BS in Environmental Science

Environmental Science

On Campus

On Campus

From remediating air, soil and water contamination to mitigating the effects of climate change, deforestation and wetland destruction, environmental scientists play a key role in protecting the planet and improving human health.

Students wade through a river as they collect samples

Explore complex subjects in the environment

The BS in Environmental Science explores how the various biological, physical and information sciences intersect to shape the natural world, while examining the impact of humans on the environment from multiple perspectives, including political, legal, economic, cultural and sociological. You’ll use these lenses to analyze and interpret scientific data, conduct lab and field research, and examine solutions to many prevalent environmental issues.

Experiential learning is a major component of the program. Your environmental studies practicum enables you to participate in environmentally focused projects both right here in Connecticut and across the globe. You also have the option to complete a policy fellowship in Washington, D.C., conduct field research in environmental biology, chemistry, or engineering, or work with local nonprofits or governmental agencies. Additional study abroad opportunities and faculty-led international courses are also available.

Whether your main interest involves sustainability, agricultural production, environmental remediation or another specialty, this major provides the foundation for a range of careers. You may research the effects of climate change on coral reefs, forests and other ecosystems; investigate potential environmental health risks such as soil and water pollution; or work as an environmental consultant for a city, corporation, nonprofit or government agency.

Program Statistics

93% Focused

93% of the world’s 250 largest companies are now reporting on sustainability (United Nations, 2021).

97% Affected

97% of companies have already felt the negative impacts of climate change (Deloitte, 2022).

88% Optimistic

88% of executives agreed that with immediate action, we can limit the worst impacts of climate change (Deloitte, 2022).

Career Paths

Our BS in Environmental Science positions you for a growing number of specialized and in-demand opportunities. Graduates gain valuable skills suited for a wide array of potential careers.

Agricultural Scientist
Ecologist
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Health and Safety Officer
Meteorologist

Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship

The Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship (QUIP-RS) provides vital funding for undergraduate students of any major to collaborate with faculty members and conduct research on their areas of interest. This immersive, multi-disciplinary program takes place over eight weeks during the summer and provides students with a $4,000 stipend and up to $1,000 in research materials to develop their scholarly skills, foster their curiosity and complete their research projects.

In addition to working on their projects, students meet weekly with other QUIP-RS fellows and faculty mentors, sharing their successes and failures and discussing as an interdisciplinary team what it means to be a university scholar.

Donate to the QUIP-RS scholarship fund

Student handling baby birds during a field-study. — Biology student Joseph Battaglia ’21 handles baby swallows during a fieldwork session at Lake Chamberlain in Bethany, Connecticut.

Baby bird being examined during a class field study. — QUIP-RS 2021 featured 15 students who conducted original research in 14 different projects.

Student examining baby birds in a bird house built by their class. — Biology student Arlynn Hernandez ’22 (Q-STEP) retrieves baby swallows during a fieldwork session at Lake Chamberlain in Bethany, Connecticut.

Student handling a baby bird during a field study. — In addition to weekly research meetings students also participate in a variety of activities – including sleeping giant guided hike, sports jamboree day, and rock climbing at Prime Climb in Wallingford.

Students examining a bird house for swallows during a field study. — Biology student Sabrina Escobar ’21 (Q-STEP) retrieves baby swallow eggs during a fieldwork session at Lake Chamberlain in Bethany, Connecticut.

Quinnipiac summer program enables engineering student to test the waters

Luke Desilva receiving a $5,000 grant from the Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship

Luke Desilva ’22 earned a $5,000 grant from the Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship

Luke Desilva, a civil engineering major, worked with Kimberly DiGiovanni, associate teaching professor of civil engineering, and John Greenleaf, associate professor of civil engineering, in testing the water quality and quantity in the nearby Mill River. Using various technologies that he learned about in class, they determined what coliforms lived in the ecosystem.

“The program is beyond anything I expected,” said Desilva. “The students and I gained experiential learning while also participating in activities such as hiking Sleeping Giant, playing volleyball and sharing our research projects.”

Desilva said he hopes that his work will continue through future students.

“The Mill River flows into Long Island Sound,” he said. “My goal is to clean the Mill River and put a rain garden in it. Through my research, I want to show the green infrastructure. Someday, I want to establish a foundation that focuses on collecting water samples, gathering data and studying the results. I also want to mentor a civil engineering student through the QUIP-RS and pick up where I left off. It’s my way of giving back and paying it forward.”

