At its heart, the environmental science major is about our natural world and how human interaction helps or hinders it. In this program, you’ll become a solid environmental professional with practical skills in high-demand areas like big data and geographic information systems (GIS).
Within six months of graduation, nearly 99% of Wheaton’s Class of 2021 found work in their field or continued their education.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports the median salary for an environmental scientist in 2021 was about $75k.
Our Environmental Science students all pursue at least one internship during their time at Wheaton.
You can reach us anytime via admissions@wheaton.edu.
Many students in our program are bonded by a love of the outdoors, a connection only enhanced by unique field experiences like Wheaton in the Black Hills—our multidisciplinary Field Station in South Dakota.
Studying environmental science prepares you for careers in conservation, protection, sustainability, and public health and policy. The discipline draws on a broad understanding of biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to develop holistic solutions to pressing environmental challenges. You’ll explore the many ways humans interact with God’s creation in courses such as:
The goal of the Certificate in Environmental Sustainability is to equip students with the theoretical and technical skills needed to engage in the analysis of sustainability issues and develop practical, implementable solutions to the issues.
The Wheaton College Field Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota provides hands-on field learning experiences and includes trips to explore the ecosystems of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains and National Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Students live and learn in community while seeing their classroom learning come alive in the field.
Our faculty members have a wide range of research interests, including indoor air pollution, tectonics, geochemistry, public health, zoonotic diseases, water resources, and political ecology.
The Meyer Science Center is home to state-of-the-art labs and classrooms. Wheaton College itself is devoted to sustainability and the stewardship of God’s creation; our green operations include obtaining LEED certification for campus facilities.
Beyond campus, our students learn in nearby forest preserves, aquariums, arboretums, parks, and zoos, as well as at our Field Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and around the world. They engage with each other, the earth, and the community through internships, service learning, and campus organizations.
We want our programs to be accessible to all. We have several scholarships and endowed funds that support our programs beyond aid provided in college financial aid packages.
Interdisciplinary learning is a way of life at Wheaton. Aside from your work within your chosen major, you can enrich your educational experience and connect with peers and professors across campus (and beyond) in many ways.
A Wheaton education is built on the foundation of our unique Christ at the Core general education curriculum. Explore the complex systems of God’s creation and the pressing environmental challenges facing it, all under a strong biblical, environmental ethic that guides us to comprehensive stewardship of the environment God entrusted to us.
Learn About Christ at the CoreEnvironmental studies jobs can be found everywhere, from fields and forests to labs and agencies.
Job titles for recent graduates include:
Our alumni earn advanced degrees at schools such as:
Environmental science alumnus Ben Lowe ’07 was awarded the prestigious Harvey Fellowship for his graduate work at the University of Florida.
The Harvey Fellows Program, funded by the Mustard Seed Foundation, "provides scholarships to Christian students who are pursuing graduate studies at premier universities in fields considered to be underrepresented by Christians and who possess a unique vision to impact society through their vocations."
– Ben Lowe ‘07“Wheaton helped connect my interest in God’s creation with my faith, my theology, and my understanding of God’s mission in the world and how we’re called to be a part of it.”
If you’re a current student or want to dig deeper in this area of study, here are some additional resources for you to explore.
Visit Wheaton's Earth & Environmental Science Department website for details about our majors, minors, faculty, learning opportunities, and more.
View the Wheaton College catalog for specific degree requirements and course descriptions.
Interested in studying Environmental Science at Wheaton? Request more information or start your application today.