Welcome to the Department of Environmental Sciences!
Environmental science is the integrative study of our natural environment (land, water and air), and how humans affect and are affected by the environment. The interdisciplinary field of environmental science combines natural sciences including chemistry, biology, climatology, geology, and geography, and social sciences, including law, policy, sociology, and economics. We consider topics such as global climate change, pesticide toxicity, human impacts on the landscape, human exposure to pollution, and how laws and policies affect these issues.
The goal of the Environmental Sciences Department is to train SIUE students in the principles, skills, and practices within the field of environmental science. Training in this field integrates the range of professional skills that are needed to study these complex topics. In addition to fundamental principles and theories, students in our department typically develop a combination of practical laboratory and field sampling and analysis experiences, quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills, and the oral and written communication skills necessary to communicate effectively with a wide audience. The Department pursues a common theme of giving students practical and applied experience in the field through faculty-mentored research, theoretical and laboratory training, and extramural studies, such as internships.
