Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study that uses information and knowledge from life sciences (such as biology), physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, geology, and physics), and social sciences (e.g., economics, politics, and ethics) to learn how the Earth’s environment works, how our environment affect us, how we affect our environment, and how to deal with the environmental challenges we face. Although the Program is housed in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, it is open to all Purdue Northwest students. Any Purdue Northwest student may become an environmental science minor by submitting a completed Student Curriculum Update/Change form (indicating the minor code KSE) to the Registrar. The Program aims to provide students with opportunities for gaining (1) a knowledge of the natural environment and how it is influenced by human society along with critical thinking skills, (2) exposure to modern and traditional technology in environmental subjects, and (3) “real world” experience through an internship or capstone project.
The Program’s curriculum consists of 18 credits (6 credits in core courses and 12 credits in elective courses) as listed below. A majority of the 18 credits can be fulfilled by the courses that are taken for general education requirements, the student’s major requirements, and elective courses. Therefore, it is possible to complete the Environmental Science Minor curriculum with no or very few additional courses beyond the graduation requirement of the student’s major.
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