Environmental Science

Environmental science teaches students to address growing concerns about environmental problems in the contemporary world. You'll explore this interdisciplinary field, working to understand the interactions among physical, chemical, biological, and human factors.

Be prepared to do good in the world

It takes a comprehensive understanding of the how the environment functions to think of creative solutions to improve conservation, increase sustainable use and restore natural resources. Concerns of environmental degradation are ever more pressing in the 21st century and have led to a growing demand for specialists in this field as well as programs to train these specialists.

Our flexible program lets students study a broad range of sub-fields. You'll learn how to approach the world's problems from many angles and find green solutions.

First Year

BIOL 113	General Biology	4
BIOL 218	General Biology II-Organismal Diversity in the Environment	4
CHEM 111	Principles of General Chemistry	4
	AND
CHEM 112	Principles of Organic Chemistry	4

Sophomore Year

STAT 118	Introductory Statistics	4
	OR
STAT 227	Intermediate Statistics: Design & Analysis	4
	OR
STAT 229	Regression Models	4
ECON 100	Principles of Microeconomics	4
BIOL 104	Introduction to Environmental Science	4

Junior Year

BIOL 245	Principles of Ecology	4
ENVI 200	Environmental Forum	2
PHIL 139	Environmental Ethics	4

ENVI 200: This course is offered through the Colleges of the Fenway and may be listed as CR-101.

BIOL 245: Please note this course is offered every other year. Take care to plan course sequence accordingly

Senior Year

BIOL 322	Evolutionary Biology	4
BIOL 350	Independent Laboratory Research	4
	OR
BIOL 355	Thesis	4

BIOL 322: Please note this course is offered every other year. Take care to plan course sequence accordingly.

Electives:

In consultation with and with approval of the Environmental Biology concentration advisor, the student selects a total of five electives in addition to the core courses. With approval of the concentration advisor courses not included in this list can be selected as electives if consistent with the student’s subfield concentration.

Two electives courses from the Science list (at least one at the 300-level):

BIOL 107	Plants and Society	4
BIOL 222	Animal Physiology	4
BIOL 221	Microbiology	4
BIOL 333	Marine Biology	4
BIOL 336	Genetics	4
BIOL 340	Plant Biology	4
BIOL 347	Human Development and Genetics	4
CHEM 227	Energy & Global Warming	4
CHEM 242	Mechanistic Toxicology	4
HON 308	Energy & Global Warming	4
	Overview of Surveying Technology (Wentworth) – GIS skills
MATH 120	Calculus I	4
MATH 227	Statistical Design and Analysis	4
NUTR 150	International Nutrition Issues	4
PHYS 110	Introductory Physics I	4
PHYS 111	Introductory Physics II	4

Three elective courses from the Arts and Humanities course list:

ART 245	American Art	4
BUS 224	Social Action Leaders	4
ECON 145	Economics of Sustainability and Resource Use	4
ECON 239	Government Regulation of Industry	4
ECON 247	Environmental Economics	4
HIST 205	Global Environmental History	4
POLS 101	Introduction to American Politics	4
POLS 102	Introduction to International Politics	4
POLS 217	American Public Policy	4
POLS 220	International Organization and Law	4
SOCI 241	Health, Illness & Society	4
SOCI 321	Sociology of Food	4
SOCI 267	Globalization	4

Independent Learning

The independent learning requirement (eight semester hours) is usually met in the senior year in either the biology department through BIOL 350 Independent Laboratory Research, BIOL 355 Thesis or BIOL 370 Internship or in the chemistry department through CHEM 355 Independent Study with Thesis and CHEM 390 Chemistry Seminar.

First Year

BIOL 113	General Biology	4

CHEM 113	General & Quantitative Chemistry I	4
	OR
CHEM 111	Principles of General Chemistry	4
CHEM 216	General & Quantitative Chemistry II	4
MATH 120	Calculus I	4
MATH 121	Calculus II	4

Sophomore Year

CHEM 224	Organic Chemistry I	4
STAT 118	Introductory Statistics	4
PHYS 114	Fundamentals of Physics I	4
PHYS 115	Fundamentals of Physics II	4

Junior Year

BIOL 104	Introduction to Environmental Science	4
	OR
BIOL 245	Principles of Ecology	4

ENVI 201	Environmental Chemistry	4

CHEM 227	Energy & Global Warming	4
	OR
HON 308	Energy & Global Warming	4
	OR
CHEM 331	Thermodynamics & Kinetics	4
ENVI 201	Environmental Chemistry	4

Senior Year

PHIL 139	Environmental Ethics	4
CHEM 390	Chemistry Seminar	1

Electives (8 credits) – choose two:

CHEM 225	Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM 341	Advanced Analytical Chemistry	4
	Mechanistic Toxicology

Independent Learning

You'll work with a faculty advisor to tailor your program to your interests and career goals. The Departments of Chemistry and Biology offer many closely-related programs — such as biochemistry, chemistry management and public health — and Simmons students have many opportunities to further customize with dual majors and complementary minors.

Our students put theory into practice through on-site research, off-site research, and internships.

On-site research: Faculty members mentor students in our own laboratories. You'll work with faculty members whose research piques your interest.

Off-site research: Students also explore clinical, applied, or basic research at one of the many laboratories available in the Simmons neighborhood.

Internships: Supervised learning experiences provide opportunities for career exploration within a context of critical thinking. Boston is at the forefront of green innovation, and your internship will help you develop skills, build your resume, and establish contacts in the field.

So you know that Simmons is a great place to be, you've learned about our programs, maybe even come for a visit...now you're ready to apply! Let's get started.

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Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics Arpita Saha

Simmons Receives Award from NASA to Support Women and Minority STEM Students

This month, NASA awarded $5 million to women's colleges and universities to help increase the retention of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Associate Professor Arpita Saha, who specializes in synthetic chemistry and researches metal-based cancer drugs, was instrumental in crafting a bold, innovative vision to help Simmons obtain this award and address the gender gap in STEM.

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