Delta State University is the only state university in Mississippi that offers a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary and integrated science. It embraces biological, chemical, and physical aspects of the environment and their effect on organisms. It also encompasses political, social, and geographical components. Students interested in saving wetlands; preserving a forest; improving water, soil, and air quality; protecting local wildlife, and climate change should consider environmental science.
The Environmental Science major is designed to help students learn about local, national, and global issues from a scientific perspective. Students learn laboratory, field, analytical, problem solving, and other skills throughout their coursework.
We offer four concentrations: General Environmental Science, Wildlife Management, and Geospatial Information Technology.
Concentrations
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that utilizes ecology, geology, biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, and meteorology to study the environment. Classes encompass soil, water, and air quality, taxonomy, conservation, ecology, evolution, environmental policy, and more. Students in this concentration also take two upper division social science classes, environmental microbiology, Physical Geology for Life Sciences, and a one-semester organic chemistry course. Recent graduates work for assorted federal and state government agencies and private industries, including Mississippi Department of Energy Quality, USDA-ARS, US Geological Survey, Center of Toxicology and Environmental Health and more.
The Wildlife Management Concentration provides students with a comprehensive education in maintaining delicate balances between animal and plant populations with other environmental factors. Students will gain in-depth, hands-on, and critical-thinking skills that will prepare them for potential employment in conservation and wildlife management agencies or for entrance into graduate programs. Regular classes, field trips, capstone seminar, undergraduate research projects, and internships range from analyzing coyote scat, to assessing the impact of climate changes on biodiversity, to conducting surveys on Bengal tigers. Upon completion of this concentration, students will quality for Wildlife Certification through The Wildlife Society in addition to the Bachelor of Science degree.
The integration and automation of geography through the use of geospatial technologies provides students with a place-based perspective on environmental science. The geospatial technologies concentration facilitates student learning in this regard though coursework which emphasizes geographic thought, analytic techniques, and tool use. The addition of these approaches better prepares graduates for environmental strategic planning and communication, analyzing data, and finding solutions to environmental threats and hazards.
The Agribusiness concentration blends courses associated with Environmental Science and General Business. Students will have the option of taking more courses in business or Environmental Science when going through the program, three GIS classes, and 9 science courses including General Biology, Foundations in Environmental Science, Environmental Regulations, General Ecology, Soil Science and Biology, etc. Students will be able to choose to have an adviser in business or Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding in Environmental Science.
Examples of companies our graduates work for:
Graduates of our program have become employed at many different companies, some of which include:
- Center of Toxicology and Environmental Health – Jackson, MS
- Ducks Unlimited – Ridgeland, MS
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
- Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
- Mitchell Technical Services Inc. – Senatobia, MS
- Natural Resource Conservation Service – Indianola and Cleveland, MS
- Naval Oceanographic Office, John C. Stennis Space Center
- U.S. Geological Survey – Jackson, MS
- USDA-ARS – Stoneville, MS
- Yazoo Water Quality
Undergraduate Admissions
Provisional Admission
Students entering Delta State University who declare a baccalaureate major of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science or Mathematics or enroll in a non-degree pre-professional program are initially admitted with provisional status. Students who demonstrate satisfactory performance in their introductory math and science courses (as defined below) are granted full admission to the program. The intent of this policy is to insure that all students gain the basic knowledge and skills required for the level of scholarship expected from them in their advanced studies and in their future professions.
Full Admission – Environmental Science
Full admission is granted upon satisfactory completion of the following introductory science courses:
| BIO 100: | General Biology I |
| BIO 101: | General Biology II |
| CHE 101: | General Chemistry I |
| CHE 102: | General Chemistry II |
| CHE 103: | General Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CHE 104: | General Chemistry Laboratory II |
Satisfactory Completion
Satisfactory completion is defined as completing a course with a grade of C or better. Any grade below C must be removed by repeating the course to improve the grade. Students should be aware that repeating courses may increase the time required for graduation. A student who has not been granted full admission will not be permitted to register for upper-division courses (BIO courses numbered 200 or above, CHE courses numbered 300 or above, upper division math courses). Some non-degree pre-professional programs require only the first semester of general biology and/or chemistry. Students in such programs must still satisfactorily complete the required introductory courses to attain full admission status. Requirements for full admission also apply to students who transfer credit from other institutions. Courses equivalent to the introductory courses listed above must have been completed with grades of C or better to be accepted for transfer credit. Verification of transcripts should be completed prior to the start of the first semester of enrollment. Upon enrolling for the first semester, a transfer student whose transcript has not been verified will be given provisional status. When it has been verified that students have fulfilled the requirements, they will be granted full admission status. Enrollment in upper-division courses will not be permitted until full admission status has been granted.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the general University graduation requirements, the Division requires satisfactory academic performance in all major courses. Specifically, this means that no grade below C in a required course may be applied toward graduation. Any grade below C must be removed by repeating the course and earning a C or better grade. This requirement is in addition to the University requirement for maintaining a 2.0 quality point average for all major course work. For students, majoring in mathematics or mathematics education, a 2.5 GPA in upper level coursework is required. Students in the BSE program must have at least a 3.0 grade point average on the required General Education coursework and at least a 3.0 overall grade point average. In addition, students in the BSE program will take the Praxis subject area test in mathematics and pass at a published level (see the Department for the most current information).
Contact
Division Office
Division of Mathematics & Sciences
P: (662) 846-4240
P: (662) 846-4475
Address and Mailing
Mathematics & Sciences
College of Arts & Sciences
DSU Box C-4 Walters 116A
Cleveland, MS 38733
