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About

Environmental Science

Overview

School of Arts and Sciences / Environmental Science

The outcome of tomorrow is based upon what we do today.

A degree in Environmental Science from La Salle will give students an understanding of Earth’s living and physical environment, how those systems operate, along with the nature and mitigation of human impact on the environment.

Courses in this Major

POL 316 – Environmental Law and Policy
This course examines an introduction to the rise of environmentalism in the United States. Addresses the major environmental statutes from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to the Endangered Species Act, RCRA and Superfund, and also integrates case studies and collaborative learning to evaluate the impact of scientific uncertainty on environmental planning while emphasizing the difficult choices faced in developing environmental policy.

ENV 401 – Fundamentals of Soil Science
An overview of soil science, covering the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. Students will gain an understanding of soil formation, the classification of soils, and the chemical/biological reactions that occur in soils. In the laboratory, students will learn methods of soil analysis, including chemical and mineralogical analyses.

ENV 402 – Environmental Air Quality
This course introduces the causes and effects of air pollutants on humans. The source of pollutants, their physical and chemical behavior in the atmosphere, and strategies to mitigate air pollution will be discussed. Students will also be introduced to systems modeling to understand the flow of sources and sinks of atmospheric pollutants.

BIO 403 – Principles of Ecology
This course addresses the basic concepts of ecology and a broad introduction to overall biosphere functioning. Major topics include energy flows; nutrient cycles; environmental conditions and their importance; plants and animals at the individual, population, and community level; and the overall functioning and development of the major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

ENV 305 – Environmental Chemistry
This course focuses on geochemical processes that occur at or near the surface of the earth which are of particular importance to environmental quality and therefore to humans and ecological systems. Students will explore the foundational concepts required to understand water and soil chemistry. Other topics include the study and use of analytical tools used to determine contamination in sediments, soils and water and the remediation techniques available to cleanup such pollution.

For a full list of our courses, see our course catalog.

Double Majors/Minors

Double majoring or minoring in Environmental Science can help broaden your skill set for environmentally-related careers. It can open doors into careers ranging from Environmental Health to Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Science Communications and Environmental Law.

Adding the Environmental Science minor requires only 6 courses. Students already major in Biology and Chemistry majors have only 3 additional classes to take for the minor due to overlap of courses. A number of overlapping courses may also exist for other double majors, making it easy to add on Environmental Science as a second major.

See our course catalog for the Environmental Science major and minor.

Employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.

— U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Blaze Your Own Path

Careers

An environmental science degree prepares students for successful careers in both expected and surprising fields including:

Environmental consulting
Environmental education
Nature conservation
Sustainability
Waste management
Water quality scientist
Environmental health
Landscape architecture
City planning and urban development
Toxicology

Where are some of our graduates now?

Environmental Specialist, Environmental Protection Agency
Conservation Specialist, National Park Service
Environmental Engineer, UGI Utilities, Inc.
Landfill Operations Manager, Waste Management, Inc.
Chief of Natural Resource Restoration, NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Staff Scientist, Arcadis
Soil Analyst, Joseph Wick Nursery
Graduate Schools in Environmental Health, Wildlife Ecology, Environmental Engineering

Careers

Highlights and Facilities

La Salle’s Environmental Science Department serves qualified students interested in careers in environmental consulting, environmental laboratories, environmental conservation, environmental activism, and environmental education by offering:

Small class sizes, with an average of 22 students, so that our students get the one-on-one attention and support they need to succeed.

Teaching laboratories are equipped with lab and field equipment for analyzing soil, water, and air samples. Students are exposed to using this equipment within their first semester as an Environmental Science major.

Interdisciplinary classes allow students to flexibly choose classes based on their interests, whether they are leaning towards ecology, water quality, or soil science. Our classes include Field Ecology, the Fundamentals of Soil Science, Environmental Air Quality, and Environmental Chemistry.

Undergraduate research opportunities are available to our students early on in Environmental Science. Projects have included examining water pollution at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, conducting biodiversity surveys of wildlife in urban and suburban environments, and analyzing lead contamination in soils around the city of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s urban environment and surrounding regions offer an ideal outdoor classroom for understanding urban environmental problems. Our program takes advantage of these opportunities with field excursions to different sites of interest. These trips have included Pennsylvania’s acid mine drainage sites, Philadelphia’s green buildings like the Philadelphia Friends Center, and different Philadelphia water treatment facilities. Philadelphia also offers internships and volunteer opportunities for our students, ranging from working with the city of Philadelphia on urban planning to the city’s world-class science museums.

The Penllyn Field Station at Wissahickon Creek, owned and operated by La Salle, contains an on-site laboratory for the convenience of conducting student research on and around the Wissahickon Creek. It also acts as an outdoor classroom for a number of our courses.

Greenhouses are available for both teaching and research needs.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geochemist’s Workbench are just a few of the software programs important for environmental work that are taught and used in our program.

STEM Designated Program

This program meets the requirements of what the Department of Homeland Security considers to be a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field of study. International students who graduate from this program may be eligible to apply for a 24-month OPT extension. More Info »

Highlights and Facilities

Research and Internship Opportunities

Ample interdisciplinary research and internship opportunities are available to students. For Environmental Research, students from Biology, Chemistry, and Integrated Science, Business, and Technology (ISBT) have all conducted research on Environmental Science projects, working one-on-one with our faculty. We take advantage of La Salle’s Penllyn Field Station at the Wissahickon Creek and our Greenhouses in a number of our projects.

