Majors, minors & more
Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
- Offered as:
- Major
- Graduate program
Overview
Environmental and ecosystem sciences focuses on the interactions of physical, chemical, and biological conditions of natural and human-modified environments, with the goal of solving growing environmental challenges.
The environmental and ecosystem sciences major at WSU features a broad interdisciplinary science and social science core coupled with a flexible advanced curriculum. This flexibility allows students to choose in-depth studies in an area of interest, and add a minor in virtually any subject. It also delivers hands-on research and management experience that prepare you for graduate school and management careers.
- Strengths of the program
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- Become inspired to make a difference in the real world in a program that prepares you to address the challenges of global change, environmental and resource conservation, and sustainability
- Benefit from a flexible interdisciplinary science curriculum that gives you the freedom to focus on what interests you the most and prepares you for numerous careers and graduate school
- Acquire hands-on experience from research in campus ecology laboratories, field camps, internship programs, and study abroad
- Work closely with professors who are nationally recognized for
- Environmental science
- Conservation biology and genetics
- Climate change biology
- Landscape and restoration ecology
- Aquatic ecology, water science, and water resource management
- Plant and wildlife ecology and management
- Earth science
- Receive academic and professional advising throughout your time here to support your optimum scholarly, professional, and personal growth
- Scholarships and financial aid
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A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.
For all students at WSU
Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.
To get all the financial help WSU can provide, start by doing these two things:
- Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration, including departmental awards.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need. Get started here.
Click here for more info about WSU scholarships and financial aid
For students in Earth sciences and geology
Students in majors offered by the School of the Environment can be considered for scholarships from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resources, and the School of the Environment.
The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) annually awards more than $500,000 to students. For more information, see the CAHNRS scholarship page. Scholarships specific to the School of the Environment are listed here.
- Sample career options in environmental and ecosystem sciences
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Careers for environmental science graduates include:
- Conservation biologist or hydrologist
- Aquatic, stream or wetland ecologist
- Water resource specialist
- Oceanographer
- Landscape or forest ecologist or manager
- Restoration ecologist
- Environmental engineer, educator, or consultant
- Range manager
- Land, watershed, natural area, park, or wildlife refuge planner or manager
- Resource policy advisor
- Sustainability program coordinator
- Pollution control technician