简体中文
EnglishWhat Is Environmental Sciences and What Can You Study in It?
Updated
Environmental sciences is the interdisciplinary study of how the atmosphere, water, soil, and living systems interact — and how human activity changes them. At Rutgers SEBS, the Department of Environmental Sciences organizes this work into distinct groups and degree paths, so you can study the field broadly or specialize in areas like atmospheric science, meteorology, soil, or ocean modeling. This explainer maps what the field covers, how its subfields differ, and what studying it actually involves.
The core idea: many systems, one field
Environmental sciences sits at the intersection of physical, chemical, biological, and Earth-system science. Rather than studying one medium in isolation, it asks how they connect: how aerosols move through the atmosphere, how contaminants travel through sediment and groundwater, how oceans and climate interact.
The Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers SEBS reflects this breadth through its research and program groups, which include:
- Atmospheric Science
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Engineering
- Bioenvironmental Engineering
- Meteorology
Its listed research keywords — Climate, Atmospheric Chemistry, Meteorology, Earth System Modeling, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Aerosol Mechanics, Soil, Physical Oceanography, and Ocean Modeling — show the range from atmospheric chemistry to soil and ocean systems.
Environmental sciences vs. environmental engineering
These two often appear side by side, and at Rutgers they are separate degree tracks within the same department. The distinction is useful when choosing a major:
| Dimension | Environmental Sciences | Environmental Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Understanding environmental systems and processes | Designing solutions, systems, and infrastructure |
| Typical emphasis | Atmosphere, water, soil, ecosystems, modeling | Applied design, treatment, and engineering methods |
| Related track at Rutgers | Environmental Sciences | Environmental Engineering; Bioenvironmental Engineering |
If your interest is in how environmental systems work and how to measure and model them, the sciences track fits. If it is in building or designing interventions, the engineering tracks are the closer match. Rutgers lists both as undergraduate and graduate program options.
Main subfields you can study
The department's structure points to several directions:
- Atmospheric science and meteorology — weather and climate processes, atmospheric chemistry, and aerosols.
- Earth system modeling — representing how components of the Earth system interact over time.
- Soil science — soil as a system, including its role in contamination and material cycling.
- Physical oceanography and ocean modeling — ocean dynamics and their modeling.
- Bioenvironmental engineering — engineering approaches applied to biological and environmental systems.
These are not isolated silos; student work often crosses them. For example, a project on contaminated lake sediment can involve soil and water chemistry, contamination science, and a sustainability angle at once.
Degree paths: undergraduate to graduate
Rutgers SEBS offers undergraduate programs in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Bioenvironmental Engineering, and Meteorology, alongside graduate programs in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, and Atmospheric Science. That means you can enter at the undergraduate level and continue into graduate study within related areas, or move between the science and engineering tracks depending on your goals.
What studying it involves in practice
Coursework is only part of it. The department highlights research internships and fellowships that give hands-on experience. Documented examples from its news include:
- An undergraduate who took part in the RISE Germany program, researching sediments, heavy metals, and metalloids at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg.
- The same student was selected for DAAD RISE, an international research fellowship placing North American, UK, and Irish students in German summer internships — 3,149 students applied for 350 spots that year.
- An undergraduate accepted as a NOAA Hollings Scholar for 2026–2028, which includes academic assistance plus a 10-week summer internship with NOAA-related work.
The pattern: classroom study paired with real research placements, often international or agency-based.
How to decide if this field fits you
Ask yourself:
- Do you want to understand environmental systems, or design engineered solutions? (Sciences vs. engineering tracks.)
- Are you drawn to a specific medium — atmosphere, soil, oceans — or to how they connect?
- Do you want research experience through internships and fellowships as part of your degree?
If the answers point toward systems, measurement, and modeling, environmental sciences is the natural fit. If they point toward design and applied problem-solving, look at the engineering tracks in the same department.
Where to go next
Start with the department's program pages to compare the Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Bioenvironmental Engineering, and Meteorology tracks, then check the graduate options in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, and Atmospheric Science. The department's seminars and news pages also show current research and student opportunities, which is a practical way to see what the field looks like day to day before committing to a path.