Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Environmental Science


Dr. J. Henry Barton, Program Coordinator

Thiel’s environmental science program offers students a thorough foundation in the basic natural sciences of chemistry, biology and geology, complemented with a number of courses in the social sciences and humanities that provide a political, economic and ethical context for the analysis of environmental concerns. Specific courses in environmental science provide an applied, in-depth focus on current environmental
problems with an emphasis on practical applications.

Thiel is fortunate to have a number of practicing professionals in the areas of environmental law, land-use planning, hydrogeology and geographic information systems who contribute to the environmental science program as adjunct and full-time faculty. These professionals bring real-world experience to the classroom, and perhaps more importantly, students can begin to identify with and model their future roles as
environmental professionals.

It is important for prospective students to be aware of the unusually large number of required courses for the major. In order to be prepared to work in environmental disciplines, a thoroughly interdisciplinary approach is mandatory. Environmental science cannot be conducted merely from the perspective of the natural sciences or the social sciences. The methods of all of human experience must be used to understand
our environment, to cope with environmental problems, and to plan for future environmental needs.