Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences, Specialization in Environmental Toxicology (STEM)

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

The biological sciences encompass the study of all life on Earth. Biological sciences programs are offered through the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. At SIUE, our diverse programs of study include specializations that allow students the opportunity to pursue any areas that are of interest to them. Students can customize their academic program in order to better prepare them for their chosen career.

What can I do with a degree in Biological Sciences?
Many careers are available for people with basic or advanced training in biology. There are opportunities in botany, ecology, education, fisheries, forensics, forestry, genetic engineering, horticulture, medical technology, microbiology, molecular biology, parasitology, physiology, wildlife management and zoology. Technical and supervisory positions are available in federal, state, industrial and university laboratories. Environment and health-related occupations almost always require sound, basic training in biology. Most students entering schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, veterinary science, chiropractic and podiatry are biology majors. Basic training in biology is essential for careers in allied health sciences, including nutrition, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Integrative Biology
The curriculum in this program is designed to provide a firm basis in biological sciences for students with a variety of goals. It is an attractive major for students planning to enter graduate school or for students pursuing careers in biological research or in applied work in areas such as agriculture, conservation, and wildlife management. Students in this program may elect to concentrate in such specific disciplines as botany, microbiology, physiology, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and zoology by completing their electives through courses in these areas. Some disciplines require chemistry courses beyond the minimum requirements.

At SIUE, the anthropology program emphasizes real-world applications of anthropology, with expertise in community engagement, sustainability, globalization issues, race and processes of racialization, cultural resources and heritage, museology, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology. Anthropology develops knowledge of and respect for the biological and cultural diversity of humankind. At SIUE, our students conduct independent research, travel internationally, participate in field work, complete internships and are involved in anthropology-related student organizations and honor societies.

What can I do with a degree in Anthropology?
Students graduating with a bachelor’s in anthropology find employment in secondary education, private business and industry, cultural resource management, contract archaeology, environmental studies, museums, health and human services, nongovernmental organizations, and legal and government agencies. Many students go on to earn master's or doctoral degrees which lead to careers in basic and applied research, international policy and development, or the museum, heritage and tourism industries. Due to the diversity of subjects and methods in anthropology, students frequently combine anthropology with other disciplines such as history, sociology, geography, earth science, biology, psychology, medicine, law, and the arts. These interdisciplinary approaches enable students to better understand issues in local and international communities in order to expand their opportunities for rewarding careers.

While pharmacists work to manage patient care with emphasis on therapies using existing drugs, pharmaceutical scientists are engaged in the discovery and development of new drugs. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences provides a multidisciplinary approach to not only determine the detailed biological mechanism of disease, but develop the molecular interventions that can provide the treatment or cure. Students in SIUE's School of Pharmacy are taught in state-of-the-art laboratories by an internationally recognized faculty with many years of both academic and pharmaceutical industry experience.

The biological sciences encompass the study of all life on Earth. Biological sciences programs are offered through the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. At SIUE, our diverse programs of study include specializations that allow students the opportunity to pursue any areas that are of interest to them. Students can customize their academic program in order to better prepare them for their chosen career.

What can I do with a degree in Biological Sciences?
Many careers are available for people with basic or advanced training in biology. There are opportunities in botany, ecology, education, fisheries, forensics, forestry, genetic engineering, horticulture, medical technology, microbiology, molecular biology, parasitology, physiology, wildlife management and zoology. Technical and supervisory positions are available in federal, state, industrial and university laboratories. Environment and health-related occupations almost always require sound, basic training in biology. Most students entering schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, veterinary science, chiropractic and podiatry are biology majors. Basic training in biology is essential for careers in allied health sciences, including nutrition, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Medical Technology
This specialization is designed for students who wish to become medical technologists certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Medical technologists should have a firm understanding of the theory behind the diagnostic tests they perform in the clinical laboratory.

Their responsibilities encompass all clinical laboratory disciplines, such as clinical chemistry, urinalysis, hematology, serology, immunology, blood and organ banking, microbiology, parasitology, and nuclear medicine. As self-motivated, inquisitive scientists, medical technologists contribute to the development of new methods and laboratory instrumentation that aid physicians in preventing and curing disease. Most medical technologists are employed in hospitals, but private laboratories, physicians' offices, government agencies, industrial and pharmaceutical laboratories, and university research programs offer growing opportunities for employment advancements.

The Department of Chemistry, in the College of Arts and Sciences, offers several degree programs and active research opportunities in order to satisfy the diverse career goals of our students. At SIUE, students will learn from faculty members who have earned national and international reputations in their respective areas of expertise. The department also has well-equipped laboratories where students can expect to gain experience in the many different disciplines in chemistry and biochemistry. Through the department’s research programs, students may also gain experience in the most current techniques.

What can I do with a degree in Chemistry?
Students earning a degree in chemistry will be well prepared to pursue a variety of careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a chemist with a bachelor's degree was $79,300 as of May, 2020. Chemistry majors work as analysts, environmentalists, criminologists, librarians, patent examiners, production foremen, researchers, writers and teachers. Chemists also find work in sales, and for private companies that produce items such as fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, plastics and semi-conductors. Careers in the public sector can be found in local, state and federal governments, as well as hospitals, high schools, colleges and universities.

