Environmental Science

Environmental Science at St. Mary’s

Environmental Science is the study of how we affect, and are affected by, our surroundings. Government agencies and private industries employ environmental scientists to examine our air, water and soil, and to establish policies that ensure the environment is safe and resources are used in sustainable ways. 

Today’s environmental problems call for scientists who are educated in more than one discipline, highly trained in technical skills, and aware of the political and social dimensions of environmental problems and how to make decisions with regard to these situations.

• Degree Plans

  All degree plans share a core class requirement of 51 hours with different elective options for each plan. 

  Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science
  Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science with Teacher Certification
  Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

  St. Mary’s also offers minors within the Department of Environmental Science and Sustainability:

  Minor in Environmental Science
  Minor in Energy Science and Technology
  Minor in Energy Science and Policy
  Minor in Geology

• Highlighted Courses

  Students in this program explore Earth and Environmental Science issues from both a scientific and policy perspective. Courses include:

  Advanced Spatial Analysis
  Energy Resources and the Environment
  Environmental Policy and Regulation
  Global Change
  Hydrogeology
  Introduction to Sustainability
  course catalog

What can I do with a degree in Environmental Science?

Environmental scientists explore Earth’s systems of energy and matter to characterize our planet and understand how it responds to different and perhaps changing conditions. By studying the Earth and its resources, we recognize that certain substances and conditions must be monitored on a regular basis to ensure a clean and safe environment. Using this information, environmental scientists help to develop environmental policy to govern the use of technology and more effectively steward the resources of nature.

Environmental Science is a growing field, and one with many career possibilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2028.

Our experienced faculty work closely with our students with the goal of having them ready to graduate in four years. All our faculty have significant industry experience and mentor students in different career opportunities.

Students who complete the program are prepared for many careers, including:

Elementary and secondary school teacher 
Environmental consultant 
Environmental education specialist 
Environmental policy analyst 
GIS analyst 
LEED® Green Associate 
Nature conservation specialist 
Waste management specialist 
Water quality scientist 

Outside the Classroom

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Environmental Science professors at St. Mary’s are engaged not only in their classrooms but also in their related research, including wildlife ecology in rural and urban environments, hydrogeology, geochemistry, geophysics as it relates to water supply, cave science, and environmental impact assessments. Faculty work diligently with students to ensure they receive extensive fieldwork experience before they graduate from the program. 

Internships and Applied Projects

Our faculty also work actively with students to research, identify and apply for summer internships. Most of these internships are paid, and our students have conducted environmental research around the United States and even abroad in places like French Polynesia, Costa Rica, Turkey and Brazil.

Students have gained real-world experience at places and organizations such as: 

Biosphere 2
Bracken Bat Cave Preserve
City of San Antonio
Geological Society of America
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
Edwards Aquifer Authority
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Park Service
National Science Foundation
San Antonio River Authority (SARA)
San Antonio River Foundation
San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS)
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Student Activities and Resources

Environmental Science students at St. Mary’s are engaged in a full range of extracurricular activities, including service in the community; fraternities and sororities; the Environment, Conservation and Outreach (ECO) Club; and Rattler Athletics like soccer, golf and tennis.

The ECO Club provides students with opportunities to participate in a variety of outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, trail maintenance activities at local parks, and clean-up events on campus and in the surrounding community.

With St. Mary’s University’s recent commitment in 2021 as a Laudato Si’  university, Environmental Science students are actively engaging with faculty and administration to develop a seven-year plan for a more environmentally sustainable campus that aligns with Pope Francis’s call for all people of goodwill to care for the Earth, our common home.

Faculty

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