BS in Environmental Science
Melbourne, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 21,173 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Scholarships
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Introduction
What is a BS in Environmental Science?
As an interdisciplinary academic field, environmental science includes the study and application of ecology, physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, geography, oceanography, and natural resource management. Every scientific discipline you can think of has a direct relationship to environmental science because the environment is all around us. Getting an environmental science degree provides a wealth of career opportunities that have global importance.
Students can specialize in coastal engineering, hydrographic engineering, marine vehicles (naval architecture), marine materials, and corrosion and underwater technology.
Whether you want to solve complex environmental problems, advocate for environmental protection, or become the leader of a nature center or school, an environmental science degree from Florida Tech develops a strong background in science with hands-on experience in environmental research and problem-solving.
Why Pursue a BS in Environmental Science at Florida Tech?
Florida Tech is considered one of the top environmental science schools for its curriculum and tight-knit educational community. The learning environment is personalized with small classes where first-year students are encouraged to volunteer in any of the research labs. Qualified students are encouraged to participate in relevant research.
Field trips to local waterways, water treatment facilities, air pollution monitoring sites, environmentally sensitive and protected lands, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Atlantic Ocean are part of our students’ overall experience and what makes Florida Tech one of the top environmental science schools.
Distinguished Faculty, Small Classes — Personalized Attention
Our environmental science professors are well-versed in current developments in their own areas of expertise and environmental issues of concern, conducting research in water, air, and soil environments. The faculty is made up of environmental scientists, oceanographers, ocean engineers, and meteorologists who genuinely care about the success of students. Florida Tech gives students local, regional, and global environmental issues to solve such as offshore oil spills, sea-level rise, and natural resource management.
Living in the Heart of a Diverse Ecosystem
Florida Tech is the perfect place for an Environmental Science degree. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America. In addition, students have access by a short car trip to the Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness designated as a World Heritage Site.
The area has the fifth-largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.
Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.
Build Lasting Professional Relationships through Campus Organizations
Beyond the classroom, environmental science degree majors build leadership and professional experience through exciting internships and participation in academic organizations like Sigma Xi (a scientific research society), the Marine Technology Society, intramural sports, student government, and over 100 other campus-wide student organizations. Summer field projects and faculty-based research also enhance the Florida Tech experience.
The new Florida Tech Environmental Club is a group of students looking to better the campus and surrounding ecosystems by finding new ways to be environmentally friendly. They hold educational events and recycling drives to promote interest in “green” living.
Curriculum
Gain Practical Experience
Many first-year students working toward an environmental science degree build experience by volunteering in faculty research labs, measuring water or soil quality, reviewing permit applications to determine the environmental impacts of new development projects, or studying the impacts of a contaminant on the environment. Working closely with professors in small classes makes classroom study, combined with research projects, a richer experience.
As an environmental science degree student, you’ll refine your practical skills in technical electives and specialized labs, completing a senior research project on a topic of your choosing. As a result, you get practical experience, an enhanced job search portfolio, and a stronger sense of yourself as a scholar—the perfect preparation for graduate school and employment.
Curriculum
Freshman Year
Fall (15 credit hours)
- CHM 1101 General Chemistry 1
- COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric
- ENS 1001 The Whole Earth Course
- FYE 1000 University Experience
- MTH 1001 Calculus 1 or MTH 1010 Honors Calculus 1
Spring (15 credit hours)
- CHM 1102 General Chemistry 2
- COM 1102 Writing About Literature
- MAR 1020 Biological Discovery 2 and MAR 1040 Introduction to Biodiversity and Physiology or BIO 1020 Biological Discovery 2 and BIO 1040 Introduction to Biodiversity and Physiology
- MTH 1002 Calculus 2 or MTH 1020 Honors Calculus 2
Sophomore Year
Fall (17 credit hours)
- CHM 2001 Organic Chemistry 1
- COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication
- OCN 1010 Oceanography
- PHY 1001 Physics 1
- PHY 2091 Physics Laboratory 1
Select the first HUM Core Course:
- HUM 2051 Civilization 1: Ancient Through Medieval
- HUM 2141 World Art History 1: Pre-History to Early Global Awareness
- HUM 2211 British Literature and Culture
- HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1
- HUM 2331 American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era
- HUM 2551 Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Spring (17 credit hours)
- BIO 2010 Microbiology
- CHM 2002 Organic Chemistry 2
- OCN 2407 Meteorology
- PHY 2002 Physics 2
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3*
Junior Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
- CHM 3301 Analytical Chemistry 1
- ENS 3101 Atmospheric Environments
- OCN 3201 Marine and Environmental Chemistry
- OCN 3211 Marine and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select the second HUM Core Course:
- HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern
- HUM 2142 World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial
- HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1 (may not be repeated for credit)
- HUM 2213 British and American Literature 2
- HUM 2332 American History: From Reconstruction to the Present
- HUM 2552 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
Spring (15 credit hours)
- ENS 3105 Atmospheric Pollution Lab
- ENS 3911 Environmental Field Projects Proposal
- ENS 4010 Geographic Information Systems
- MAR 2801 Biometry
- Humanities Elective (HU) 3000-level or higher recommended Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Electives Credit Hours: 3*
Summer (6 credit hours)
Senior Status Required
- ENS 4911 Environmental Field Projects 1 (Q)
- ENS 4912 Environmental Field Projects 2 (Q)
Senior Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
- BUS 4426 Environmental and Resource Economics
- ENS 4800 Limnology
- MAR 3410 General Ecology
- Restricted Electives Credit Hours: 3*
- Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Spring (15 credit hours)
- ENS 4004 Aquatic Environmental Toxicology
- ENS 4600 Radiation and Environmental Protection
- ENS 4701 Environmental Regulation and Impact Assessment
- OCN 4204 Marine and Environmental Pollution
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3*
Total Credits Required: 132
*Science (including aviation science), engineering, or business courses, subject to the approval of the environmental sciences program chair before registering.
Career Opportunities
Career Outlook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions, and job outlook, among other things.
Environmental science is expected to see an increase in demand for qualified candidates by 19% by the end of the decade. More than 16,500 new employees are expected to engage in environmental science careers. They will use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment, identifying problems and finding solutions that minimize threats to the health and well-being of both the environment and, by extension, the Earth’s population. Scientists use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop environmental solutions. From recycling to public health, these individuals spearhead the effort to confront the environmental challenges created by climate change and the proliferation of new technology and processes.