Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and environmental science (EES) is offered as a major and a minor at F&M. By blending perspectives and foundational knowledge from geology, biology, and chemistry, this program will prepare you to evaluate and address key geological and environmental challenges and opportunities by helping you develop critical, science-based skills to solve problems, manage and protect natural resources,  and make informed decisions. 

A major in earth and environmental science follows one of three tracks: earth systems (geoscience), ecosystems, or environmental chemistry. No matter which track you choose, you will develop a broad, deep knowledge of earth’s systems, structures, processes, and materials; natural resources; hydrogeology, groundwater resources, and water science; the concept of deep time; and climate change.

Geoscience

The earth systems track examines Earth, inside and out. You’ll study the planet’s history, the dynamic processes that shape Earth, plate tectonics, mountain building, the world’s oceans, landscape geochemistry, natural resources, climate change, stream and wetland restoration, and more. Once you’ve built a strong understanding of Earth processes and features, you’ll explore the real-life applications of how humans use and affect the planet — including through environmental politics, production of waste, water and energy, public health, nuclear power, and more.

Ecosystems

The ecosystems track focuses on biological communities and how organisms interact with each other and their surrounding environments. You’ll study evolution, ecology, and biodiversity and have an opportunity to delve into advanced ecology, physical and marine biology, comparative physiology, behavioral ecology, urban ecology, and more. You’ll also examine how ecosystems are affected by environmental policy, climate change, urbanization, wildlife conservation, and protected areas.

Environmental Chemistry

Study the chemical and biochemical phenomena of nature. By following the environmental chemistry track, you’ll have the opportunity to develop an intricate understanding of organic, inorganic, and environmental chemistry; landscape geochemistry; chemical analysis; groundwater and water resources; water, air, and soil quality; and more.

Your learning won’t solely take place in the classroom. It’s only fitting to study earth and environmental science by venturing out onto our dynamic planet itself. You’ll engage in exciting, hands-on outdoor learning; acquire field and laboratory data; analyze and interpret your findings; and embark on independent and collaborative research.

In the Field

F&M’s location provides the perfect landscape for studying earth and environmental science. Pennsylvania’s dynamic landscape and waterways, flourishing agricultural scene; the nearby Susquehanna River, Appalachian Mountains, and Piedmont province; and F&M’s Spalding Nature Conservancy and the Big Spring Run long term restoration monitoring project provide dynamic and exciting locations to learn outside of the classroom.

You can also enjoy hands-on experience in F&M’s greenhouse, which sits atop the Barshinger Life Sciences & Philosophy Building on campus. In the greenhouse, you can learn how to plant, water, fertilize, trim, transplant, and assist in pest control of a variety of plants. Many of these plants are used in F&M courses, but some are also used to enliven College events, such as Commencement. 

Research Opportunities

As you become fully immersed in your earth and environmental science studies, you may find yourself forming hypotheses or questions. The good news? You don’t have to wait until graduate school to investigate those ideas. It’s common for students to embark on an independent study, or to work alongside their professors and become an integral part of their ongoing research even as early as their sophomore year. Earth and environmental science professors are expert researchers working on a wide array of environmental topics, including: 

• Wetland and floodplain restoration 
• Mountain building events and the role of plate tectonics in landscape patterns
• Ground water sources and flow dynamics
• Remote sensing and data science applied to earth systems and natural resources
• Environmental applications of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems
• Methods for detecting landmines and other explosive remnants of war
• Evidence of permafrost that existed in the mid-Atlantic region during glacial times
• Trace metal cycling in marine and terrestrial environments 
• Environmental change and extinction in modern and ancient marine environments 
• Understanding and predicting responses of aquatic communities and organisms to environmental change 
• Soil biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, and global change 
• Plant physiology, ecophysiology, and ecology
• Organism-environment interactions of plants, birds, and mammals

Explore research at F&M

Center for the Sustainable Environment

Many of our students get involved with F&M’s Center for the Sustainable Environment (CSE), our hub for global environmental stewardship and sustainability on campus. The CSE is home to a seminar room, a field-work laboratory space, a meeting space for sustainable clubs on campus, and more. Many students work in the CSE or participate in its extracurricular activities, food composting workshops, wild food tastings, and guest speaker presentations.

Explore the CSE

Off-Campus Study

Off-campus study, in the U.S. and internationally, is encouraged. We have sponsored extracurricular field trips to exotic locations such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Our students have also spent semesters or summers abroad studying at field stations and laboratories in Woods Hole, Ma., the Australian rainforest, and the savanna of Kenya. 

Explore off-campus study at F&M

Entrepreneurship at F&M

In the spirit of living up to Benjamin Franklin’s legacy of creating solutions in the service of the public good, Entrepreneurship at F&M is a program that offers exciting opportunities for all students to explore and develop entrepreneurial skills. EES students have used their education to develop entrepreneurial opportunities in groundwater exploration; environmental consulting, carbon capture and sequestration; and natural resource management.

In addition to courses in entrepreneurship, there are several supporting programs, including: 

• The F&M Incubator, which offers opportunities for students to bring their creative solutions to life. You’ll work in a team and you may receive mentoring, specialized support, and/or project funding. You’ll also attend a series of workshops on customer identification, design thinking, marketing and legal considerations, and other topics.  
• A summer entrepreneurship experience during which you’ll earn course credit and gain real-world experience for your resume while discovering and mastering the entrepreneurial skills needed to bring innovation to any organization. You’ll be matched as a paid intern with sponsoring startups, entrepreneurs, and other organizations that are looking to innovate or disrupt the status quo across a variety of industries.
• Workshops that introduce, discuss, or focus on entrepreneurship methods and insight
• Events featuring F&M alumni and members of the wider community who have changed the status quo in all sectors of the economy and society

Explore entrepreneurship at F&M

Our program has a proven track record, with graduates going on to pursue advanced degrees or embarking on promising career paths. You’ll also find alumni support in the Geoscience Founders Society, an organization committed to maintaining connections between current F&M students and faculty with alumni and friends.

Graduate School

Many of our graduates go on to graduate school after F&M, typically pursuing doctoral programs in science, medicine or law. Our graduates have completed their advanced degrees at the best universities in the U.S. and abroad.

Career Paths

Career outcomes for earth and environmental science graduates are diverse. Many obtain entry-level positions in the environmental and geotechnical consulting field and as sustainability analysts or consultants. Our alumni have also held positions such as:

• Chemist
• Chief Exploration Scientist
• Chief Science Officer
• Energy Industry Analyst
• Environmental Analyst
• Environmental Scientist
• Consulting/Exploration Geologist
• Consulting/Exploration Geophysicist
• Global Sustainability Manager
• Hydrologist/Hydrogeologist
• Marine Biology Researcher 
• Marine Chemist
• Planetary Geologist
• Public Health Researcher
• Professor
• Resident Naturalist
• Science Policy Advisor
• Senior Geologist
• Senior Research Scientist
• Stream Restoration Specialist
• Sustainability Planner 
• Water-Quality Technician
• Wildlife Monitoring Technician