ENVS 350a STEP  Water 
  • ENVS 350b STEP  Biogas 
  • ENVS 350c STEP  Climate Action 
  • ENVS 350f STEP  Food Systems 
  • ENVS 383 Human Dimensions in Conservation 
  • ENVS 391 Independent Environmental Research 
  • ENVS 395 Environmental Internship 
  • ENVS 398 Special Topics (with SES approval) 
  • ENVS 399 Directed Readings 
  • COMM 101 Public Speaking & Critical Thinking 
  • COMM 277 Organizational Communication                         
  • COMM 306 Environmental Advocacy 
  • COMM 322 Guerilla Media 
  • ENGL 288 Nature in Literature 
  • PHIL 287 Environmental Ethics        
  • PSYC 277 Environmental Psychology 
  • SOCL 226 Science, Technology, and Society            
  • SOCL 252 Global Inequities 
  • SOCL 272 Environmental Sociology 
  • SOCL 276 Sociology/ Politics of Food 
  • SOCL 278 Global Health                    
  • THEO 204 Religious Ethics and the Ecological Crisis 
  • THEO 344 Theology and Ecology

 

Policy, Economics, and Resource Management

Choose one:  

  • ENVS 298 Special Topics (with SES approval) 
  • ENVS 310 Introduction to Environmental Law & Policy 
  • ENVS 311 Natural Resources and Land Use Law & Policy 
  • ENVS 312 Water Law & Policy 
  • ENVS 313 Energy Law & Policy 
  • ENVS 327 Food Systems Analysis 
  • ENVS 332 Industrial Ecology 
  • ENVS 333 Circular Economy 
  • ENVS 335 Ecological Economics 
  • ENVS 336 Biomimicry Design Inspired by Nature 
  • ENVS 338 Climate Change and Human Health 
  • ENVS 351 Introduction to Sustainability Concepts & Impacts 
  • ENVS 363 Sustainable Business Management 
  • ENVS 364 Sustainability Management in the Global Context 
  • ENVS 383 Human Dimensions in Conservation 
  • ENVS 384 Conservation Economics 
  • ENVS 389 Ecological Risk Assessment 
  • ENVS 391 Independent Environmental Research 
  • ENVS 395 Independent Environmental Internship 
  • ENVS 398 Special Topics (with SES approval) 
  • ENVS 399 Directed Readings 
  • ECON 328 Environmental Economics 
  • GLST 305 Globalization and Environmental Sustainability 
  • MGMT 201 Intro to Business Management 
  • PLSC 354 Global Environmental Politics 

Environmental Science Electives

Choose five, at least three of which must be at the 300 level:  

ENVS 204 Gender, Health and Environment 
ENVS 207 Plants & Civilization        
ENVS 218 Biodiversity & Biogeography 
ENVS 223 Soil Ecology 
ENVS 224 Climate & Climate Change 
ENVS 226 Science & Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems        
ENVS 227r Ecology of the Mediterranean 
ENVS 267 Bird Conservation & Ecology 
ENVS 273 Energy & the Environment           
ENVS 278 Hydrology             
ENVS 281v Humans and the Environ. of Contemporary Vietnam    
ENVS 283 Environmental Sustainability 
ENVS 298 Special Topics (with SES approval) 
ENVS 301 Environmental Health       
ENVS 302 Principles of Public Health 
ENVS 303 Introduction to Epidemiology 
ENVS 319 Winter Ecology 
ENVS 320 Conservation Biology 
ENVS 322 Invasive Species    
ENVS 325 Sustainable Agriculture 
ENVS 326 Agroecosystems    
ENVS 327 Food Systems Analysis 
ENVS 330 Restoration Ecology 
ENVS 338 Climate Change and Human Health         
ENVS 340 Natural History of Belize 
ENVS 345 Conservation & Sustainability in Neotropical Ecosystems          
ENVS 350a STEP: Water 
ENVS 350b STEP: Biogas     
ENVS 350c STEP: Climate Action    
ENVS 350f STEP: Food Systems 
ENVS 369 Field Ornithology 
ENVS 380 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems            
ENVS 381 Advanced GIS Applications 
ENVS 382 Remote Sensing 
ENVS 383 Human Dimensions of Conservation 
ENVS 385 Introduction to Global Health       
ENVS 387 Principles of Ecotoxicology 
ENVS 388 Applied Environmental Statistics 
ENVS 389 Ecological Risk Assessment 
ENVS 391 Independent Environmental Research 
ENVS 395 Environmental Internship 
ENVS 398 Special Topics (with SES approval) 
ENVS 399 Directed Readings 
ANTH 104 The Human Ecological Footprint 
ANTH 303 People & Conservation    
BIOL, CHEMPHYS 300-level courses (with SES approval) 

Admission

To apply for admission and scholarship consideration, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admission and indicate your interest in this program on your application. For more information, see the following resources:

Tuition and Financial Aid

The School of Environmental Sustainability strives to help students secure the necessary financial resources to make their graduate education at Loyola more affordable. Partial scholarships, limited external research grants, and work opportunities are offered to SES graduate students. Students are encouraged to seek external funding. Students who wish to be considered for internal partial tuition scholarships must complete applications by March 1. Scholarship decisions will be based on the student’s full file, including statements of research/interest, GPA, and letters of recommendation.

Solving the world's most pressing environmental problems requires understanding the scientific aspects of sustainability. Our program in environmental science prepares students to develop innovative solutions to challenges such as climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss. 

Curriculum

Environmental Science students complete coursework that includes both a heavy dose of basic science requirements and courses spanning a variety of disciplines pertinent to understanding the context in which environmental challenges reside.

Admission

To apply for admission and scholarship consideration, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admission and indicate your interest in this program on your application. For more information, see the following resources:

Tuition and Financial Aid

The School of Environmental Sustainability strives to help students secure the necessary financial resources to make their graduate education at Loyola more affordable. Partial scholarships, limited external research grants, and work opportunities are offered to SES graduate students. Students are encouraged to seek external funding. Students who wish to be considered for internal partial tuition scholarships must complete applications by March 1. Scholarship decisions will be based on the student’s full file, including statements of research/interest, GPA, and letters of recommendation.