Environmental Science
Discover the diverse world of environmental science at Valpo, where you will address pressing environmental challenges while gaining hands-on experience, forging global connections, and creating lifelong memories — all part of a college journey like no other.
At Valparaiso University, our environmental science program equips you with the scientific and social skills needed to make a difference for all life on Earth. Through a seamless blend of classroom instruction and hands-on learning, you’ll build the strong foundation and practical expertise today’s employers demand. With options to pursue a bachelor’s degree, complementary major, or minor, you can tailor your studies to prepare for a fulfilling, world-changing career.
Valpo’s location in Northwest Indiana offers environmental science students unmatched opportunities. Just minutes from campus, the Indiana Dunes National Park serves as one of the nation’s most diverse ecological field sites — a living laboratory where students collaborate with professors and professionals, including a United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientist, on impactful research. Beyond the Indiana Dunes, the region’s mix of industrial, urban, agricultural, and natural areas provides real-world insight into critical topics like pollution, land use, environmental justice, and policymaking. Here, you’ll make waves, move mountains, and spark change with a strong foundation in environmental science.
$80,060 median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists*
*According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 report.
97.5% of Valpo’s College of Arts and Sciences graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation.
CAREER PATHS
Valpo graduates are compassionate leaders at top organizations and institutions around the world. Whether their college career culminated in a bachelor of science, a complementary major, or a minor in the field, environmental science students go on to excel in a variety of careers across the globe, including:
• Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Restoration Specialist
• Legal Firms (Environmental Law)
• Local, State, and Federal Government Agent
• National and State Park Ranger
• Sustainable Engineering Specialist
• Utility Company Researcher
• Wildlife Conservationist
Valpo graduates bring innovation and leadership to their fields. Learn more at valpo.edu/alumni-success.
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE
All Valpo students learn in the classroom, but environmental science students shine beyond those four walls. Some of the most impactful studies you will work on will be in the field — literally! You’ll take what your textbooks explain and apply your knowledge alongside your professors and peers in meaningful ways, advancing your skills through:
• Service opportunities like restoring fish habitats, participating in prescribed burns, working toward environmental justice, reforestation, and invasive species management.
• Classroom projects like satellite data analysis, environmental mapping, landscape modeling, water quality testing, and microplastics research.
• Off-campus study in environments as diverse as Costa Rica, Namibia, France, and Australia.
EXPERT MENTORSHIP
At Valparaiso University, our environmental science professors deliver a perfect balance of classroom instruction and experiential learning, rooted in their deep expertise in science and research. Drawing on diverse academic backgrounds — including biology, chemistry, economics, geography, psychology, and beyond — they offer students a rich interdisciplinary perspective on today’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Small class sizes mean you’ll enjoy personalized attention and tailored guidance, ensuring you thrive academically, personally, and professionally. At Valpo, your professors aren’t just educators — they’re mentors dedicated to seeing you succeed every step of the way.
“Within this major, there are so many hands-on opportunities. I took a field biology class where the entire syllabus was field trips, a plant biology class that was all about identifying wildflowers, and a geomorphology class that sent us on a weekend trip to Indiana Dunes National Park.”
CHLOE KENNEDY ’24
MAJOR: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
MINORS: BIOLOGY AND METEOROLOGY
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
For more information on financial aid, visit valpo.edu/aid.
Be a Beacon
Valparaiso University admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religion. (For a full statement, see valpo.edu .)
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Take the next step toward your bright future by visiting valpo.edu/environmental-science, or by scanning the QR code.
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383
web: valpo.edu
email: undergrad.admission@valpo.edu
