Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Study the interactions between society and Earth with the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in Temple’s College of Science and Technology. Students who earn the 123-credit-hour degree are prepared for further academic study at advanced levels or employment opportunities with government and public service, nonprofit, or private sector organizations with a focus on issues of

  • environmental monitoring,
  • land use change,
  • natural resource conservation,
  • water resources and
  • water quality analysis.

The Environmental Science BS is a four-year program in which you’ll acquire a well-rounded background in the sciences. Designed to build a broad view of environmental issues and factors, the curriculum incorporates biology, chemistry, economics, geography, geology and mathematics courses. In addition to the Environmental Science degree, students can earn the Environmental Professional Training Certificate by completing a 12-credit-hour program.

The program combines biological, information and physical sciences to the study of the environment, and how environmental problems may be solved with these varied scientific disciplines. Environmental scientists use a combination of field and laboratory research to understand the biological, chemical and physical processes that underlie the interplay between society and the planet. To mirror the real-life practices of environmental scientists, you’ll research current environmental issues and their potential remedies for your senior capstone project.

Environmental Science student examining foliage through a microscope

Classes & Curriculum

In this undergraduate program, courses will include 

  • Hydrology,
  • Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences,
  • Physical Geology, and
  • Principles of Ecology.

Learn more about Environmental Science BS courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Concentrations

Choose one of the following concentrations.

  • Applied Ecology

    Study the human impact on the natural environment and explore relationships between living things and their environment. Gain an understanding of specific environmental problems and field methods through interdisciplinary coursework in economics, geography, mathematics and the sciences.

  • Climate

    Learn the essential attributes of infrastructure, resilient environments and sustainable resource management. Understand the science and gain the skills to assess our changing climate and opportunities to mitigate its impact on human societies and environmental systems.

  • Environmental Geochemistry

    Develop an understanding of the fundamental principles that control the composition and reactions of water and materials in the environment. Learn and practice methods for collection and interpretation of geochemical datasets, and how to integrate such datasets into broader pictures of environmental change.

  • Hydrology

    Explore coursework in biology, chemistry, geosciences and hydrology to develop the skills needed for environmental monitoring approaches to tackling environmental problems. Graduates are prepared for careers in environmental consulting, government agencies and water resources research.

Environmental Science Major / Master of Education

You can also earn an Environmental Science Major from the College of Science and Technology and a Middle Grades Education MEd from the College of Education and Human Development. Qualified students can earn a master’s degree in five years, instead of taking the usual six. Learn more about pursuing this accelerated degree.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Science offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $23,112.00 per year
Out-of-state: $38,160.00 per year

ST-ENVS-BS

Additional Program Information