The fast change of pace in our society is creating new career opportunities for individuals trained in multiple disciplines. The Master of Science in integrative studies allows students to access expertise from two or three areas and integrate courses into a degree that meets the needs of an emerging career field.

Consider integrative studies if:

• You have diverse interests that span two or three academic disciplines and you want to blend these interests into one cohesive program
• You have a career interest in an emerging field that crosses academic disciplines, such as cultural heritage and resources management or marketing communications
• You want to advance in a non-traditional sector or start your own business

What can I do with a degree in Integrative Studies?
A Master of Science in integrative studies can lead to a multitude of career paths as well as entry into doctoral programs. The degree will meet the needs of students seeking knowledge for advancement in a specific industry, looking to move to an emerging field that is multidisciplinary or starting their own business. Employment outlook and salary information for these careers vary widely. A carefully designed plan of study will provide students with a unique combination of skills and knowledge that will be advantageous in the job market.

Media Management
The integrative studies degree with a focus in media management provides the necessary foundation of management and leadership principles for professionals who are already in, or are aspiring to work in, the media industry. With the ever-changing landscape in the media business, it is important to have astute managers who are ready to meet the demands of the market.

Economics is a social science that examines the decision-making process regarding the use of scarce resources such as land, raw materials, labor, machinery, physical structures, etc. At SIUE, students choosing to major in economics will pursue a core program of courses designed to provide a thorough grounding in economic theory. This core program of study is followed by more specialized study in such areas as money and banking, labor and industrial relations, international economics, public finance, industrial organization, and antitrust policy. Our economics students also receive strong training in data analysis, and most upper-level courses involve a project in which students solidify their economics knowledge and research skills. Students develop their programs with the counsel of a faculty advisor.

Students pursuing economics at SIUE will complete a course of study designed to lay a foundation in both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Supply and demand, pricing, and the tools utilized to predict the effects of government interventions and regulations on the markets are only a few of the questions that can be answered through the study of microeconomics. The examination of the national economy, including economic growth, unemployment, and factors that affect inflation, fall under the area of macroeconomics. Also included in the study of macroeconomics are domestic factors, such as monetary and fiscal policies, as well as international factors, such as trade and exchange rates.

What can I do with a degree in Economics?
Many career opportunities are available to students graduating with a degree in economics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that opportunities for well-prepared economists will grow 14% through 2022. Career opportunities will be best for students with strong analytical skills, related work experience, and those who choose to further their education and attend graduate school or pursue a PhD. Although most students will go on to pursue graduate and doctoral education, some entry-level opportunities, primarily in the federal government, are available for those with a bachelor’s degree.

The Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics coordinated program is designed for students who wish to earn a master's degree while gaining eligibility to become a registered dietitian and pursue careers as entry-level dietitians. The nutrition and dietetics program is offered through the Department of Applied Health in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. The program combines graduate-level coursework in nutrition with the clinical curriculum and supervised practice that allows graduates to sit for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics examination for registered dietitians. This program is also ideal for those students who have earned a BS degree in another field but are now interested in becoming a registered dietitian or those who graduated with a BS in nutrition and were not matched for a dietetic internship.

What can I do with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics?
Students graduating with a master's degree and passing the RD exam can pursue careers in clinical dietetics, community and public health, consulting, private practice, food and nutrition business industry, food service, food management, research and education, sports and wellness nutrition, or corporate wellness.

The environmental sciences undergraduate program, in the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE, is interdisciplinary, and is designed to cultivate students' perspectives of environmental issues, and to provide them with refined knowledge of environmental issues on a local, regional and global scale. The curriculum within the Department of Environmental Sciences will increase students’ technical competence in addressing these environmental issues, their origins, ramifications and resolutions. The program will promote experiential learning and professional education to prepare students for career opportunities in a wide variety of workplaces.

What can I do with a degree in Environmental Sciences?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 8% through 2028, which is faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with specializations in environmental health, environmental toxicology and environmental management will have career opportunities in their areas of interest. For example, a licensed environmental health practitioner can be employed for inspection, sampling and reporting for sanitary, food safety, sewage and waste disposal, drinking water, pest control, or industrial hygiene.

The undergraduate social work program in the College of Arts and Sciences focuses on the knowledge, values and skills needed for social work practice. Its primary purpose is to prepare graduates for entry-level direct practice in social work. The Department of Social Work prepares BSW students for advanced standing in MSW programs. The undergraduate program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The social work program prepares generalist social workers for many types of practice, and offers opportunities to explore specific interests through the selection of electives and the field placement setting. The primary professional purpose of social work is to promote social functioning and enhance social development at all system levels. The social worker acts as a facilitator of change with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; promotes improvement in social conditions; serves as an advocate for people who are subject to discrimination or social or economic injustice; and provides individuals access to needed resources and services. In addition to completing on-campus course work, social work students engage in field work in local social service agencies in several courses.

What can I do with a degree in Social Work?
The bachelor’s degree in social work qualifies graduates for practice in entry-level positions in a wide range of social service settings. Most graduates work in child welfare, family service, mental health or health agencies. The bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program qualifies graduates to take the licensed social worker (LSW) examination, as stipulated by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. In addition, many graduate social work programs offer advanced standing to qualified students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.