a joint degree program between the
college of arts and sciences and the school of public and environmental affairs

 

administration

Director: Bruce Douglas (Geological Sciences), 855-0774,douglasb@indiana.edu

Distinguished Professors:
Gary Hieftje (Chemistry), Ronald Hites (Public and Environmental Affairs, Chemistry)

Rudy Professor:
Emilio Moran (Anthropology)

Professors:

Bennet Brabson (Physics), Simon Brassell (Geological Sciences), Keith Clay (Biology), C. Susan Grimmond (Geography), Henk Haitjema (Public and Environmental Affairs), Erle Kauffman (Geological Sciences), Noel Krothe (Geological Sciences), Theodore Miller (Public and Environmental Affairs), Craig Nelson (Biology), David Parkhurst (Public and Environmental Affairs), Mark Person (Malcom and Sylvia Boyce Chair in Geological Sciences), Lisa Pratt (Geological Sciences), J.C. Randolph (Public and Environmental Affairs), Lee Suttner (Robert R. Shrock Professor of Sedimentary Geology, Geological Sciences), Maxine Watson (Biology), Jeffery White (Public and Environmental Affairs)

Associate Professors:

Debera Backhus (Public and Environmental Affairs), Chris Craft (Public and Environmental Affairs), Diane Henshel (Public and Environmental Affairs), Greg Olyphant (Geological Sciences), Flynn Picardal (Public and Environmental Affairs), Sara Pryor (Geography), Scott Robeson (Geography), Hans Peter Schmid (Geography)

Assistant Professors:
James Bever (Biology), Claudia Johnson (Geological Sciences), Vicky J. Meretsky (Public and Environmental Affairs), Heather Reynolds (Biology), Phillip Stevens (Public and Environmental Affairs)

Emeritus:
George Ewing (Chancellor’s Professor, Chemistry), Donald Whitehead (Emeritus, Biology), Daniel Willard (Emeritus, Public and Environmental Affairs)


Introduction - The B.S. in Environmental Science (B.S.E.S.) is a joint degree program between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The B.S.E.S. program is an interdisciplinary degree program that specifically considers the environment as a scientific entity. Students preparing for employment as professionals in environmental science or preparing for graduate study in environmental science or in one of the traditional sciences should consider this degree.
    While it is possible to divide environmental science into numerous sub-disciplines or systems such as the atmosphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere, and the lithosphere, these sub-systems are interdependent components of a single large system. It follows that the problems encountered in the environmental sciences are inherently interdisciplinary; hence a scientist working in this field is required to possess both a breadth of knowledge and a specific set of skills and expertise. The overall organization of the B.S.E.S. degree program reflects this philosophy with a broad core curriculum, a concentration area, and a senior research project providing advanced hands-on experience.
   The B.S.E.S. degree program is intended to instill an appreciation of the integrated nature of the discipline and supply a level of expertise in one area.

Philosophy  - The problems encountered in the environmental sciences are inherently interdisciplinary; hence a scientist working in this field is required to possess both a breadth of knowledge and a specific set of skills and expertise. The BSES degree program is intended to instill an appreciation of the integrated nature of the discipline and supply a level of expertise in one area. It is only through systematic exposure over extended periods of time that this awareness can become second nature. Once this has been accomplished, the environmental scientist will be able to deal with the subtle connections and extremely sensitive feedback between various components they encounter. The overall organization of the BSES degree program reflects this philosophy with a broad core curriculum, a concentration area, and a senior research project providing advanced, hands-on experience.