Departments & Programs
Environmental Science Program
IUPUI
Engineering, Science, and Technology Building, SL 118
723 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5132
Phone: (317) 274-7484; fax: (317) 274-7966
http://www.earthsciences.iupui.edu/bses/
Participating Faculty
- Professors Filippelli, McSwane, Ottensmen, Siegel, Wilson
- Associate Professors Brothers, Dwyer, Jacinthe, Li, Licht, Martin, Ritchie, Wang
- Assistant Professor Johnston
- Senior Lecturer Swope
- Lecturer Nelson
- Adjunct Faculty Babbar-Sebens, Cantwell, Holm, Magoun, Tedesco, Thompson
- Program Director Fillipelli
- Academic Advisor Park
- Concentration Academic Advisors Nelson (Science, Earth Sciences), Ritchie (Public Health), Wilson (Liberal Arts, Geography)
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that investigates the interrelationships in the modern environment of humans and natural phenomena and focuses on important modern concerns, like how our global climate is changing and how that change may affect human activities, how to maintain and improve vital natural resources like drinking water, and how to manage and balance the quality of the environment in the face of improving the quality of life in the United States and abroad.
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary degree within the School of Science that is offered in partnership with the Department of Public Health in the School of Medicine and the School of Liberal Arts.
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
The Bachelor of Science of Environmental Science (B.S.E.S.) degree is awarded by Indiana University. This program prepares students for graduate studies and for a variety of careers with emphasis on investigation of the environment by federal and state agencies, industry, and consulting firms. The program allows flexibility to accommodate the needs and interests of all students.
There are three Environmental Science Concentrations within the Bachelor of Science of Environmental Science Program. Selection of a particular concentration should be made in consultation with the academic and concentration advisors.
Earth and Water Resources Concentration
Understanding interactions between land, soil, and water is critical to ensuring environmental quality. The Earth and Water Resources concentration provides students with a quantitative background in soils, hydrogeology, and biogeochemistry and an understanding of biological interactions, processes affecting soil and water resources, and advanced analytical techniques related to environmental quality assessments. Students can pursue detailed course work in either the Water or Earth options of this concentration and are prepared for continued advanced study or careers in government, industry, and environmental consulting.
Environmental Management Concentration
The Environmental Management concentration prepares students who wish to focus on the management of pollution in the air, land, and water. Students who complete this concentration have the theoretical foundation and applied skills needed to characterize hazards, track the fate and transport of pollutants, identify health and environmental effects of pollutants, and plan and manage programs to control environmental hazards. The required courses in the concentration focus on identification and solving multimedia problems in solid and hazardous waste, water quality and wastewater treatment, and air quality in the outdoors, inside homes, or in industrial workplaces. The options allow students to focus more specifically on the assessment of pollution, policy and planning, or occupational safety and health. Students are prepared for careers in government, industry, and nonprofit agencies.
Environmental Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis Concentration
Spatial information technologies provide important tools for measurement, analysis, and modeling of environmental systems and their dynamic interaction with human impacts. The Environmental Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis concentration builds theoretical background and advanced knowledge in spatial analytical techniques using remote sensing (satellite and airborne sensors), geographic information system (GIS), and global positioning system (GPS) technologies. The concentration emphasizes integration of these technologies and their applications to problems of environmental modeling and analysis.
Research Areas
Faculty and students in the Departments of Earth Sciences (Science), Geography (Liberal Arts), and the Department of Public Health in the School of Medicine are actively engaged in basic and applied research. Specific research areas include geochemistry, hydrology, paleoclimatology, biogeochemical cycles, soils, wetland restoration, water resource analysis, environmental remote sensing, land cover dynamics, urban ecosystems, human health and the environment, environmental and water resources planning, environmental health policy, food science, and indoor air quality.