BOONE—A new undergraduate degree will be offered at Appalachian State University this fall – a bachelor of science degree in environmental science. The degree program is directed by Roy C. Sidle, a professor of geology and former professor with the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University in Japan.

The degree has an interdisciplinary approach and draws from academic disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy, geology, and geography and planning.

“This is not an environmental studies program,” Sidle said. “It’s a science-based program.
“I think to be successful in environmental management or environmental policy, you need a strong scientific background.”

Students will take physics and calculus, chemistry, basic geosciences and biology as a fundamental background before they begin specializing in a geophysical, biological or geochemical area of environmental science.

“They will end up graduating with a well-balanced background that will prepare them for graduate school or to work with consulting firms, or in professional positions with state or federal agencies,” Sidle said.

A goal of the new degree program is to provide students with science, and critical thinking skills.

“Environmental science is not a discipline like engineering where you come up with one answer to a problem,” Sidle said. “There may be many answers and many approaches to solving a problem. Typically, in environmental science, you sit down at the table with people who have a variety of backgrounds. A person with this degree should be able to help put together solutions that draw on areas such as biology, hydrology, and chemistry.”

To learn more about the degree, visit http://www.environment.appstate.edu/.

###