All Environmental Studies/Sciences

Environmental science combines physical and life sciences in order to study the natural environment, the organisms that populate it, and the various relationships and processes that take place between them. These organisms include human beings: a major subfield of environmental science is the effects of resource extraction, pollution, and infrastructure development.​Researching and understanding these topics requires knowledge of a wide variety of subjects: physical chemistry, biochemistry, ecology, statistics, research methods, and so on. In addition, most bachelor’s degree courses in Europe and the U.S. allow students to specialize in some area, perhaps hydroclimatology, atmospheric chemistry, or urban ecology, before graduating.​This is a very hands-on degree (and, for that matter, career) with significant lab time and fieldwork, often involving travel to significant ecosystems. Work placements and internships to gain experience and get to know people in the field are also common.​Once graduated, students are expected to be able to plan research projects based on the scientific method, utilize a variety of scientific techniques to gather data, and propose practical, cost-effective solutions to real-world problems. This means that environmental science students should have not only an interest in preserving ecologies, but also be self-motivated, organized, and open-minded.