Environmental Science

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, biological and information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geography (geodesy), and atmospheric science) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment. Today it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.

Related areas of study include environmental studies and environmental engineering. Environmental studies incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. Environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect.

Environmental scientists work on subjects like the understanding of earth processes, evaluating alternative energy systems, pollution control and mitigation, natural resource management, and the effects of global climate change. Environmental issues almost always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space, and time relationships as well as quantitative analysis.

Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by (a) the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems, (b) the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation and (c) the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Events that spurred this development included the publication of Rachel Carson's landmark environmental book Silent Spring along with major environmental issues becoming very public, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland, Ohio, "catching fire" (also in 1969), and helped increase the visibility of environmental issues and create this new field of study.

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Matching Environmental Science Colleges

American Public University System

Four or more years; Private for profit; $6,840 average out-state tuition; $6,840 average in-state tuition

Southern New Hampshire University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $15,000 average out-state tuition; $15,000 average in-state tuition

University of South Florida

Four or more years; Public; $15,473 average out-state tuition; $4,559 average in-state tuition

Western Washington University

Four or more years; Public; $24,799 average out-state tuition; $7,572 average in-state tuition

Oregon State University

Four or more years; Public; $29,456 average out-state tuition; $10,065 average in-state tuition

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Four or more years; Public; $17,622 average out-state tuition; $5,742 average in-state tuition

University of California-Davis

Four or more years; Public; $41,196 average out-state tuition; $11,442 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Environmental Science Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Up to $45,000 January 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program is available to sophomore and junior students attending minority serving institutions. You must be a U.S. citizen and be majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must have a minimum 3.2 GPA.

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EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

award

Up to $45,000

deadline

January 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program is available to sophomore and junior students attending minority serving institutions. You must be a U.S. citizen and be majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must have a minimum 3.2 GPA.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Jefferson Scholars Graduate Fellowship

Jefferson Scholars Foundation

$30,000 February 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Jefferson Scholars Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of Virginia. You must demonstrate academic merit, scholarship potential and eagerness to share important ideas with a broad audience to qualify for this award.

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Jefferson Scholars Graduate Fellowship

Jefferson Scholars Foundation

award

$30,000

deadline

February 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Jefferson Scholars Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of Virginia. You must demonstrate academic merit, scholarship potential and eagerness to share important ideas with a broad audience to qualify for this award.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

$27,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

award

$27,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of Science

University of Notre Dame

$25,000 January 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of Science is available to incoming freshman students at the University of Notre Dame who are majoring in the sciences. To be eligible for this renewable award, you must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to service.

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Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of Science

University of Notre Dame

award

$25,000

deadline

January 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of Science is available to incoming freshman students at the University of Notre Dame who are majoring in the sciences. To be eligible for this renewable award, you must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to service.

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within...

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within...

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Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship - University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida

$18,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship is available to doctoral students at the University of Central Florida who are enrolled on a full-time basis in the Conservation Biology PhD program. You must show a strong commitment to conservation biology, particularly turtle research, to be eligible for this fellowship. Additionally, you must participate...

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Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship - University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida

award

$18,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship is available to doctoral students at the University of Central Florida who are enrolled on a full-time basis in the Conservation Biology PhD program. You must show a strong commitment to conservation biology, particularly turtle research, to be eligible for this fellowship. Additionally, you must participate...

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Switzer Environmental Fellowship

Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

$17,000 January 06, 2025 See Details

Description

The Switzer Environmental Fellowship is available to full - time graduate students with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement. You must be enrolled in an accredited institution in California or New England and be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award. Master's degree candidates must have completed at least one...

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Switzer Environmental Fellowship

Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

award

$17,000

deadline

January 06, 2025
See Details

Description

The Switzer Environmental Fellowship is available to full - time graduate students with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement. You must be enrolled in an accredited institution in California or New England and be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award. Master's degree candidates must have completed at least one...

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S.C. Wilson, Sr., Logan Wilson, and S.R. Warner Endowed Scholarship For Biology

Sam Houston State University - College of Arts and Sciences

$12,750 August 20, 2025 See Details

Description

The S.C. Wilson, Sr., Logan Wilson, and S.R. Warner Endowed Scholarship For Biology is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors majoring in biology or environmental science at Sam Houston State University. You must have a minimum 3.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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S.C. Wilson, Sr., Logan Wilson, and S.R. Warner Endowed Scholarship For Biology

Sam Houston State University - College of Arts and Sciences

award

$12,750

deadline

August 20, 2025
See Details

Description

The S.C. Wilson, Sr., Logan Wilson, and S.R. Warner Endowed Scholarship For Biology is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors majoring in biology or environmental science at Sam Houston State University. You must have a minimum 3.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship

Lehigh University

$12,500 January 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship is available to female students who are pursuing a degree in STEM at Lehigh University.

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Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship

Lehigh University

award

$12,500

deadline

January 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship is available to female students who are pursuing a degree in STEM at Lehigh University.

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