Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences (STEM)

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

The College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) jointly offer a bachelor of science degree in environmental sciences. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interaction of biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape the environment, and control the response of natural systems to human activities.    Students graduating with a degree in environmental sciences will have an understanding of these interacting processes, experience working in interdisciplinary teams to apply this understanding, and the ability to communicate effectively with both scientific and lay audiences.  While in this program, students will acquire significant experience with field, laboratory and analytical methods appropriate for employment in professional environmental science positions as well as a basic understanding of environmental policy.  The University of New Hampshire is a recognized leader in environmental sciences research, and the environmental sciences program capitalizes on faculty expertise in this area. Program faculty emphasize teaching and research in the areas of biogeochemical cycling, environmental chemistry, ecosystem science, global change, hydrology, plant ecology, soil science, and water resource management among many other fields.

Employment opportunities include environmental consulting firms; educational facilities (e.g., science centers), environmental monitoring laboratories (e.g., water treatment plants, the Environmental Protection Agency), government agencies (e.g., the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service), university and government research laboratories, and nongovernment environmental organizations. The environmental sciences program also constitutes an excellent preparation for graduate programs in several areas relating to the environment.

The Program has four options, and specific course requirements for the major vary by option. The ecosystems and soils and watersheds options are both managed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in COLSA, and the geosystems and hydrology options are both managed by Earth Sciences in CEPS. 

This option is for students seeking a broad background in geology and also for those wishing to study one area in depth. These goals are accomplished through a set of common requirements, core courses and electives for a total of at least 30 credits (34 for non-thesis option). Most students who enter this program have undergraduate degrees in geology or earth sciences. Those with other majors may have to make up selected undergraduate courses.

Built upon the common background of the biology core curriculum, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Zoology is designed for students to create an interdisciplinary or dual major, particularly if they want to pursue public relations, teaching, or other careers in combination with a liberal arts background. Students have more flexibility when choosing courses from the biology core and may enter this program as freshmen or transfer in from other liberal arts or science programs. Students must fulfill a foreign language requirement in lieu of one advanced elective.

Incoming first-year and transfer applicants wishing to enter the bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree program must first apply for, and be admitted to, the bachelor of arts (B.A.) in the Arts: Studio Art option. Students may submit a B.F.A. portfolio after they begin their studies at UNH, as early as the spring semester of their first year. A full faculty review is held each spring semester.

The B.F.A. curriculum provides advanced training for students who plan to enter professional graduate school or pursue careers as professional artists.

The 3+3 program offers highly motivated UNH undergraduate students of English the possibility to earn both a bachelor's degree and a law degree in six, rather than seven, years of study. After completing three years as an undergraduate and gaining admission to the UNH Law School through the approved process, the 3+3 program participant will become a full-time first-year law student. Upon successful completion of the first year of law study, the credits earned will be counted toward the JD degree and as elective credits sufficient to complete UNH's requirements for the bachelor's degree.

Bioengineering, as defined by the NIH, is "the application of life sciences, mathematics, and engineering principles to define and solve problems in biology, medicine, health care, and other fields."

The bioengineering program will train graduates in biology and physiology as well as engineering. The program will provide graduates with capabilities in advanced mathematics (including differential equations and statics), science, and engineering. Graduates will be conversant with solving problems at the interface of biology and engineering that may arise in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, as well as medicine and biofuels. By graduation, students will have experience measuring and interpreting data from living systems and addressing the interactions between living and non-living materials.

The computer information systems (CIS) or information technology (IT) field, in its broadest sense, encompasses all aspects of computing technology. During their program of study, students develop a strong skillset to effectively select, develop, apply, integrate, and administer secure computing technologies to accomplish user goals.

The bachelor of science degree in Computer Information Systems prepares graduates with knowledge, skills, and professional practices to work in the highly integrated field of computing and to grow into leadership positions. The program also enables graduates to further their studies at the graduate level and pursue research in a computing-related discipline.

Career opportunities for students with an undergraduate CIS degree are varied, but may include such areas as software applications developer, data security specialist, database developer/administrator, e-commerce analyst/programmer, help desk manager, multimedia developer, network/system administrator, technical writer, technology trainer, user support specialist, testing and quality assurance specialist, or web developer. Career options exist in a wide range of organizations as all businesses, industries, and nonprofits continue to use, develop, and integrate information technology solutions.

UNH students who are in the BS program in occupational therapy enter into the Advanced­-Standing MS Program to complete a MS Degree in Occupational Therapy to be eligible to enter the profession of occupational therapy. Because they have completed some of the professional courses, they earn their MS Degree in Occupational Therapy in three semesters, including fieldwork. The Occupational Therapy Master's Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

This degree program prepares students for employment and/or graduate study in a variety of fields and research specializations in which mathematics plays a critical role in the solution of important scientific and technological problems.

This option covers the major areas of current interest in the energy field. The required courses provide students with a general background knowledge of fossil fuels, nuclear power, solar energy, and other alternative energy resources. The elective courses will permit the student to study topics of special interest in more depth or gain a broader perspective on energy and some closely related subjects. Three courses are required, and a minimum of two additional courses of at least three credits each should be selected from the electives list. Students interested in the energy option should declare their intention to the department faculty during the sophomore year.