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Environmental Science

Goshen College Alumni

Here is a sampling of current positions held by environmental science alumni:

Environmental Education Assistant
Organic Farmer
Naturalist
Assistant Editor
Client Advocate
Childbirth Educator
Gardener
Lab Technician
Landscape Designer
Transportation Drainage Engineer
Painter
Voluntary Service Worker
Paralegal
Urban Conservationist
Youth Programs Coordinator
Day Camp Coordinator

What Can I Do with this Major?

Overview

Environmental science studies the interactions between the living world and its environment. It is a mulit-disciplinary field, combining aspects of many disciplines, such as biology, geography, ecological economics, chemistry, environmental history, and sociology.

About the Coursework

Courses in environmental science are designed to provide knowledge in areas of social structures, available natural resources, market forces, biodiversity status, landscape quality, cultural value, habitat and natural resource sustainability, and policy decisions.

Core courses equip all majors to analyze environmental issues from biological, economic and social/political points of view. All of these tools are necessary for addressing questions of human ecology. When students declare the environmental science major, they will, with their academic adviser, choose an area of concentration that reflects their interests and career goals. Concentration options include agroecology, conservation biology, and resource management.

Possible courses include:

General Ecology
Entomology
Genetics
Agroecology
Botany of Seed Plants
Forest Resources
Land Management
Natural Resources Policy Seminar

For a full list of requirements and courses, refer to the course catalog.

A master’s degree program in environmental education is also available at Goshen College.

Possible Career Paths

Graduates in environmental science may work in a wide variety of areas, such as sustainable agriculture, conservation biology, water/air quality analysis, environmental education, recovery of threatened or endangered species, and as consultants for local, regional, or national parties interested in sustainable development.

Potential employers include church and community agencies, local, state and federal government, private advocacy, stewardship and land trust organizations.

The list below provides several career options, but it is not exhaustive. Please note that some positions require additional education.