Environmental Science Program

Educational Preparation

The Environmental Science Program at Southeast Missouri State University is a science-intensive program that consists of core courses required of every Environmental Science major and an option area in biology, business, chemistry, environmental health, geoprocessing and soils, or policy and communication. The curriculum is designed to provide environmental science majors with fundamental knowledge of the scientific, social, ethical, legal, economic, and medical aspects of environmental issues. The core of courses includes approximately 60 credit hours covering the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics, and English.

Students also select one of the following six option areas with 20-30 additional credit hours:

General Courses of Study

Students in the Environmental Science Program are required to take two Environmental Science seminars. These seminars assist the students in integrating the science courses with application toward environmental issues. In addition to the requirements of the Environmental Science Degree Program, all students at Southeast must complete the required number of credits in each component of the General Education program. Students are assigned a faculty advisor in their area of emphasis; this advisor assists students in developing a personal plan of study that meets their needs, interests, and career goals.

Facilities and Amenities

The diverse academic departments that encompass the Environmental Science Program at Southeast offer a variety of state-of-the-art modern facilities for students in the program. The program is housed in Rhodes Hall of Science on the north end of the campus, with teaching and research facilities in Rhodes Hall, Magill Hall, and Johnson Hall. The Biology, Chemistry, and Geoscience departments offer laboratories with a complete range of basic equipment to undertake undergraduate and graduate research. Students may take advantage of a variety of potential internships and research experiences in environmentally-related areas in cooperation with faculty members and field supervisors. A Geographic Information System (GIS) facility is available in the Geosciences Department, which allows students to study questions at the landscape scale. Outdoor teaching, internships, and research opportunities are available in nearby state parks and conservation areas. The Center of Environmental Analysis provides opportunities for student internships and/ or student research at the state regional and federal levels. Within 10 minutes of the University, the I. R. Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary offers 150 acres of forest and field, and is managed by the Biology department. The University is also affiliated with the Reis Biological Station in the Ozarks, and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where students may take summer courses.

Applicant Information