Environmental Science

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, biological and information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geography (geodesy), and atmospheric science) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment. Today it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.

Related areas of study include environmental studies and environmental engineering. Environmental studies incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. Environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect.

Environmental scientists work on subjects like the understanding of earth processes, evaluating alternative energy systems, pollution control and mitigation, natural resource management, and the effects of global climate change. Environmental issues almost always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space, and time relationships as well as quantitative analysis.

Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by (a) the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems, (b) the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation and (c) the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Events that spurred this development included the publication of Rachel Carson's landmark environmental book Silent Spring along with major environmental issues becoming very public, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland, Ohio, "catching fire" (also in 1969), and helped increase the visibility of environmental issues and create this new field of study.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Matching Environmental Science Colleges

American Public University System

Four or more years; Private for profit; $6,840 average out-state tuition; $6,840 average in-state tuition

Southern New Hampshire University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $15,000 average out-state tuition; $15,000 average in-state tuition

University of South Florida

Four or more years; Public; $15,473 average out-state tuition; $4,559 average in-state tuition

Western Washington University

Four or more years; Public; $24,799 average out-state tuition; $7,572 average in-state tuition

Oregon State University

Four or more years; Public; $29,456 average out-state tuition; $10,065 average in-state tuition

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Four or more years; Public; $17,622 average out-state tuition; $5,742 average in-state tuition

University of California-Davis

Four or more years; Public; $41,196 average out-state tuition; $11,442 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Environmental Science Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

$27,000 Varies See Details
 

Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

award

$27,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Emmy Noether Award

Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

Up to $75,000 March 27, 2024 See Details
 

Emmy Noether Award

Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

award

Up to $75,000

deadline

March 27, 2024
See Details
 

Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2024 See Details
 

Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2024
See Details
 

Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship - University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida (UCF)

$18,000 Varies See Details
 

Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship - University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida (UCF)

award

$18,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

$10,000 Varies See Details
 

EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Russell W. Myers Scholarship

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

$10,000 April 01, 2024 See Details
 

Russell W. Myers Scholarship

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

award

$10,000

deadline

April 01, 2024
See Details
 

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect, Inc.

$10,000 April 07, 2024 See Details
 

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Lime Connect, Inc.

award

$10,000

deadline

April 07, 2024
See Details