Environmental Science/Studies

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The Environmental Science/Studies program (ENVL) at Stockton prepares students to deal with the complex environmental problems that confront society by providing a broad, basic understanding of the interactions among the physical, biological and human components of the environment.


About the Program

One of the hallmarks of Environmental Science/Studies is student engagement. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of environmental phenomena to emphasize the complexity of environmental problems. The program encourages cooperation between students and the full-time faculty in courses and in independent research that often involves extensive fieldwork and real-world applications. This hands-on work helps prepare students for careers or graduate education. In many courses and projects, the program utilizes the latest technology as components of students’ learning experience to prepare them for their professional lives. The program requires a senior project that can be an internship with government agencies, private consulting firms, natural resource industries, and environmental organizations as a practical approach to learning about the field. Alternatively, the senior project can involve independent research with a faculty member to deepen the student’s experience in and understanding of the environment.

Program Features

Our program is located on a campus of 1600 acres, most of which are part of an environmental reserve. The facilities include:

Healing Wildlife, One Creature at a Time

A Wildlife Ecology course provided alumnus Michael O'Malley '12 with the understanding of the importance of wildlife management and rehabilitation, turning his love of nature into a full-time career as a wildlife rehabilitator. Today, O'Malley serves as Executive Director Cedar Run Wildlife Rescue where they rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals, giving them a second chance in the wild.

Learn more about O'Malley in the Fall 2022 The Essential Elements article Giving Wildlife a Second Chance. And don't miss other student and alumni stories in the current e-zine edition!

Awards and Recognition:

AASCU Excellence in Innovation Award
Award from Petersons

Alliance for New Jersey Education Award

Curriculum

The Environmental Science/Studies (ENVL) program draws on the strengths of a closely related and interconnected cluster of degree programs offered by the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, including Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Marine Science and Sustainability. Students can select courses widely from areas within Environmental Science/Studies to get a broad perspective, or they can specialize in one of several areas, or concentrations, within Environmental Science/Studies, if their interests are more narrowly defined.

 

Concentrations

Students can concentrate in one of the following areas, or in consultation with their preceptor, select courses from several to tailor their interests to our offerings:

  • Accelerated Science Masters Program
  • Forestry
  • General
  • Planning and GIS
  • Soil Science and Hydrology
  • Wildlife


 

Students can also combine additional At-Some Distance courses in Education, Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Public Health, and other fields outside the natural sciences to create a more specialized program of study.

  • Qualified students can move into Stockton’s Professional Science Masters and complete a Bachelor of Science and a Masters Degree in our Accelerated Dual Degree Program.
  • Many graduates work in the environmental field, where some have risen to leadership positions or have started their own consulting companies. Still others have graduated from Stockton to attend graduate schools where they frequently earn research and teaching assistantships.

Required Courses

All ENVL majors take the following Program courses in the freshman and sophomore years:

  • ENVL 1100 Introduction to Environmental Science
  • ENVL 2600 Environmental Studies Seminar
  • ENVL 2100/05 Physical Geography with Lab
  • ENVL 2200/05 Ecological Principles with Lab
  • ENVL 2400 Statistical Analysis of Ecological Systems

During the same years, all ENVL majors also take:

  • BIOL 1200/05 Cells and Molecules with Lab or BIOL 1400/05 Biodiversity and Evolution with Lab.
  • CHEM 2010/15 Chemistry I with Lab and CHEM 2110/15 Chemistry II with Lab (BS only).
  • BA students must take Economics option.
  • One of the following courses: ENVL 2100/05 Physical Geology with Lab or an Introductory Physics course with Lab - BA students can choose CHEM I in this option. 

During their junior and senior years ENVL majors take upper level courses in the Program.

