Environmental Science And Sustainability Pdf
Doménica Spielmann
The B.S. in Environmental Science and Sustainability (ESS) connects science and practice, so you graduate with the knowledge and skills to solve complex environmental problems and advance sustainability. As an ESS student, you can specialize in ecosystem science and restoration, environmental policy and planning, climate science and environmental change, sustainable livelihoods and communities, water resources, or use the highly flexible resource conservation option to design your own emphasis. ESS provides an innovative, interdisciplinary education focused on environmental science and a range of problem-solving skills designed to prepare students for careers in this growing field. ESS students work with leading scientists and utilize the amazing outdoor classroom of Western Montana whenever possible.
To earn a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, students must complete UM's general degree requirements and also choose and complete the required courses for one of the six concentrations within the major.
The University of Montana requires a total of 120 credits to earn a degree. Thirty-nine credits must be upper-division (300-level or higher). The college also requires that students complete at least 400 hours of approved work experience prior to graduating.
Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Program. Students connect their classroom learning to real-world solutions through field labs and courses, internships, study abroad programs, capstone projects, and undergraduate research.
Field trips and field courses take advantage of the incredible outdoor classroom of Western Montana, traversing both wilderness and working landscapes to learn about ecology, restoration, community conservation, and sustainability solutions. In the fields, students actively participate in environmental science while learning about the practices needed to sustainably manage these systems.
ESS students also connect their coursework to real world projects through internships, undergraduate research, capstone projects, and study abroad. These experiences help students build field and research skills, solve environmental problems, improve their ability to work in teams, and prepare for employment or graduate school.
Environmental Science and Sustainability students can apply for the Franke Sustainability Fellowships, which provide support for students to do extended fieldwork abroad. There are also a number of grants for students pursuing independent research projects.
University of Montana student Elani Borhegyi is the latest in a long line of Grizzlies to win a Udall Scholarship, considered one of the top recognitions awarded to students in fields related to Native American nations or the environment.
A degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability (ESS) prepares students for a wide range of jobs in environment and sustainability, a growing field with a diversity of exciting career pathways. ESS graduates have the knowledge and skills to tackle the complex environmental challenges and to advance sustainability solutions through work for non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies. Depending on their concentration within the major, ESS graduates are ready to work as ecologists, environmental educators, hydrologists, soil scientists, environmental consultants, community organizers, water planners, policy analysts, natural resource planners, sustainability coordinators, range technicians, naturalists, and environmental analysts. ESS graduates also pursue graduate degrees and attend law school. ESS students can take coursework to qualify for federal civil service jobs, making them competitive for positions with federal agencies including the Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Jobs in ESS fields pay $60,000-85,000/year on average. Keep in mind that there are a wide range of jobs in this field and salaries vary depending on the specific career pathway. Starting salaries may be lower. Earning potential increases based on experience, performance, and/or graduate studies.
Our Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences is designed to provide students comprehensive and transdisciplinary skills needed to tackle the pressing environmental problems we face. Our core curriculum is grounded in a solid foundation in Earth systems, ecology, sustainable development, and required skills courses in data management and geographic information systems. Students then diverge into one of four concentrations. For students interested in the interface of social and ecological systems and who want to view environmental problem solving through a social science lens, we have a concentration in environment and society. For students interested in the nexus of food, water, and energy, our concentration in sustainable development and planning might be most appropriate. Is the conservation of organisms and their ecosystems the area you are most interested in? Our concentration in conservation, restoration, and management may be the best choice. Lastly, for students interested in understanding environmental problem solving from an Earth systems perspective, courses in our Earth, oceans, and environmental change concentration will satisfy your curiosity. In the final semester, our students build teams that bring the skills developed across the varied concentrations back together to learn from each other and to work with our partners to solve specific environmental challenges presented by our stakeholders. Combined, this degree seeks to prepare students to work across a wide array of disciplines to help solve the environmental challenges of the future.
There are a number of interdisciplinary opportunities involving Environmental and Sustainability Sciences. Due to curricular overlap, combinations of any Environmental and Sustainability Sciences major, including combined majors, cannot occur with majors or minors in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology or Environmental Studies, or with the minor in Geoscience.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
A bachelor's degree in environmental science and sustainability from Michigan Technological University provides you with the tools to create a sustainable future for the environment. Integrate societal needs and perspectives with science-based environmental practices. Gain an understanding of the natural world in our own backyard that may be applied to global issues. Become what tomorrow needs.
Environmental science and sustainability are two closely related fields that focus on understanding, protecting, and preserving the natural environment and its resources. Environmental science seeks to understand the natural world and its processes, while sustainability seeks to ensure that human activities are conducted in a way that maintains the health and viability of the natural world while promoting human well-being over the long term. Together, these fields play a vital role in addressing the environmental challenges facing our planet and working towards a more sustainable future. While they share common goals, they have distinct areas of emphasis and approaches:
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in the environment. It seeks to understand how natural systems function, how human activities impact the environment, and how to mitigate or manage these impacts. Encompassing a wide range of topics, including ecology, geology, chemistry, biology, physics, and sociology, it explores natural ecosystems, pollution, climate change, and conservation including gaining knowledge of environmental processes, identifying environmental issues, and providing data insights to inform environmental policy and management decisions.
Sustainability is a concept and practice that aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves finding ways to balance economic, social, and environmental interests to create a more equitable and enduring society. Sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to address broader aspects of human well-being. It encompasses economic sustainability (ensuring long-term prosperity), social sustainability (equity, justice, and quality of life), and environmental sustainability (protecting natural resources and ecosystems). The goals of sustainability include reducing resource consumption, minimizing environmental degradation, promoting social equity, and fostering economic stability. It involves strategies like sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green building, and responsible consumption.
Students in this program gain a technical foundation in measuring and monitoring environmental factors and the environmental challenges faced by society. Attain the fundamentals of environmental sustainability. Explore social and cultural aspects of the environment and the ways in which society perceives sustainability. Understand the policies and regulations that affect a more sustainable future. Collaborate with leading scientists to address issues in climate change, environmental policy, and sustainable use of natural resources. Get skills to land a summer job in your field, and start building a career after your first year of classes.
Choose an area that you are most passionate about. You will specialize in one of three tracks to gain an interdisciplinary perspective on Climate Science, Environmental Policy, or Geospatial Science.
Complete classes relating to topics such as the science of climate change, wildland fire, and environmental biogeochemistry. Utilize team dynamics and decision making to gain skills for the workplace.
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