Environmental Science Major/Minor
If you’re passionate about preserving nature and discovering more about Creation, dive into Taylor University’s Environmental Science program. Students who major in Environmental Science integrate biology, chemistry, geology, geography, and mathematics with environmental laws, policies, economics, and ethics for an interdisciplinary understanding of the Earth and sustainability.
Our award-winning Randall Center provides a space solely dedicated to Earth & Environmental Science (EES) students and their hands-on experiences. Practical experiences come from experimental courses, such as a Water Resources and Appropriate Technology class where students design and implement technologies to better resource and conserve water in Guatemala, and field studies courses in locations such as the Rocky Mountains and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
But our students don’t have to travel far to participate in field studies; Environmental Science majors utilize Taylor’s 145-acre arboretum—a site for environmental study just outside of Randall.
Core Environmental Science major courses will provide you with a strong foundation in the systems and principles of general environmental issues and technical skills. After gathering expansive expertise in the fields on biology, chemistry, and geology, each Environmental Science major chooses to concentrate further on geology or biology and dive deeper into specified environmental issues and processes:
- Geology: For students interested in investigating the earth’s physical structure and substance, the geology track might be a good fit. You will inspect the processes that act upon the earth and how to best preserve natural resources through courses on soil science, earth materials, geomorphology, hydrology, water resources, and sustainability planning.
- Biology: Students who desire to focus on living organisms and their relationship to the earth can do so with the biology track. You will learn to classify plant species, execute bacterial culture techniques, and develop sustainable food systems in optional courses such as taxonomy, anatomy, ecology, immunology, food systems, and agricultural development.
Environmental Science Minor
Environmental science can be a beneficial supplement to another passion, making your degree eco-friendlier. The Environmental Science minor is designed for other science majors who wish to broaden their understanding of environmental concerns.
Environmental Science Curriculum & Degree Options
Interested in Chemistry too?
Do you love both the environment and chemistry? Consider Taylor’s Chemistry & Environmental Science major.
Contact the Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development Department
Dr. Bob Aronson, Chair of the Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development Department and Director & Associate Professor of Public Health
765-998-4512
bob_aronson@taylor.edu
Charity Bailey, Assistant to the School of Natural & Applied Sciences
765-998-5354
charity_bailey@taylor.edu
Related Majors
Related Minors
In 1982, Taylor became one of the first Christian universities to offer a degree in Environmental Science. Today, Taylor’s Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development department strives to embody the mentality that science leads to stewardship and service. Our dedicated faculty lead our students to explore the ethical reasoning behind a faith-based pursuit of public health, environmental studies, and sustainability.
If you are a person who enjoys God’s creation; has concern for both people and the environment; and likes field study, scientific investigation, analysis, and finding solutions to problems in the environment, the Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development program may be right for you.
Students are given access to the award-winning Randall Environmental Center, where they can pursue research and immersive learning experiences. The building incorporates a state-of-the-art interior environmental design with outdoor views of the surrounding natural areas. Randall houses environmental growth chambers; a Geographic Information System; a greenhouse for horticultural projects; equipment for field research in botany, ecology, geology, soils, and hydrology; and large collections of rocks, minerals, and specimens.
Taylor hosts plenty of local environmental areas for Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development students to study, research, and gain hands-on experiences. Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development students have access to locations such as:
- Arboretum: Just outside the Randall Center resides a 145-acre arboretum that contains a variety of ecosystems used for teaching and research. Mature woodlands, meadows, a small pond, a prairie demonstration plot, and a 5-year succession plot are housed within the land. The arboretum is also home to instrumentation for ongoing monitoring of weather conditions within various ecosystems.
- Avis Prairie: Just across from the Taylor University campus is Avis Prairie, a 25-acre ecological restoration. Taylor students have conducted numerous field-based research projects there, including prairie succession and soil development, the effects of nutrient enrichment on prairie establishment and structure, strategies for increasing plant diversity, and the effects of flood events.
- Taylor “Square Mile”: A variety of research projects have been developed on this 600-acre property, including current environmental course projects, a reforestation project with periodic plantings and monitoring, and several graduate research projects. New uses and projects on the property are currently being explored and planned with student participation.
Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development majors are not limited to learning about the environment and sustainability in rural Indiana. Every student in the department participates in a summer course in Field Natural History of the Black Hills in South Dakota and studies abroad in either Guatemala, Costa Rica, or Ecuador. Some of our students choose to study geology, botany, zoology, and ecology on a weeklong camping trip to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks.
Bob Aronson
Environmental Science, Public Health & Sustainable Development Department Chair and Director & Associate Professor of Public Health
