Students working with solar panels in an environmental science lab
Trained to tackle such hot-button issues as our energy future, global warming, environmental and economic sustainability, and global biodiversity conservation, our environmental science graduates are prepared to succeed. Our interdisciplinary program pairs the social and policy focus of our environmental studies major with a rigorous science curriculum to give you both the broad knowledge and the scientific and technical skills necessary to address global environmental problems successfully. By your junior year you'll be required to select a concentration in chemistry, biology, or anthropology to complement the foundation you've built. This combination of critical-thinking skills and hands-on science will prepare you to work effectively with environmental policy makers, educators, and scientists alike.
Real-world experience is a hallmark of the program. Our faculty members have received numerous external grants in the last five years, and they often ask their students to join in their research. Locally our students have produced and analyzed biodiesel fuel from the dining service's used vegetable oil, tracked movement of small mammals using radiotelemetry, developed a forest garden for harvesting medicinal plants, tapped sugar maple trees on campus to produce organically certified maple syrup, collected data for the College's Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and developed techniques to detect sperm abnormalities in fish exposed to toxins. They've also studied plant-insect coevolution in Ecuador, the impact of ecotourism in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and primates in the tropical rainforests of Panama. As one of the country's most ecofriendly cities, Ithaca brims with environmental internship opportunities. Our partnerships with EcoVillage of Ithaca, Sustainable Tompkins, New Roots Charter School, and the History Center in Tompkins County expand your options even further.
Graduates pursue careers in areas such as aquatic toxicology, wildlife conservation, environmental science outreach and education, solar technology, and renewable energy. Whether you're passionate about preserving the world's natural resources or using a scientific approach to solve ecological challenges, an environmental science degree from Ithaca College will set you on the path to making a positive difference.