Environmental Science

The environmental science program at Virginia Tech is focused on understanding our absolute dependence on — and our unfortunate tendency to do great harm to — ecosystems, those fundamental units of the biosphere that provide us the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the soil we live upon, and much more. This interdisciplinary, student-oriented major emphasizes the essential role that ecosystem processes play in sustaining Earth’s inhabitants. Some of the program’s options are aimed at preserving or protecting resources and the ecosystems that provide them. Others are more focused on rehabilitation of ecosystems, so that they can sustain those who will live on the planet tomorrow. Environmental Science graduates are in great demand, finding employment in the public and private sectors and in environmental advocacy.