UNC Earth and Environmental Network

Our Programs

There are ten major areas of study at UNC that fall under the Earth and Environmental network in multiple colleges across our campus. For more information about the network, contact Dr. Romulo in the Department of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability or Dr. Sharon Bywater-Reyes in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 

• B.A. in Anthropology

  The mission of the Department of Anthropology is to offer a comprehensive and coherent undergraduate program in which students gain theoretical and methodological understanding of anthropology's many sub-fields, including cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistics, medical and applied anthropology. Anthropology offers a unique understanding of cultural processes and cultural contact, both past and present.  Anthropology students learn to understand human behavior and how and why it changes over time. This understanding is put to good use in community and civic engagement projects, both locally and abroad. Students of anthropology develop thinking and research skills that dovetail with all academic and professional fields. Students with bachelor's degrees in anthropology find employment in international development, museums, social services, public health, ethno-tourism, historic preservation, cultural resource management, and many other areas in the public and private sectors.

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• B.S. in Biological Sciences: Ecology & Evolution Emphasis

  The School of Biological Sciences’ Ecology and Evolution emphasis trains students for careers in biological consulting, resource management, plant biology, animal biology and more. This program features core courses that span biological disciplines, plus flexible supporting coursework from related fields. It emphasizes research skills, scientific understanding, and critical thinking. Eco/Evo graduates go on to careers in wildlife, forestry, federal agencies, non-profit conservation organizations, biological consulting firms, zoos and aquariums. Students will be well prepared for graduate study in basic and applied science fields.  

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• B.S. in Earth Sciences: Environmental Science Emphasis

  For those interested in environmental science careers, the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department offers a BS in Earth Science with an emphasis in Environmental Science. This program offers a strong physical science foundation with flexibility to build additional expertise in any branch of environmental coursework across. Environmental majors go on to work in fields including water resource management, land management, environmental monitoring and remediation, or restoration. Graduates work in environmental consulting, municipal and state environmental compliance, land management, and environmental education. Students will be well prepared for physical science-based graduate programs.

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• B.S. in Earth Sciences: Geology Emphasis

  For those interested in environmental science careers, the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department offers a BS in Earth Science with an emphasis in Geology. This program offers a strong physical science foundation with course options in earth materials, resource extraction, and environmental safety. Geology majors go on to work in fields including resource extraction and management as well as site remediation and environmental monitoring. Graduates work in environmental consulting, municipal and state environmental compliance, land management, and earth science education. Students will be well prepared for physical science-based graduate programs.

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• B.S. in Earth Sciences: Meteorology Emphasis

  For those interested in environmental science careers, the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department offers a BS in Earth Science with an emphasis in meteorology. This program offers a strong physical science foundation with course options in meteorology and hydrologic predictions. Meteorology majors go on to work in fields including weather forecasting and government and environmental monitoring. Graduates work for monitoring networks, government agencies, and private firms. Students will be well prepared for physical science-based graduate programs.

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• B.S. in Earth Sciences: Secondary Education Emphasis

  For those interested in environmental science careers, the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department offers a BS in Earth Science with an emphasis in Secondary Education. Graduates of this program are prepared to teach earth science in grades 7-12 and will have satisfied all the requirements to receive Secondary Science/Earth Science Licensure from the Colorado Department of Education. Secondary Education is an excellent major for students planning careers in education.

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• B.A. in Economics: Environmental Economics Emphasis

  For those interested in linkages between social, economic, and environmental systems, the degree in Economics with an Environmental Economics emphasis from the Economics Department at UNC offers a means to master economic fundamentals, explore how economic decisions affect the environment, and assess ways in which environmental quality and natural resource characteristics influence the economy, human health, and social well-being. The program provides a strong foundation in economic concepts and analysis, plus a wide array of upper-level electives addressing topics such as water, energy, pollution, natural resources, agriculture, and the relation between markets, capitalism, and sustainability. This degree provides excellent training for students interested in employment in the private (e.g., consulting), public (e.g., federal, state and local government), and nonprofit (e.g., research or advocacy) sectors. Current UNC faculty in environmental economics have experience working in all three of these sectors in addition to academia. Recent UNC alumni in environmental economics have gone on to pursue graduate training at institutions such as Colorado State University and the University of Denver.

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• B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies

  For those interested in the intersection between science, policy, and sustainability, the Environmental and Sustainability Studies major in the Department of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability at UNC offers an interdisciplinary BA focusing on human impacts and interactions with the environment. Course topics include the social, political, economic, and physical aspects of environmental management and sustainability. ENST majors may go on to work in government or nonprofit sectors addressing environmental and sustainability policy or restoration. Graduates from this program also work as sustainability coordinators in schools, breweries, cities, and businesses. Students will be well prepared for policy-based or social science graduate programs.

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• B.A. in Geography

  Geographers analyze environmental issues using the concepts of social and natural sciences and the technologies of geographic information science (GIS). UNC’s Geography program includes three major emphasis areas: Global and Area Studies, GIS, and Secondary Education. Core courses in each enable students to appreciate and analyze the complex social and natural processes affecting the environment. The Global and Area Studies emphasis explores environmental concerns in different local and global settings, often through direct field study. Students with a GIS emphasis receive more intensive training in geospatial data analysis, including remote sensing and web mapping. Geography majors can also choose the Secondary Teaching emphasis, leading to licensure to teach social studies in grades 7-12. There are also minors in both Geography and GIS. Geography graduates work in dozens of fields, including urban and regional planning, resource management, transport and utility planning, parks and tourism, market analysis, and teaching. GIS skills are in high demand, used in an ever-growing array of industries as geospatial data becomes widespread. Graduates with a Geography B.A. are well equipped for graduate work in planning, geography, GIS, and other social and natural sciences.

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• B.S. in Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality: Parks & Recreation Concentration

  UNC’s undergraduate Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality program develops well-educated citizens who provide healthy leisure and recreation experiences at the state, regional and national levels in order to improve quality of life, provide leadership and service to communities, and contribute to the advancement of the profession. A major in Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality leads to employment with agencies in the public, private, and non-profit sector with individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Starting salaries are comparable to those of teachers yet vary with the nature of the setting and economic demands. The major is designed to assist the student in acquiring practical skills and employment connections and networks.

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