Science Track
The Environmental Sciences concentration combines the disciplines of biology, geology, geography, marine science and chemistry to provide an environmental focus to a student's primary major. Students are also required to take several courses in environmental ethics and the environmental humanities. Much of the department's environmental science research is conducted out of the Keck Environmental Field Lab on the shores of Lake Matoaka.
Study areas of applied research include climate change, conservation, and coastal science, among others. Current and recent examples of undergraduate environmental science research at W&M include:
- Calculating the abundance of two species of turtles in Lake Matoaka
- Analyzing soil cores of a local pond for historical environmental contamination
- Sampling local streams and ponds for water quality analysis
- Verifying living shoreline installations with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
- Working on diamondback terrapin conservation strategies in the Chesapeake Bay
While most student who choose this track are science majors, non-science majors with the prerequisite coursework are able to select this track as well (note: degree designation (B.A. or B.S.) will be determined by the student's primary major).
Students who choose this track frequently go on to work for governmental agencies such as EPA, NPS or USGS; environmental consulting firms; and a wide variety of NGOs. Many of our alumni also attend graduate school in the sciences. You can view our alumni career survey here.
You can view degree requirements in the Catalog.