Students may either specialize by taking courses in one area of Environmental Science, or they may take courses from several of these areas. These include:

  • Forestry, Wildlife, or Ecology, including courses such as ENVL 3121 Wildlife Management, ENVL 3136 Mammalogy, ENVL 3429 Forest Measurement, ENVL 3419 Ecological Forest Management, ENVL 3426 Freshwater Ecology, BIOl 3130 Ornithology, BIOl 3413 Population Biology, ENVL 3423 Entomology, and ENVL 3417 Dendrology.
  • Planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including courses such as ENVL 3302 Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ENVL 3303 Advanced GIS, ENVL 3307 Geodatabase Systems, ENVL 4622 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ENVL 3311 Regional Planning, and ENVL 3310 Environmental Planning and Policy.
  • Soil Science and Hydrology, including courses such as ENVL 3432 Soil Science, ENVL 3434 Watershed Hydrology, ENVL 3435 Groundwater Hydrology, and ENVL 3430 Geomorphology.

Juniors and seniors can also take courses in related programs such as

Sustainability, Geology, Marine Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics Political Science, and Public Health.

Students must also:

  • Complete a ENVL Research Senior Project or an Internship that involves doing environmentally related work for a governmental agency, or consulting or other company, or a non- governmental agency.
  • Take a senior level Environmental Issues Course.
  • Complete the University’s requirements in general education (BS 48 credits, BA 64 credits).

 

Degree Works Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency Tool

You can see the curriculum for your area of interest using  Degree Works. This service is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.

Instructions on How to Use Curriculum Tool

 

Learn more about the ENVL program ELO's.These essential learning outcomes guide all Stockton University students from first-year through graduation to the intellectual and marketable talents needed to prepare for personal and professional success in the 21st century.

Essential Learning Outcomes

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate

Various industries and organizations use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze trends, visualize historic changes, and aide in future decision-making strategies. GIS is used in different sectors such as politics, public health, business, emergency response, science, and many other fields. The GIS Certificate is the right choice for professionals interested in advanced skills in computer mapping, spatial modeling, and spatial data-mining technologies and is expecting a 35% growth each year over the next decade. 

 Hamilton/Galloway Township GIS map

Individuals with GIS certification possess a skill set that is transferable to a variety of industry sectors and can open a broad base of job options and careers.

Common uses of GIS include:

  • Inventory and management of resources
  • Crime mapping
  • Establishing and monitoring routes
  • Managing networks
  • Monitoring and managing vehicles
  • Managing properties
  • Locating and targeting customers
  • Managing agriculutural crop data
  • Addressing public health concerns
  • Mapping wildfire risk and preparedness
  • Modling hazmat risk
  • Mapping, monitoring, and mitigating invasive species

Learn how you can complete a certificate program within one year!* 

*students who meet prerequisites

Professional Science Masters Degree 

The accelerated dual-degree BS/PSM program is an intensive five-year curriculum that offers students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and a Professional Science Master’s degree. Students take enough courses to meet all requirements for the undergraduate BS and then transition into the MS program in their “senior” year, the fourth year of study. This program is designed as a terminal degree for students who want to obtain advanced skills that will prepare them for the workplace. Students interested in research leading to a doctoral degree should consider more traditional programs and are advised to enroll in the BS in Environmental Science and take basic and applied science courses that prepare them for a broad range of research opportunities typical of a conventional graduate program.

Stockton students may apply early!

  • Conditional admission to the dual BS/PSM program as high school seniors OR
  • At the beginning of the second semester of their “junior” year.

Transfer Students

Transfer students may apply alongside their application for admission to Stockton. Transfer students will be considered for admission on a case by case basis, depending on prerequisites met and the likelihood of completing upper level undergraduate ENVL courses by their senior year. Exceptional transfer students who do not have prerequisites may be conditionally admitted, in consultation with their advisors. These students may require more time to meet the requirements of the BS/PSM. Only students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 will be considered.

 

Faculty

Emma L. Witt

Emma L. Witt

Program Chair Associate Professor of Environmental Studies 
609.626.6854  | A&S - 120
Tait Chirenje

Tait Chirenje

Professor of Environmental Science
609.652.4588 | USC1 - 213
Jessica Hallagan

Jessica Hallagan

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
609.652.4267  | A&S 121
Min Kook Kim

Min Kook Kim

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
609.626.3624 | A&S - 220
Vashti Mahadeo

Vashti Mahadeo

Teaching Specialist,  Environmental  Studies 
609.626.3162 | A&S 223
Daniel A. Moscovici

Daniel A. Moscovici

Professor of Environmental  Studies and Geology
609.626.3607  | G-244
Matthew Olson

