The Field of Environmental Science
Environmental Science is a very broad field focusing on the environment around us and how to better understand it. Since this field is so broad, students are able to choose a concentration that focuses on a particular topic more intensely throughout college. However, all concentrations are exposed to exploring the physical and natural world with courses centered in chemistry, ecology and evolution, and geospatial relationships. Students learn about the biological and chemical basis of life, how that life evolved, and how we can protect the biodiversity in all of earth’s systems. While many human-environment relationships are subjective and fluid, it is important to remember that this field is still based in data and research.
The major is currently offered in three colleges (College of Arts and Sciences, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) and has many diverse concentration options in each. Writing in the environmental sciences will vary based on which college you are in, and which concentration you chose to focus on. RSENR majors have more of a focus on natural resources and human interaction with them, so majors in this college may have to write more non-research, reflective papers. CAS majors are more science oriented, and may only be required to write lab reports.
Because of the varying levels of writing and types of assignments, it is difficult to make generalizations about writing in the environmental sciences. This page will offer some information about research proposals, writing persuasively, and lab reports.