Sustainable Fashion Show

Each year as a part of an Eco-Fashion Design course, students learn to create zero-waste fashion from household materials to design their outfits. Their final products are showcased at the Sustainable Fashion Show on Earth Day, which is fully organized and managed by students.

A line of eco-friendly made dresses — Students modeled dresses fashioned from materials including silk flowers, stenciled coffee filters, handmade tissue paper flowers, shopping bags, newspaper, papier mâché and recycled plastic and fabrics.

A close up of a dress sketch — Of the 150 billion garments produced every year, a third are sold, another third are discounted, and the last third ends up in a landfill.

An eco-friendly dress made of an anatomy textbook pages — 60 percent of new clothes are tossed within a year of purchase.

An eco-friendly dress made of playing cards — This unconventional sewing course does not require the operation of a sewing machine or use of textiles to design garments.

An eco-friendly dress made of recycled materials — Students learn sewing basics, including reading patterns, layout and cutting, taking body measurements, conducting fittings and hand-stitching seams.

An eco-friendly dress made of gift bags — Each student designs and constructs one item of clothing and one accessory item using 100 percent sustainable materials.

A close up of a dress bust made of anatomy textbook pages — Finished projects are showcased at the Sustainable Fashion Show on Earth Day, which is fully organized and managed by students.

Sunrise over the Rocky Top Student Center

Our Approach to Sustainability

We envision a Quinnipiac that is a model for sustainability in southern New England, building its practices and leveraging its campuses to promote a healthy regional ecosystem, and to engage in practices that equip current and future students, faculty and staff to embody sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives, equipping them to thrive in a world increasingly influenced and affected by environmental disruption.

Download our Sustainability Plan

Two people talk at world summit day at the ASI table.

Albert Schweitzer Institute

The Albert Schweitzer Institute conducts programs that link education, ethics and voluntarism for the sake of creating a more peaceful and sustainable world. A dynamic presence at Quinnipiac University, the institute has drawn notable humanitarians both to campus and to its board, and gives students of all majors the chance to engage with local challenges and the broader international community.

Learn how to get involved with ASI

Strategic Directions

As the model for a sustainable University of the Future, Quinnipiac pursues sustainability in three areas: learning, living and leading.

Learning

We envision a world where Quinnipiac students, faculty, staff and alumni are agents of sustainability for the communities they engage and enrich — locally and beyond. To accomplish this, QU promotes a culture where students gain and develop an understanding of environmental sustainability appropriate to their majors. Students learn about complex connections among natural environments, built infrastructure, and social and cultural institutions. Learning occurs within the curriculum and through engagement in co- and extra-curricular activities.

We are currently proceeding on three fronts:

Conducting audits of:
- Our faculty members’ expertise related to sustainability
- Current environmental initiatives
- Campus culture
- Curriculum
Building curricular and co-curricular elements, by:
- Implementing our three new majors
- Developing new courses for the University Curriculum
- Establishing an eco-rep program
Setting targets to:
- Establish an environmental Essential Learning Outcome (ELO)
- Integrate sustainability as a theme throughout all co- and extra-curricular programs and activities

Sunset over the quad and business center

Living

In both physical presence and action, Quinnipiac serves as a responsible steward of its natural resources and supports the long-term environmental sustainability of humanity on Earth. QU community members live and engage in sustainable practices, contributing to the creation of a more resilient and environmentally sustainable campus and community.

We currently work to:

Measure:
- Waste and energy flows
- Water consumption
- Transportation options
- The use of plastic on campus
Implement:
- Recycling education
- Food recovery programs
- Increased access to existing campus and regional transit services
- Water conservation in our landscaping efforts
- Programs promoting mindful conservation practices
Envision:
- Targeted reductions of single-use plastics
- Alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles
- A flagship sustainable facility on campus

A student studies on the rooftop patio on the north haven campus

Leading

The presence of environmental sustainability in all pertinent practices is a central value at Quinnipiac. This value permeates our administrative and operational structures and provides the basis for external communication and internal execution of sustainable practices.

To better lead in sustainability on and off campus, we are:

Hiring an in-house environmental health and safety officer
Researching appropriate institutional memberships
Developing and implementing comprehensive monitoring and reporting systems
Working toward the full establishment of an Office of Sustainability with a Chief Sustainability Officer

Snow blankets the campus surrounding the pond on the Mount Carmel Campus.

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BS Environmental Science

Explore complex subjects in the environment