Matthew Olson

Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
609.626.3112  | A&S - 222
Matthew "Rocky"  J. Severs

Matthew "Rocky"  J. Severs

Associate Professor of Geology
609.626.6857 | A&S - 124
Catherine A. Tredick

Catherine A. Tredick

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
609.626.5518  | A&S - 221
Jeffrey Webber

Jeffrey Webber

Associate Professor of Geology
609.652.4213 | A&S - 119
Daniel Barone

Daniel Barone

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Anthony Bevacqua

Anthony Bevacqua

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Mike Cicali

Mike Cicali

Environmental Studies  & PSM Adjunct Faculty
Mark Demitroff 

Mark Demitroff 

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
856.285.0458 Cell 
Geoffrey Fouad

Geoffrey Fouad

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Dona Jane Huggins

Dona Jane Huggins

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Jason Kelsey

Jason Kelsey

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
James Klickovich

James Klickovich

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Joseph Lisa

Joseph Lisa

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Jennifer Long

Jennifer Long

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Elizabeth Olson

Elizabeth Olson

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Ryan Rebozo

Ryan Rebozo

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Jaclyn Rhoads

Jaclyn Rhoads

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Tucker Rowlinson

Tucker Rowlinson

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Jason Simmons

Jason Simmons

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
David Werner

David Werner

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty
John Wnek

John Wnek

Environmental Studies Adjunct Faculty

 

Career Opportunities

After graduation, qualified ENVL students have the opportunity to move into Stockton's Professional Science Masters program and complete a Bachelor of Science and Master's Degree in our 4+1 Dual Degree program. Many other graduates will seek employment in the environmental field. Some have risen to leadership positions or have started their own consulting companies. Still, others have graduated from Stockton to attend graduate schools where they frequently earn research and teaching assistantships that underwrite their graduate education.

Recent surveys indicate that the majority of Stockton’s Environmental graduates establish careers related to their major. They work in federal, regional, state, and local governmental agencies; in schools, colleges and universities; in engineering, consulting, and resource management and exploration companies; in a wide array of non-profit or nongovernmental organizations and in other related industries. ENVL students have been successful at some of the nation’s leading graduate schools, where they have gone on to complete doctoral degrees. Other students have begun successful businesses in environmental consulting, while yet others have risen to prominence in governmental and nongovernmental agencies.

Interested students may contact the program Coordinator of the Environmental Science program or speak to their Faculty Preceptor for additional information. The Career Education & Development office is also a good resources as students explore career and graduate education opportunities.

 

Potential Careers

Environmental consultant
Recycling officer
Zoologist
Environmental engineer
Sustainability consultant
Hydrologist
Marine biologist
Waste management officer
Educator
Nature conservation scientist/officer
Water quality scientist
 
Horticulturist
Environmental policy & law
 

 

The Student Career Center that is available to guide you through your career development journey - from CV writing, interview prep or general guidance.

 

Requirements

All ENVL students are required to complete 1-4 credits of an internship (ENVL 4900) or independent study (ENVL 4800) to graduate. Internships can be with any government agency, private consulting firm, natural resource industry, or environmental organization (approved by faculty sponsor). Independent studies involve conducting independent research with a faculty member on campus. B.A. students MUST complete at least one credit of an outside internship. You can complete multiple internships or independent studies for credit during your time at Stockton for a maximum total of eight (8) credits towards your degree. Each project can only be worth a maximum of 4 credits each. Credits are determined based on the number of hours spent on-site working, as follows: 

  • 1 credit = 40 hours of work 
  • 2 credits = 80 hours of work 
  • 3 credits = 120 hours of work 
  • 4 credits = 160 hours of work 

All paperwork must be signed by your faculty sponser before you begin any work. Once you have secured an internship or independent study, you should fill out the appropriate paperwork (links below) with a faculty sponsor (can be your preceptor or any Stockton faculty member) and submit it to the NAMS office for processing. Students are required to complete some sort of final project or other assignments (reflective journals, literature reviews, poster or oral presentations, research papers, etc.) to receive full credit for the internship or independent study. Students should talk to their preceptors or other ENVL faculty member for additional details about these requirements.


