SIUE Adds Bachelor’s of Environmental Sciences
Edwardsville, Ill. (PRWEB) March 01, 2016 -- The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is introducing a bachelor’s program in environmental sciences to begin fall 2016.
“There is strong demand for environmental scientists as public interest in the hazards facing the environment has grown dramatically,” said Zhi-Qing Lin, PhD and director of the environmental sciences program. “The increasing pressure placed on the environment and natural resources due to population growth is also expected to spur the need for environmental scientists and specialists.”
Students of the new interdisciplinary program may choose a concentration in the areas of environmental health, environmental toxicology and environmental management. Students’ perspectives on environmental issues will be cultivated. The program will provide students with refined knowledge of environmental issues at the local, regional and global levels.
The curriculum will increase students’ technical competence in addressing these environmental issues, their origins, ramifications and resolutions. The program will promote experiential learning, professional education and prepare students for career opportunities in a wide variety of workplaces.
“Students in environmental sciences have various opportunities to conduct research with faculty on diverse, multidisciplinary and cutting-edge research topics in the fields of environmental biology, chemistry, toxicology, technology and environmental policy,” said Bill Retzlaff, PhD and CAS associate dean. “Students are also encouraged to gain professional experience through community service, internships and other hands-on learning opportunities during their undergraduate careers.”
SIUE’s environmental sciences program is one of few in southern Illinois providing students with interdisciplinary and hands-on learning opportunities in the discipline. “Giving undergraduate students the opportunity to work closely with faculty, who are at the top of their field in environmental sciences, sets our program apart and provides the kind of quality academic preparation that today’s students demand,” said Greg Budzban, PhD and dean of CAS.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 11 percent during the decade ending in 2024, which is faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S. The median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists was $66,250 in May 2014.
For further information about the bachelor’s in environmental sciences program at SIUE, please contact the CAS Academic Advising Office 618-650-5525, or Lin at 618-650-2650 or zhlin(at)siue(dot)edu.
Central to SIUE’s exceptional and comprehensive education, the College of Arts and Sciences has 19 departments and 85 areas of study. More than 300 full-time faculty/instructors deliver classes to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty help students explore diverse ideas and experiences, while learning to think and live as fulfilled, productive members of the global community. Study abroad, service-learning, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities better prepare SIUE students not only to succeed in our region's workplaces, but also to become valuable leaders who make important contributions to our communities.
Doug McIlhagga, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, http://www.siue.edu, +1 (314) 402-8655, [email protected]
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