Environmental Science
Associate of Science
Division: STEM and Health Professions
Division Chair: Kathleen Hopkins, khopkins@sunyrockland.edu
Department Co-Chairs: Adessa Butler, abutler3@sunyrockland.edu & Melanie Rie, mrie@sunyrockland.edu
Department Support Staff: Susan Kapral, skapral@sunyrockland.edu
Discipline Office: Academic I, Room 1101, Phone: 845-574-4203
Why Study Environmental Science?
Our planet faces an array of complex and challenging situations. The AS degree in Environmental Science is for students who want to study the issues and work toward developing better solutions. Environmental Science integrates fields within the biological and physical sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics. Are you ready to put your interest in the environment to work and develop your knowledge of the sciences in order to address environmental issues?
Related disciplines include Science and Mathematics.
Degrees Offered:
Occupational Objectives:
Positions in field or laboratory research, education, sustainability studies, environmental policy and law, natural resources management, land use planning, wildlife management, environmental consulting and community outreach are some of the areas of employment.
5 Top Reasons
To Study Environmental Science at RCC:
- Help create a sustainable future. Do substantive work in a field that understands and respects the interconnectedness of the ecosystem.
- Contribute to a field that seeks to resolve environmental pollution and the effect of human society on the natural environment.
- Learn effective advocacy and best practices in preserving and managing our natural resources.
- Small class sizes at RCC provide for more individual attention and greater opportunities for mentoring and interaction with faculty.
- Get more hands-on experience with fieldwork outside in the natural world rather than the classroom. Fieldwork projects constitute a large part of RCC’s Environmental Science program.
Opportunities at Rockland Community College:
RCC is committed to fostering and adhering to positive environmental principles, with the support and participation of students, faculty and administration. Study at a Technology Center that was the first certified “green” building constructed in Rockland County, at a campus with an innovative campus-wide recycling program, an organic garden and certified wildlife habitat, and a formal plan to reduce its carbon footprint.
RCC students are encouraged to be active, involved global citizens. You can join an organic gardening club or the environmental club. Our students have raised awareness and funds to provide clean water to communities in need, designed creative recycling programs and participated in global conferences on ecology and sustainability, including the Clinton Global Initiative.
Program Goals:
The degree will provide an effective, rigorous, and dynamic science-based program that will attract, motivate, and prepare students to meet environmentally related challenges locally, regionally, and globally. In addition, it will provide an interdisciplinary education to enhance professional and personal development, encourage active citizenship in students and instill an appreciation and working knowledge of the complexity and diversity of social values and viewpoints in regard to environmental challenges.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Practice fundamental concepts that characterize Environmental Science
- Demonstrate a variety of skills to share knowledge effectively including oral and written communication, planning, and implementation skills
- Develop a variety of skills related to learning core concepts including critical thinking and reasoning skills as well as problem solving
- Develop successful laboratory and field research skills
- Integrate elements of the biological, physical and social sciences in the solutions of environmental problems
- Evaluate the interdisciplinary nature of core concepts in the sciences and other subject areas