Environmental Sciences Bachelor's Degree Overview
The University of Toledo in Ohio is one of the region’s first universities to offer an environmental sciences bachelor’s degree. The program is designed for students who want to solve environmental problems through science and data.
The Toledo area is a perfect place to study the environment. Its diverse ecosystems — wetlands, savannahs, woodlands — combined with its location near Lake Erie and a large human population make for an ideal natural laboratory.
Students study everything from air, water and soil pollution to climate change and animal, plant and ecosystem preservation. UT undergraduates work in the field to gain scientific skills. They also are required to take social science, humanities and other liberal arts courses to bring a human dimension to their science degrees.
Environmental Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Concentrations
UToledo undergraduates choose a concentration in:
| Biology | Public health |
| Ecology | Physics |
| Geology | Mathematics |
| Chemistry | Astronomy |
Environmental Sciences Bachelor's Degree Highlights
- Innovative programming. New programs and resources include:
- Minors in sustainability and renewable energy.
- A concentration in public health.
- The addition of drones to an already-robust fleet of boats, trucks and vans for field research.
- An active-learning courtyard with sun, shade, rain and rock gardens. It was designed and constructed by environmental sciences students.
- Experiential learning through:
- Collaboration with faculty on projects and research. Students have worked on urban gardens, controlling invasive species, habitat remediation and more.
- Field studies in the Toledo area. Toledo has unique, diverse, natural habitats and landforms, as well as agricultural, urban and natural ecosystems that make it a rich laboratory for environmental sciences majors.
- Field experiences throughout the United States, Canada, Trinidad, the Bahamas and Costa Rica.
- Teaching and research in plant ecology and physiology in our on-campus greenhouse and our nearby, 47-acre arboretum.
- A required, 100-hour internship.
- The Lake Erie Center. UT is just 15 miles from western Lake Erie, a rich, unconventional laboratory for environmental research. This state-of-the-art research facility offers UToledo students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn and study. The facility has classrooms, research vessels specially equipped for work right on the lake and labs with the latest technology. UToledo faculty and students study harmful algal blooms, water quality and more.
- A well-rounded environmental education. Jobs in the environmental field are growing faster than the national average. Employers look for candidates with broad understanding of the environment and what affects it. At UT, students study science but also are required to take liberal arts courses and classes in environmental economics, geography, political science and philosophy.
- Expert faculty who:
- Edit international, scientific journals and bring the latest science discoveries to the classroom and lab.
- Receive $2 to $3 million annually in grants to support graduate and undergraduate research.
- Co-author more than 70 publications with student researchers each year.
- Study abroad. The University of Toledo environmental sciences program has an exchange program with the University of Salford and the University of Hertfordshire in England. Hertfordshire is one of just 12 environmental science programs in the United Kingdom to receive an “excellent” rating by its accrediting agency.
- Outstanding labs and facilities. Students study on campus and off campus at:
- The Lake Erie Center
- Stranahan Arboretum
- The Plant Science Research Center
- Greenhouses, wet and dry labs, and more
- Oak Openings region, just west of Toledo
Career Opportunities
A bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from The University of Toledo will give you the scientific, critical thinking and communication skills you need for a successful career. Jobs in the field are growing faster than the national average.
Who Employs Environmental Sciences Graduates?
- Federal and state regulatory agencies
- Wildlife ranges and zoological parks
- Environmental consulting firms
- State, county and city parks
- State natural resource agencies
- Universities and secondary schools
- Nonprofit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Our Alumni
"I learned in the Department of Environmental Sciences that the faculty members are very willing to help students pursue their goals. All it takes is a little initiative on the students’ part! If you find a professor that does research in an area that interests you, just talk to them about it and, before you know it, you have your own research project. Overall I would have to say that my experiences in DES and UT were some of the greatest I’ve had and would do it all again in a heartbeat."
James Moriarty
BS '14
Environmental Sciences Bachelor's Degree Curriculum
UToledo’s environmental sciences degree program takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach. The curriculum combines science with social science and humanities courses. Students also are required to choose an area of concentration to develop a deeper understanding of a specialized scientific field.
Environmental Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Sample Courses
- Biodiversity
- Oceanography
- Environmental Policy
- Natural Resources Economics
View Curriculum
Internship Opportunities for Environmental Sciences Bachelor's Degree
Each environmental sciences undergraduate student is required to complete a 100-hour internship. Students earn credit while working on environment-related projects with a UToledo lab, government agency, nonprofit organization, private corporation or other approved sponsor.
Research Opportunities
Opportunities for students
Environmental Sciences Bachelor's Degree
4-year programProgram Availability
Program Quick Links
View Admission RequirementsDepartment of Environmental Sciences
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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