School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences
Dr. Daniela Shebitz, Executive Director
Contact Number: 908-737-3745
Email: dshebitz@kean.edu
Degrees Offered:
Biology, B.S. – Environmental Biology (Offered at Union, Skylands and Kean/Ocean campuses)
Earth Science, B.A.
Earth Science, B.S.
Sustainability Science B.S. (This program is not currently accepting new students)
Additional certification requirements:
For the Earth Science, Teacher Certification Option, Students interested in obtaining a certification upon degree conferral must submit a separate application. Please visit the Office of Teacher Certification for information regarding those instructions and the NJ Department of Education for information regarding the requirements specific to the respective certification.
Program Accreditation:
There are no accrediting bodies for our Environmental and Sustainability Science programs.
Admissions Requirements:
There are no separate admissions requirements for programs in SESS. Prospective students should apply for admission to Kean University and select one of our major programs described.
Start terms:
This program offers admissions in the fall and spring semesters.
School of Environmental and Sustainability Science (SESS) provides a unique and collaborative scientific research-focused division within Kean University. Through the integration of multiple scientific disciplines including biology, geology, meteorology, environmental science, geography and chemistry, students work with faculty in a transdisciplinary manner. The Faculty of SESS integrate their research into training, education, field and laboratory work, and mentoring of students who are destined for scientific research or professional careers. Alumni of our programs have found careers in local, state, and federal government agencies, regional biotechnology, health care, veterinary and pharmaceutical industries, environmental law, consulting, research and engineering firms, the media, sustainability industries, non-profit agencies, and academia. For additional information on career options for majors in School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, visit our website at https://www.kean.edu/academics/college-natural-applied-and-health-sciences/school-environmental-and-sustainability
SESS has been designed to provide students with professional development opportunities so that they may be able to recognize and reconcile the highly complex and integrated nature of environmental, ecological, and health-related problems, issues, and questions facing the world today and in the future. They graduate with an understanding of the connections between society and air, water, and land systems and how these relationships pertain to sustainability concepts and best practices.
Through guided internships and research experiences, hands-on course work in the classroom, labs, and field, and travel-learn opportunities, the SESS Faculty provide a transformative and global model of education that helps students gain a strong scientific background, powerful research skills, and critical thinking and analytic abilities. SESS graduates are prepared to become the next generation of scientists who will be able to address highly complex environmental and biological challenges now and into the future with consideration of sustainability.
The educational objectives are delivered in Degree Programs in Environmental Biology, Earth Sciences (A general Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science, including options in either Geoscience or Environmental Science), and Sustainability Science. For information regarding College/program mission and student learning outcomes please see https://www.kean.edu/academics/college-natural-applied-and-health-sciences/cnahs-mission-and-slos
Statement from the Faculty of SESS
We welcome all students to consider an academic experience within SESS. Our faculty philosophy in SESS is that graduates from our programs should demonstrate a clear understanding of the connections among all the sciences and between science and society. They should be adept at identifying, addressing, discerning, and communicating regional, national, and global issues and solutions across the environmental and sustainability sciences. We believe that the scientific and communication skills gained through our program are critical for the success of the next generation of scientists who must observe, analyze, interpret, and address highly complex environmental challenges now and into the future.