University of Massachusetts Lowell
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Students majoring in Environmental Science prepare for a variety of careers in the private, public and non-profit sector. Career opportunities of graduates include environmental consulting, weather/climate forecasting, flood predictions and management, water/air/soil pollution control and remediation, traditional and renewable energy research, resource exploration and development, environmental impact assessments, and sustainability. This major is highly cross-disciplinary and provides strong foundations in physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Upper-level electives allow students to tailor the program to acquire the tools to work in a wide range of consulting and forecasting careers, or to continue on to graduate school. The major has three options: Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, and Geoscience. The Atmospheric Science option is for students interested in meteorology, weather forecasting, climatology and air pollution, and fulfills the education requirements for federally employed meteorologists. The Environmental Science option is for students focused on addressing human impacts on the environment and major environmental challenges including climate change, pollution, and sustainability. The Geoscience option is for students interested in the geologic environment including mineral resources, geochemistry, and paleoclimatology. Both Environmental Science and Geoscience options also provide training in hydrogeology, soil science, biogeochemistry, and geographic information systems (GIS).

The Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering consists of engineers who learn to plan, design, build, manage and rehabilitate the facilities essential to modern society: homes and work places; transportation systems for commerce and recreation, and water treatment and waste disposal systems for a healthful life. As part of the construction industry, they build bridges, buildings, tunnels, dams, canals, irrigation systems, harbors, highways, airports, water supply systems, and waste disposal facilities. They develop solutions to environmental problems, study new methods to control traffic, and design outer space and under sea structures.Civil Engineering prepares students for experience related to the sustainability field. Students learn how work in a sustainable manner with irrigation and drainage,urban planning and development, urban transportation, water and waste water treatment system design, water resources planning and management, hazardous waste site remediation, and waterway, port, coastal and ocean engineering.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public health consists of a Health Sciences Concentration, Community Health/Health Promotion Concentration, and Environmental/Occupational Health Concentration.This program educates people in how to be globally aware, aware of community health and epidemics and being able to access health and availability of health care to communities. Public health connects students to sustainability in ways that students learn about the environmental and economic impacts on public health.

Climate Change and Sustainability is an interdisciplinary minor, under the direction of the UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative and housed in the Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department (hereafter EEAS). A student enrolled in this minor will gain an understanding of the basic science behind climate change as well as the social and economic consequences of climate change. Strategies for sustainability and climate adaptation will be addressed. A minor in Climate Change and Sustainability requires completion of a minimum of 18 credits (6 courses-lecture plus lab equals one course) by following one of the options: 1. Engineering/Health Sciences/Science option 2. Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences/Management option

Environment and Society is an interdisciplinary minor that provides students with analytical and communication skills, as well as the scientific foundation needed to succeed in environmental planning, environmental policy, sustainable development, environmental education, and other fields. Topics explored include climate change, sustainability, resource rights, law and regulation, environmental ethics, and the role of environmental issues in domestic and international conflicts. Students are encouraged to participate in collaborative environmental research and service projects with government agencies, non-profit organizations, local businesses and other environmental actors such as state and national park systems. The Environment and Society minor collaborates with the Climate Change Initiative to advance UMass Lowell’s Climate Action Plan, and to serve the region, the state, and beyond. The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits of coursework. At least two courses need to be at the 3000 level or above.

In the Energy Engineering minor, students are given a strong foundation in the engineering and policy behind energy. Energy engineers are leading the way to a cleaner, safer future across the globe. From designing small off-grid, solar-powered agricultural water pumps in Peru to improving the reliability of towering wind turbines off the coast of Rhode Island, our students and graduates are making a positive impact on our society and our environment. Particularly, as more and more states require utilities to add renewables to their portfolios.