Research projects have included:

Conducting biodiversity surveys of wildlife in urban and suburban environments
Examining lead contamination in Philadelphia soils
Developing methods to treat wastewater produced from fracking
Analyzing water pollution at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station
Culturing fungi for removing atmospheric CO₂

Our students have also found internships at:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy doing trail and conservation work
Ecoservices Dominicana managing services to improve carbon footprints
EMSL Analytical in a water chemistry lab
Philadelphia Clean Water Action working on community outreach and environmental campaigns
University of Delaware Extension Scholars Program conducting research on integrated pest management

Research and Internship Opportunities

Alice L. Hoersch, Ph.D.

What was it that inspired you to go into environmental science? Actually my degrees are in geology. When I was studying geology, the field of environmental science was not robust. Over the years my interests have morphed to an environmental emphasis. How did your path lead you to La Salle? When I was applying for […]

Alice L. Hoersch, Ph.D.

What was it that inspired you to go into environmental science?

Actually my degrees are in geology. When I was studying geology, the field of environmental science was not robust. Over the years my interests have morphed to an environmental emphasis.

How did your path lead you to La Salle?

When I was applying for positions in my field, I was offered one in industry at a much higher salary; however, I always wanted to teach and La Salle has always been known as a place where teaching comes first.

How do you view your role as a teacher and what do you hope to instill or inspire in your students?

One of the reasons I pursued an academic career was to have the opportunity to mentor students in geology and now in environmental science. My teaching philosophy is to engage students’ minds in the learning process by providing stimulating lectures, activities, lab assignments, field trips and by providing examples of how knowledge can influence the environmental decision-making process. I have worked to develop creative techniques that foster the learning process and lead to students’ development of a desire to learn course material. I encourage classroom participation by encouraging students to get their hands dirty (both figuratively and literally). One of my goals is to train students in the environmental sciences to be critical thinkers and problem solvers in the classroom and in their future work.

If your students could graduate having retained just one lesson, what would you hope it would be?

Never accept statements at face value. Research and critically think about them before committing to any actions.

What is your ideal way to spend free time?

Hanging out with my friends and dogs, playing golf, and reading mysteries and non-fiction

What is the last book that you read?

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

How do you view the role of environmental science in the world today?

Environmental science is critical to society today because it offers a specialized, integrated approach to global issues surrounding sustainability, the use of natural resources, how human activity impacts ecosystems, how such activity can cause degradation, and what can be done to mitigate this impact.

Beyond the Classroom

Studying Abroad

Travel and learn around the world

Studying Abroad

Our students take advantage of La Salle’s Study Abroad programs, taking courses around the world in places like Melbourne, Australia and San Jose, Costa Rica. Many also join LaSallian Immersion and Volunteer Experiences that travel to participate environmental development projects, including working to protect wetlands in New Orleans. More information on Education Abroad programs can be found here.

Philadelphia as a Classroom

The education you find outside of a classroom is just as important as the one you find inside

Philadelphia as a Classroom

The education you find outside of a classroom is just as important as the one you find inside. As the fifth-largest city in the U.S. Philadelphia is rich in unique historical and cultural opportunities. Whether you’re searching for the best cheesesteak, catching an Eagles game, or running the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the City of Brotherly Love has it all. Philadelphia is brimming with global corporations, nonprofit organizations, leading media outlets, and professional sports teams. From co-ops to internships to future employers big and small, each is readily accessible to provide you with real-life learning beyond a class on campus. How much of a role Philadelphia play is in your life is entirely up to you, but the options are limitless.

Our students in Environmental Science have taken advantage of Philadelphia in the following ways:

Studying the difference in wildlife biodiversity in urban and suburban environments
Partnering with local environmental outreach organizations and the University of Pennsylvania to examine the environmental injustice of lead contamination in Philadelphia soils
Developing environmental education activities and showcasing them during the Philadelphia Science Festival through the Franklin Institute
Participating in trailwork and clean-up opportunities in the area
Interning at nearby companies as a full-time student, and getting course credit for their internship
Touring the Philadelphia Queen Lane Water Treatment Plant, learning about green architecture at the Friends Center in Center City, and analyzing water quality and biodiversity at our Penllyn Field Station and other parts of the Wissahickon Creek

Service Opportunities

Education and service are the heart of La Salle’s mission

Service Opportunities

Education and service are the heart of La Salle’s mission. As an Environmental Science major, you will be able to dive into a wide range of service opportunities that fall under our Fellowship of Community and University Service (FOCUS) umbrella including outreach programs, advocacy groups, mentoring and tutoring programs, and the service and immersion trips.

Programs include:

Lasallian Immersion and Volunteer Experience (LIVE)
Alliance
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ambassadors
Students for Environmental Action (SEA)
AIDS Outreach
Circle K
Environmental Community of Olney (ECO)
Neighbor to Neighbor
Pheed Philadelphia
REACHE (Special Olympics)
Neighborhood Tutoring
TEAM Lasallians

Our students are also involved in the Biology Club, the Chymian Society, and La Salle’s Greenhouse Initiative, which uses our greenhouses and gardens to teach students and the community about growing plants and caring for our environment.