Environmental Science Internship Examples and Student Testimonials

 

 Image of Stockton University Environmental Science student Emily Peraria

Interns of the Atlantic County Office of GIS use GIS and remote sensing software to provide maps, spatial data, and imagery for state, county, and municipal projects within Atlantic County. Projects include tidal monitoring, disaster prevention, flood hazard mitigation, strategic growth management plans, municipal mapping for zoning use, service area mapping, municipal roadway assessment for planning, providing census information maps, transportation analysis, and environmental impact analysis.

GIS Interns will also provide a range of services for the office, including scanning documents, printing maps, receiving GIS-related phone calls, updating Atlantic County website resources, updating County geodatabases, and providing resources to office walk-ins.

  

 “As an Intern for the Atlantic County Office of GIS, my objective is to take my in-classroom training provided by the Stockton University professors and apply it to the professional real-world scenarios presented to Atlantic County’s Department of Planning and Development. I most enjoy being able to broaden my “toolbox” of techniques at Atlantic County and attending Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management meetings, where I am able to merge my GIS experience with my interest in emergency management and response. I am extremely grateful for my time at Atlantic County and the Specialists I have the privilege of working under. Being an Atlantic County Office of GIS intern has given me a year’s worth of new knowledge and techniques to tackle the ever-changing world of geographic information science.” 

Emily Peraria
Atlantic County Department of Planning and Development Intern

 

Click here for more information on  Planning & GIS Concentration and the GIS Certificate. For more information on planning internships please contact  Professor Weihong Fan.

Image of Environmental Sciences student Vincent Palmieri

Brick Township’s Division of Land Use & Planning is responsible for guiding development and maintaining the Master Plan and land use ordinances. This internship position works closely with two NJ licensed professional planners who work with the local Planning Board, Board of Adjustment and Zoning office staff. This also includes working closely with engineers, administrators and GIS specialists.

The Land Use & Planning team focuses on community smart-growth initiatives to minimize suburban sprawl while also encouraging residential, industrial and commercial growth. Brick Township is trying to maximize brownfield redevelopment while preserving forests, wetlands and local parks. The internship also works on Brick Township’s Sustainable New Jersey portfolio, applying for grants to enhance municipal sustainable development practices.

 

 “This internship gave me firsthand experience working with professionals on various projects including: The Master Plan, planning studies, reports, review of subdivisions/site plans, drafting of ordinances, affordable housing compliance, geographical information mapping, tax map maintenance and grant writing. The Environmental Studies faculty and the education I gained at Stockton University made this opportunity possible. When I graduate I hope to work with a municipality directly on land use issues.” 

Vinny Palmieri
Brick Township Planning Intern

 

Click here for more information on environmental planning and GIS concentration. For more information on planning internships please contact Professor Daniel Moscovici.

 

 

 Image of Stockton student and DMAVA intern, Laurel Klein

The internship entails a year-round training program for undergraduate students, under the tutelage of a program advisor John Hallagan and faculty member Tait Chirenje. The interns work alongside scientists from the NJDMAVA and contractors working on NJDMAVA projects in fulfilling assessment, monitoring, remediation and other environmental obligations for the NJDMAVA. The NJDMAVA elected to use students because collaborations of this nature provide interns with real world experiences and on-the-job training in environmental concentrations, such as conservation, remediation, wildlife management, and land management. This internship allows students to gain valuable career building experiences through completing practical projects and networking with professionals in the environmental field along the way.

  

 “I joined the SUEIP team in January 2018 as a second semester Junior.  I was interested in the program after speaking with my adviser and discussing the types of projects that were in progress.  Since then, I have been a part of several group and individual projects including an air emissions report, a beach vegetation survey, an osprey conservation video, a spill plan report and training, water quality and inventory reports, and a rare species report.  This work included in-depth surveying, GIS map development, and writing.  As a student working on these projects, I gained valuable skills that apply to my future career as an Environmental Scientist” 

Laurel Klein
NJDMAVA Intern

 

Click here for more information on environmental quality concentration (B.S. and B.A.). For more information on environmental quality internships please contact Professor Tait Chirenje.

 

 

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