Combine a love for nature with cutting-edge research to create a sustainable future for our planet in this innovative environmental science degree.
Program skills
The practice of environmental science demands that students be well-rounded specialists. To accomplish this, each student is required to complete an environmental science concentration in one of the following areas: digital imaging, environmental biology, environmental economics, environmental public policy, mathematics and statistics, or remote sensing. Students also may develop a self-designed concentration in an area of personal interest, subject to approval from an environmental science review committee. RIT’s stature as a top technical university gives our students a significant advantage as technology revolutionizes the way environmental data are collected and analyzed.
Program facilities equipment
Students have access to ten student/faculty research laboratories and a Greenhouse and plant tissue culture facility. Students are also equipped with GIS Software (ArcGIS & IDRISI, access to ENVI and ERDAS), Garmin and Trimble GPS receivers, soil sampling equipment, soil analysis equipment, water sampling devices, multimeters, individual probes for water quality analysis, LiCor light meter with 2 pi and 4 pi sensors, Hach LDO oxygen meters, ponar dredges, plankton samplers, macroinvertebrate nets/samplers, and a library of field reference texts. The Environmental Science program also runs and maintains an on-campus bird banding facility (RITBO).
Program job titles reported
Project Manager; Animal Care Assistant; Environmental Consultant; GIS Analyst; Wetland Scientist
Select program hiring partners
Bausch Health Companies, Dow, Microworks POS Solutions, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, The Seneca Nation of Indians, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services
83.4%
Outcome Rates
60%
Knowledge Rate
| Outcome | % of Students |
|---|---|
| Employed | 66.70% |
| Full-time Graduate Study | 16.70% |
| Alternative Plans | 0% |
Experiential Learning
Cooperative Education
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Science co-ops include a range of hands-on experiences, from co-ops and internships and work in labs to undergraduate research and clinical experience in health care settings. These opportunities provide the hands-on experience that enables you to apply your scientific, math, and health care knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Co-op is optional for students in the environmental science degree.
Careers in Environmental Science
There is a great need for individuals who have both a strong background in environmental science and the ability to participate in an interdisciplinary problem-solving team. Upon graduation, students will be valued for their broad understanding of environmental science, their depth of knowledge in a particular aspect of environmental science, and their ability to attack and solve tough environmental problems.
National Labs Career Fair
Hosted by RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education, the National Labs Career Fair is an annual event that brings representatives to campus from the United States’ federally funded research and development labs. These national labs focus on scientific discovery, clean energy development, national security, technology advancements, and more. Students are invited to attend the career fair to network with lab professionals, learn about opportunities, and interview for co-ops, internships, research positions, and full-time employment.