A degree in environmental sciences combines interests in predicting and understanding weather patterns, monitoring environmental change, conserving and managing soil and biological organisms, assuring healthy streams and adequate water supplies, and improving environmental quality with the shaping of new policies and educating others about the natural environment and environmental issues.

Career Opportunities

Acquire knowledge in monitoring and predicting environmental processes while earning your environmental sciences degree from the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

This degree will prepare you for a variety of careers, including:

• Soil Conservationist
• Hydrologist
• Climatologist
• Broadcast Meteorologist
• Environmental Consultant
• Water Quality Specialist
• Environmental Lawyer
• Soil Scientist
• Crop Yield Forecaster
• Land Manager
• Ecologist

Choosing an emphasis area will provide you depth of knowledge and help with career preparation:

Atmosphere

Apply your knowledge of meteorology as a weather forecaster, providing timely information about climatic conditions for many organizations. Consulting meteorologists provide services to clients and help software companies develop new meteorological tools. Broadcast meteorologists work for radio and TV stations to produce forecasts and cover environmental stories.

Land and Soil

Learn to collect, analyze and interpret environmental data and use that data to implement sustainable conservation and land-management practices. Land managers, soil conservationists and soil scientists work with government agencies, agricultural producers, agri-food companies and environmental consulting firms to improve environmental quality and maximize ecosystem services.

Outreach and Education

Develop skills and knowledge to communicate environmental principles and discuss environmental challenges with the public. Environmental outreach and education specialists are employed by NGOs, government agencies and companies promoting “green” practices and technologies.

Water

Gaining expertise in the area of water resources will help you engage in solving some of the 21st Century’s most challenging problems: water quality and quantity. Water quality specialists and hydrologists are employed by government agencies, environmental consulting firms and private industries to monitor and assess water quality/quantity and improve water resources for human and environmental health.

Previous Internship Highlights

Environmental sciences: Spartech Corp., ENVIRON International Corp., Seidel Research and Development Company, Veolia Environmental Services

Outreach and education: St. Louis Science Center, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

Water: Illinois River Biological Station, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Land and soil: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey

Atmosphere: National Weather Service, KOMU-TV, KMIZ, Radar Operation Center

Core Areas of Study

• Atmospheric Dynamics
• Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling
• Pollutant Fate and Transport
• Genesis of Soil Landscapes
• Radar Meteorology

Major requirements for Environmental Sciences degree

• with emphasis in Atmosphere
• with emphasis in Land and Soil
• with emphasis in Outreach and Education
• with emphasis in Water

Courses for Environmental Sciences degree

Download the degree program overview (PDF)

Related Minor

A minor in sustainable agriculture explores creating agricultural systems that produce food in a way that protects the environment and supports healthy communities.

Check out additional minor opportunities

Clubs & Organizations

• Meteorology Club
• Mizzou Storm Chase Team
• Sustain Mizzou
• Soil and Water Conservation Society