At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Offered through the Department of Natural Sciences of Pitzer and Scripps Colleges, environmental science is the application of the scientific method to the study of the world around us, our interactions with Earth systems (living and nonliving), and the dynamics therein. The field includes biology, geology, chemistry, and physics, with applications in economics, policy, law, government, art, and many other disciplines.
Study abroad forms an important part of the major curriculum for many Scripps students, with emphases spanning climate change, ecology, and other areas. Common study abroad locations include Australia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Nepal, New Zealand, Patagonia, Tanzania, Turks and Caicos, and more.
If you are sure you want to major in environmental science or another STEM field, we strongly encourage you to take CHEM 14L right away, as it is only offered in the fall. CHEM 15L (offered in the spring) is recommended for those preparing for graduate school. CHEM 15L is required by many other STEM majors and may be a prerequisite for upper-division courses.
Take BIOL 44L KS in your first year, ideally spring semester. This opens the door for upper-division elective courses in ecology and can help you decide between EA-science vs. organismal biology as majors. Note: BIOL 43L KS is NOT required of the EA-science major, but it is required of all organismal biology majors. If at the start of your sophomore year you’re still on the fence about EA-science vs. biology, consider taking BIOL 43L KS.
Take introductory geology (any one version of EA 55L KS or GEOL 020 PO) as early as possible, unless you’re debating organismal biology vs. environmental science. EA 55L KS lays the foundation for upper-division geology courses that count towards the environmental major electives, and the course may help you choose between environmental science and geology.
If you’re sure about environmental science or environmental analysis as a major or minor, take EA 30L KS as soon as you can.
As a first-year student, try not to take more than two STEM courses, especially lab courses, in any given semester. EA 10 is a non-STEM, required introductory course to environmental science that’s great for your first year.
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
No, the introductory courses can be completed in any order. However, upper-division courses vary depending on which of the introductory courses serve as prerequisites. Please discuss your planned timeline with an environmental science faculty member in your first semester. Try to complete your introductory courses no later than your sophomore year.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
The only restrictions with a major or minor in environmental science have to do with topical overlap of upper-division courses in organismal biology and geology and the environmental analysis introductory courses. Combining majors in environmental science with biology, geology, and environmental analysis are not generally recommended, though there is no barrier to simply taking additional courses in these fields alongside a major or minor.
As an environmental science major, you can pursue a variety of research and internship experiences during the school year and over the summer, though funding is competitive and variable. Research experiences can lead into your senior thesis or can be on widely different topics. Ask your faculty for more information about National Science Foundation summer research experiences for undergraduates (REUs), quarter- and half-credit research studies during the school year, and independent internship credit for environmentally themed work.
Environmental science alums have followed many career arcs, with or without graduate work in STEM fields. Professional fields you can explore include biological engineering, civil engineering, ecology, environmental science, geology, medicine, law, landscape architecture, and education. Scripps alums work as environmental consultants, field scientists, science writers, urban farm managers, watershed managers, wildlife rehabilitation specialists, and much more.
Additional links to information relevant for new student registration:
https://sites.google.com/view/rocksdirtscience/home/advising-information