New environmental science degree approved for S&T

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On November 9, 2021

Dr. Honglan Shi, adjunct professor of chemistry, conducting drinking water quality research. Photo By Sam O’Keefe/Missouri S&T.

A new bachelor’s degree in environmental science will soon be offered at Missouri S&T. The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education recently approved Missouri S&T’s proposal to create the new bachelor of science degree.

The degree, offered through Missouri S&T’s biological sciences department, will draw on S&T’s expertise in biological sciences, civil engineering, economics, environmental engineering, geology and geophysics, geological engineering, and history to help address a projected growth in demand for environmental scientists in Missouri and elsewhere. S&T’s first environmental science students can enroll in the program in the 2022-23 school year.

“We are excited to get this program approved so we can start recruiting students,” says Dr. David Duvernell, chair and professor of biological sciences at Missouri S&T. “The new degree will fit the campus perfectly due to S&T already offering all the courses necessary to put together the environmental sciences program, along with S&T’s other STEM offerings.”

The university’s location near the Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri’s mining district and natural waterways “makes it an ideal location to learn about the unique natural resources and ecosystems of the Show-Me State,” says Duvernell. He also says that the degree will fit the university’s unique and long-standing connections to the environmental science industry.

“A main strength of the program will be that, beyond a core of cross-disciplinary courses, there will be flexibility for students to include advanced elective courses in various disciplines,” says Duvernell. “For example, if students are interested in water resources, they can explore additional coursework in geology and aquatic ecology. If students are interested in environmental microbiology, then they can focus on advanced course work offered in biology and environmental engineering.”

For more information about Missouri S&T’s degree programs, visit futurestudents.mst.edu.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,200 students and is part of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 different degree programs in 40 areas of study and is ranked by CollegeFactual as the best public university to study engineering. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.

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One thought on “New environmental science degree approved for S&T”

  • David G. Sizemore says:

    Congratulations. I would love to see the complete curriculum as it sounds so very interdisciplinary with multiple career opportunities including double majors.
    Great to have a unique program that will benefit greatly to Midwest.