Environmental Science

In support of the LaGuardia’s mission to educate and graduate its students to become critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens, the College has undertaken a team approach toward advising, designed to support you in your major from orientation through graduation.

Your Advising Team is made up of faculty, professional and peer advisors. They will guide you at every step during your college career. They are ready to help you:

• Explore your major
• Select introductory and advanced courses
• Connect you with campus support services
• Prepare an educational and career plan

Visit the Advising page to learn more about when to get advised and how to prepare for an advising appointment, and check out the Advising Calendar for information sessions, events and more.

According to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics, "Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment. They identify problems and find solutions that minimize hazards to the health of the environment and the population."

The Environmental Science AS degree prepares students for careers in many fields including:

Renewable energy management Geospatial technology Natural resources management Urban planning Biotechnology Conservation biology

Environmental biology and Environmental science Wildlife Science Sustainability studies Water and air quality technology Food safety Environmental Chemistry

Forest ecosystems science Ecology Environmental hazard assessment Meteorology/Weather and Climate Microbiology Environmental health

"Employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Heightened public interest in the hazards facing the environment, as well as the increasing demands placed on the environment by population growth, is expected to spur demand for environmental scientists and specialists.”

Explore career possibilities on Career Connect.

Current Students
Log in to My LaGuardia to review your Degree Audit to find out what classes to take. Have questions about using Degree Audit? Visit LaGuardia's Degree Audit page for tutorials and how-to guides.

Prospective Students
Review the curriculum.

Please note: Students will be held to the program and degree requirements of the year that they enter the College, unless the student changes their major in a different academic year. In that case, the student will be held to the current year requirements as listed in the catalog. Learn more.

Environmental Science Degree Map
Use the Degree Map and DegreeWorks to assist in academic planning and creating your own graduation plan in ePortfolio. See a full list of Flexible Core courses on the Pathways page.

Environmental Science: Sustainable Urban Agriculture Degree Map
Use the Degree Map and DegreeWorks to assist in academic planning and creating your own graduation plan in ePortfolio. See a full list of Flexible Core courses on the Pathways page.

For information about this program’s retention and graduation rate visit the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment website page.

It is important that all Environmental Science students have experience in designing, implementing, and presenting a research project. This opportunity is available both in form of internships, and during the capstone course. The capstone course, Environmental Science, focuses on understanding the earth as a dynamic system and addressing local and global environmental issues in the context of climate, technology, and population growth. During the laboratory portion, students will utilize knowledge and tools from previous courses to plan and complete supervised semester-long research projects. Students will learn to write up their results in scientific format and will submit research reports to their digital ePortfolios. All students in the Environmental Science program are encouraged to conduct a semester-long internship. The goal of the internship is to gain real-world experience conducting primary research in a setting such as a scientific laboratory, a pollution control station, a government facility, a park, or with a community-based environmental organization.

All students in the Environmental Science program will be encouraged to complete a semester-long internship. The goal of the internship component is for students to gain real-world experience conducting primary research in a setting such as a research laboratory, a pollution control station, a government facility, or with a community- based environmental organization.

More information about potential internships are posted on the Environmental Science program Facebook page. 
 
Students are encouraged to present their research at local, regional, and national conferences, and financial support is provided for these opportunities.

The program is fully articulated with Queens College and graduates will be able to transfer all 60 credits. In addition, graduates with an A.S. in Environmental Science will be able to transfer to other four-year colleges. The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences provides an interdisciplinary approach to environmental studies allowing students to concentrate their studies in biology, chemistry, or geology. Graduates of LaGuardia’s Environmental Science program will transfer with 60 credits and have the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at Queens College in Environmental Science or Environmental Studies. Students who complete their A.S. in Environmental Science and meet the GPA requirements may apply for the Queens Transfer Honors Program. Further details of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Queens College can be found here.

All graduates have a strong science background, which prepares them to enter a variety of four-year colleges and complete in bachelor's degree. This background includes courses in general biology, general chemistry, microbiology, ecology, environmental science, and geospatial technology.

For assistance and more information about CUNY transfer options, visit the Office of Transfer Services.

Visit the Articulation Agreements page to learn more about transfer opportunities.