University of North Carolina, Wilmington
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Bachelor of Science degree allows students to specialize in the environmental aspects of either the physical or biological science. Each of these areas of specialization emphasizes broad and comprehensive training in the fundamentals of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science directly related to environmental questions. This training is for students who wish to acquire an in-depth understanding of the impact of science and technology on society and wish to contribute to the solution of environmental problems.

The Bachelor of Arts degree emphasizes a combination of social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. The B.A. in environmental sciences prepares students for entry-level positions and graduate opportunities in many diverse fields, including urban and regional planning, environmental impact analysis, natural resource management, environmental education, conservation administration, energy policy, public interest lobbying, and environmental law.

Coastal communities face a wide range of challenges associated with rising seas, hurricanes, long-term shoreline change, human and ecosystem health, and increasing development. An innovative and trained coastal workforce is needed to help communities, and the nation, address these challenges. Students will study engineering statics, mechanics of solids, fluid mechanics, and water resource engineering, dive in to learn about coastal wave mechanics, computational modeling, coastal structures, and laboratory and field data collection, dig into dredging and beach renourishment practices, and top it off with a semester-long capstone design course tackling real-world engineering challenges.

The Sustainability Minor examines the interconnected nature of the triple bottom line of sustainability, including environmental stewardship, social integrity, and economic stability.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing society and natural ecosystems. This recognition has accelerated the scientific study of climate and the entire field has developed significantly over the past three decades.

Furthermore, it promises to be an important area of inquiry with broad policy implications in the future. International, national, regional, and local policies are being developed that are based on expectations of future anthropogenic climate change.

By completing a minor in climate change sciences, students will gain an appreciation for the origin and impacts of past and future of climate change.

The minor emphasizes broad and comprehensive training in the fundamentals of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science directly related to environmental questions.

This training is for students who want to acquire an in-depth understanding of the impact of science and technology on society, and who wish to contribute to the solution of environmental problems.