Environmental Science (B.S.)

Program Overview

The environmental science curriculum provides a strong background for students planning a career in the environmental field. It is the recommended major for students who will enter graduate programs in such fields as ecology, environmental science, environmental law, environmental public policy, regional planning, landscape architecture, conservation biology, & the marine sciences.

It also provides an excellent background for those planning to directly enter the rapidly expanding environmental job market after college. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary curriculum drawing heavily from biology and chemistry with important contributions also from ethics, theology, economics, and mathematics.

The recommended first-year curriculum for the environmental science major is identical to the biology major in order to provide maximum flexibility for students. An important feature included in the environmental science curriculum is the encouraged participation at AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies, located in northern Michigan. Information on the AuSable program is available from the Department Office or your environmental science advisor.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Environmental Science program can:

1. Understand the nature of science, biological molecules, cell structure and function, enzymes, metabolism, and classical and molecular genetics.
2. Understand the diversity of animal life; comparative aspects of development, physiology, morphology; life history, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary biology of animals.
3. Understand the diversity of plants; flowering plant anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and ecology; distribution of major plant communities with global climate patterns; biogeochemical cycles.
4. Understand hereditary mechanisms: linkage, gene interactions and regulation, molecular genetics, mutations, and development.
5. Understand interactions of organisms at the species, community, and ecosystem levels; evidences for modern evolutionary thought in the context of a Christian world view.
6. Understand theoretical structure and philosophical assumptions of environmental science.
7. Understand human impact on above systems and potential responses from a Christian Stewardship world view.
8. Participate in investigative-style laboratory experiences.
9. Learn to work as teams in conducting laboratory and field research.
10. Participate in intentional writing skills development within the major.
11. Application and extension of basic field and laboratory skills.
12. Present research results to an audience (e.g., in-class, on-campus, symposia, off-campus venues).
13. Demonstrate skill in use of software such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and ArcGIS in analysis and reporting of scientific data.
14. Demonstrate proficiency in basic field and laboratory techniques (e.g., microscopy, dissection, wetland delineation, plant identification, and radio telemetry).
15. Demonstrate familiarity with essential laboratory and field safety protocols.
16. Search the biological literature and retrieve papers from journals.
17. Compose technical lab reports in format similar to scientific journals and reports similar in format to government and consulting reports.
18. Demonstrate familiarity with options for employment, voluntary service, and/or graduate education in environmental science.
19. Understand the inter-relatedness of living organisms & humanity’s calling to creation stewardship.
20. Understand various models that relate science and Christian faith.
21. Appreciate historical, philosophical, and ethical aspects of Environmental Sciences.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

Four credits from the following:

Four credits from the following:

Three credits from the following:

Six credits from the following* (6):

Three to four credits from the following:

Three credits from the following:

QuEST Requirements