Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry Thiel College

This major provides students with a strong foundation in chemistry and in the environmental sciences. As an environmental chemist, you’ll monitor what is in the air, water, and soil to study the effects chemicals have on our environment.

Environmental chemistry majors take courses in a variety of disciplines and are prepared to work in this rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field. The liberal arts education you'll receive at Thiel College ensures that you’ll possess the scientific literacy and problem-solving skills associated with all the main branches of chemistry.

Major Features

• Demonstrate competency in conducting an internal or external research project.
• Possess scientific literacy and problem-solving skills associated with the main branches of chemistry: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, physical, and environmental.
• Be able to solve problems dealing with soil, water, and atmospheric chemistry, toxic chemicals, and waste disposal.
• Possess practical field skills including environmental sampling and analysis.
• Demonstrate competency in conducting a trace analysis.
• Be able to critically analyze current environmental issues from a scientific standpoint.
• Be prepared for employment in environmental chemistry or admission into an environmental or chemistry-related graduate or professional program.

Major Requirements

The B.S. degree in environmental chemistry requires all courses in Section A and Section D, one course in Section B, and two courses from Section C. It is expected that the course from Section B will have an environmental chemistry focus.

Section A

• CHEM 140 General Chemistry I
• CHEM 160 General Chemistry II
• CHEM 200 Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM 240 Quantitative Analysis
• CHEM 330 Environmental Chemistry
• CHEM 370 Instrumental Analysis
• CHEM 390 Inorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 405 Junior Seminar
• CHEM 406 Capstone
• CHEM 430 Advanced Topics in Environmental Chemistry
• CHEM 495 Independent Study

Section B

• ENSC 250 Meteorology & Air Quality Assessment
• GEOL 150 Earth Systems
• GEOL 210 Principles of Hydrogeology
• ENSC 111 Introduction to Environmental Studies or BIO 116 Conservation Biology

Section C

• MATH 181 Calculus I
• MATH 182 Calculus II
• PHYS 174 Introductory Physics I
• PHYS 184 Introductory Physics II

Environmental chemists are at the forefront of conserving our resources and safeguarding our environment. In business, government, and academia the need for them is growing and with a B.S. in environmental chemistry from Thiel College, you’ll be ready to find your place in this important work.

Environmental chemists earn a median annual salary of $61,700* and are working in many different fields, such as:

• Federal, state, and municipal governments
• Colleges, universities, and private research institutes
• Biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies, and forensic labs
• Waste management firms and agro-chemical companies
• Environmental conservation organizations and consulting firms
• Oil, gas, and mining companies

*Job and salary information from www.academicinvest.com