As a sustainability studies major or minor at Goshen College, you’ll explore what it means to live responsibly—caring for the Earth and its people now and for generations to come.
Environmental and Marine Science
Major
Why Study Environmental and Marine Science at Goshen College?
Explore Earth’s ecosystems — on land and under the sea — as an environmental and marine science major at Goshen College. From Indiana wetlands to coral reefs in the Florida Keys, you’ll build the knowledge and skills to tackle today’s most pressing environmental challenges.
You’ll study with passionate faculty mentors and gain hands-on experience in two extraordinary outdoor classrooms: the 1,189-acre Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center and the J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in the Florida Keys. Through interdisciplinary coursework in ecology, chemistry, geology and policy, you’ll graduate ready to lead in conservation, research, sustainability and environmental education.
Curriculum and Credits
The environmental and marine science major combines your coursework in biology, chemistry, earth science, and environmental policy with hands-on field experiences.
Career Paths
With a degree in environmental and marine science, you’ll be equipped to work across ecosystems and sectors — on land, at sea, or in policy rooms. Our graduates pursue careers in:
- Conservation and Natural Resource Management
- Marine Biology and Oceanography
- Environmental Education
- Environmental Policy and Advocacy
- Graduate and Professional Schools
You’ll find Goshen alumni working in national parks, marine research labs, government agencies, environmental consulting firms, and education programs, all turning their passion for the planet into meaningful impact.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities
Starting in your first year, you’ll explore ecosystems in person and tackle real-world problems. You’ll learn how to be a scientist in the environment — not just in the classroom — through fieldwork, research and immersive experiences like these:
- Studying coral reef ecosystems at the J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in the Florida Keys
- Conducting field research at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center — banding birds, analyzing soil and water quality, and monitoring habitats
- Interning with local farms, land trusts, conservation agencies and sustainability-focused nonprofits
- Participating in the Maple Scholars Summer Research
- Joining off-campus programs like the Agroecology Summer Intensive for deep dives into areas of interest to you
Scholarships
Environmental and marine science students are eligible for a variety of Goshen College scholarships.
Facilities & Resources
As an Environmental and Marine Science major, you’ll learn in some of the most unique and dynamic natural environments available to undergraduate students:
- Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center: a 1,189-acre natural area with forests, wetlands, prairies, and sustainably designed buildings
- J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station: located in the Florida Keys, this field station offers direct access to coral reefs, mangroves and coastal ecosystems
- Schrock Science Hall: houses state-of-the-art labs for chemistry, earth science and environmental analysis
These facilities give you the tools, spaces and ecosystems to study environmental science where it matters most: out in the field