Environmental Sciences

The Ferguson College of Agriculture offers an undergraduate major in Environmental Sciences. This interdisciplinary program provides a comprehensive and quality education that prepares students to analyze complex environmental challenges and formulate sustainable, science-based solutions.

As an interdisciplinary, science-oriented major, Environmental Sciences include courses in biology, chemistry, math, physics, statistics, and social sciences. Students may choose one of three areas of emphasis (options):Environmental Policy, Natural Resources, or Water Resources. Depending on the option, upper-division coursework will require interdisciplinary problem-solving in water and soil quality, economic and social policy, political science, resource management, restoration and/or invasive species. Students will also be exposed to general educational subjects, including communications, philosophy, ethics, and sociology.

A primary goal is to enable graduates to solve environmental problems based on scientific principles and in accordance with society's needs.

The environmental sciences undergraduate major is directly supported by faculty from multiple departments in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, including Agricultural Economics (AGEC), Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership (AECL), Animal and Food Sciences (AFS), Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE), Entomology and Plant Pathology (EPP), Horticulture and Landscape Architecture (HLA), Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM), and Plant and Soil Sciences (PASS). Students in Environmental Sciences also benefit from working in classroom, field, and laboratory settings with faculty who are conducting cutting-edge research related to environmental problems. Undergraduate student research is supported through a variety of programs, including the Freshman Research Scholars Program, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station and Ferguson College of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Honors Thesis Projects, Niblack and Wentz Research Scholars Programs, Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program, Goldwater, and Udall Scholars.

Graduates from the program are well-prepared for working in areas such as land-use planning, environmental management, natural resources management, waste disposal, water and soil quality, environmental restoration, environmental remediation, and policy analysis.

Our graduates work with federal, state, or local government agencies involved in resource management and policy development. Graduates also find employment with consulting firms that are involved with solving environmental problems. Many graduates go on to graduate school or pursue a professional degree in law or medicine.