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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Maintaining a habitable planet Earth is essential for our survival. Alvernia’s Environmental Science program provides students with an interdisciplinary foundation in the natural sciences to understand current environmental challenges and their potential solutions. The curriculum explores terrestrial, aquatic and built environments in the context of a rapidly changing climate and offers students experiential learning opportunities locally and abroad.


Prepared to address challenges threatening the health of Earth’s varied ecosystems, graduates will be qualified for careers in environmental research at academic, private, and government labs and environmental sectors, including risk management, consulting, conservation and restoration. The program’s interdisciplinary nature also benefits students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in environmental science, engineering, policy, or management and sustainability.


Courses are taught in the O’Pake Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility with two floors of laboratory and classroom space, all offering the latest in educational technology.

In This Section
Environmental Science
Earth Day of Service
Program Overview

 

Career Outlook


After earning your Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

  • Traditional laboratory or research setting
  • Environmental restoration planner
  • Environmental coordinator
  • Environmental scientist
  • Environmental chemist
  • Environmental biologist
  • Environmental review officer
  • Environmental technician
  • Environmental protection specialist


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for environmental scientists and specialists are expected to grow by 7 percent between 2023 and 2033. The median annual salary in 2024 was $80,060.
 

Experiential Learning Opportunities


Alvernia's Environmental Science curriculum explores terrestrial, aquatic and built environments in the context of a rapidly changing climate and offers students experiential learning opportunities locally and abroad.

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the  or . To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Opportunities for Majors

Science Association

The object of this club is to afford an opportunity for the students of science to become better acquainted, to secure the intellectual stimulation that arises from professional association, to obtain experiences in preparing and presenting technical material before chemical audiences, to foster a professional spirit among the members, to instill a professional pride in the sciences, and to build an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges facing the modern scientist. Membership of this association is open to students pursuing their study in the area of science and related fields. Contact Rosemarie Chinni (610-568-1492, rosemarie.chinni@alvernia.edu) or Kevin Burns (kevin.burns@alvernia.edu, 610-790-2865) for more information.
 

Pre-Health Club

The Pre-Health Professions Club includes, but is not limited to, Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Physician Assisting, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and Pre-Veterinary students. It provides a setting in which students who are working toward future careers in the health professions can get together, share information, learn more about the health professions in general, and develop friendships with students who share some of their interests. Members of this organization are composed of students pursuing study in several areas of science and related health fields.
 

Environmental Club

The purpose of this student organization is to maintain the temperate deciduous forest, riparian, and freshwater ecosystems about Ïã²Ý´«Ã½ and the community it serves. The organization does this by recruiting new members, educating the public, and holding events that draw attention to the environment. Such events are Eco-Fun Day, trail clean-up days, and hosting public speaker seminars.
 

Beta Kappa Chi

Beta Kappa Chi is the National Science Honor Society composed of chapters which seek to encourage and advance scientific education through original education, the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the stimulation of high scholarship in pure and applied science.
 

Epsilon Gamma Chapter of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society

This is a National Scholastic Honor Society for students, faculty, and alumni of colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition.
 

The Washington Center Experience

Alvernia students have an opportunity to earn college credit by spending a semester or summer in Washington, D.C. where they serve as interns in a congressional office, government agency, major corporation, newspaper or news network, or agencies devoted to legal affairs, international relations, or business and economics. They also may intern with one of several non-profit groups dealing with the environment, women’s issues, the arts, education, science, or labor relations among others. Participants are customarily juniors or seniors who have achieved grade point averages of 2.5 or better and who have the endorsement of the appropriate academic area. In addition to their internship, students select one seminar dealing with the arts and humanities, communication, public policy, the legal system, business, and government. Interested students should see their academic advisor.
 

Accreditation Statement


Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the . MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
 


Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Environmental Service program contact the Admissions Office at 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to program director Jamie Becker at 610-796-8271 or jamie.becker@alvernia.edu. To see a list of Science lecturers, click here.