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Environmental Science Major in Pennsylvania
With a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in environmental science from Messiah University, a top private Christian university in the U.S., you’ll have the unique opportunity to practice science with other Christians who also care about being responsible stewards of creation.
Study Environmental Science at a Christian University
The environmental science curriculum is interdisciplinary, drawing heavily from biology and chemistry. You’ll take courses in environmental techniques and policy, herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians), ornithology (the study of birds), plant taxonomy and systematics, restoration ecology and tropical biology.
Environmental science majors conduct extensive field studies on Messiah's beautiful 375-acre campus with expansive woodlands, wetlands and fields. Off-campus sites include the nearby Appalachian Trail corridor, Michaux State Forest and the Susquehanna River and its tributaries.
As an environmental science major or minor at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Conduct extensive field studies on local woodlands, wetlands, fields, nearby trails and the Susquehanna River.
- Participate in forest and wetland restoration projects on campus.
- Spend a full semester at Quetzal Education Research Center in Costa Rica.
- Gain hands on field experiences in ecological field techniques.
- Participate in travel courses to places including Costa Rica, Panama and others.
- Take courses in herpetology, ornithology, plant taxonomy and systematics and restoration ecology.
- Take summer courses in marine biology, alpine ecology and more through our partnership with the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies.
- Participate in research projects and present your findings at the annual Spring Research Symposium and the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences.
- Be prepared to pursue a graduate degree in wildlife ecology, forestry, plant ecology, herpetology, ornithology, insect ecology and sustainable development.
- Land internships in places like the Nature Conservancy, Education Concerns for Hunger (ECHO), Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the PA Association of Environmental Professionals which has a student chapter on campus.
- Dig into on-campus “green” initiatives such as the Grantham Community Garden, Earthkeepers, the Messiah University Sustainability Committee and others.
As a graduate of the environmental science major, you will be equipped to secure positions in areas such as:
- Stream and landscape restoration
- Conservation biology
- Environmental law
- Wetland delineation
- Wildlife management
- Environmental public policy
- Marine sciences
- Forestry
- Parks and recreation management
- Sustainable agriculture
- Agricultural missions work
For more information on career planning for the environmental science program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s nationally recognized internship program places students in a variety of environmental science internships. A few examples include:
- The Nature Conservancy
- ECHO
- PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- PA Department of Environmental Protection
- Fish and Boat Commission
- National Park Service
- Audubon Society
Programs related to Environmental Science
In the Environmental Science program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Environmental Science:
Environmental Science (B.S.)
Environmental Science Minor
Environmental Science careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Environmental Science program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
Where they work
- Wabash Plastics
- Palm Springs Bureau of Land Management
- Coalition for Christian Outreach
- Department of Agriculture
- Coalition For Christian Outreach/ Church of the Ascension
- Lebanon Valley Conservancy
- Americorps
- A.D. Marble & Company
- Emmaus High School
- Clongen Labs
- Messiah College
- Commonwealth Foundation
- Mississippi Sandhill National Wildlife Refuge
- Family Church
- Alaska Mountain Guides
- Orange Supervisory Union
- Creation Care Study Program- South Pacific
What they do
- Injection Molding Machine Operator
- Internship-Revegetation of Desert Program
- Regional Resource-Outdoor Leadership Team
- Lab Assistant (Temporary)
- Campus Ministry Intern
- Administrator
- Environmental Scientist
- High School Teacher
- Research Scientist
- Yellow Breeches Restoration Project
- Research Associate
- US Fish and Wildlife Service Intern
- Mountain Guide
- Substitute Teacher
- Student Life Coordinator
Graduate school
- University of New Hampshire
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Research and hands-on learning
As you prepare for your future career, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of opportunities such as field research, on-site restorations, clubs and internships at well-known places like The Nature Conservancy, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Boat Commission and more. Students are also encouraged to study at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, and participate in a semester abroad at the GoED Mekong program in Thailand and the Creation Care Study Program in Belize or New Zealand.
During your time at Messiah, you not only learn science—you will also “do” science. You won’t just study the theory of science but also practice its application. And by combining this strong foundation of scientific knowledge and methods with a Christian perspective about God’s creation and your place in it, our innovative, hands-on curriculum, field work, internships, restoration projects, research, study abroad and more will prepare you to make a real and lasting difference in the world.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
Environmental Biology students are highly encouraged to participate in our strategic partnership with the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies. Take summer courses at campuses in Michigan and the Puget Sound of Washington State during summers. Courses count for Messiah credit and are listed in the course catalog, including marine biology, marine mammals, alpine ecology, watershed stewardship, etc.