当今环境所面临的挑战-空气和水污染，森林砍伐和物种丧失，峰值石油消耗和气候变化-是复杂且相互关联的问题。环境科学和环境研究的跨学科领域都致力于研究这些关键问题，以期找出可行的解决方案。环境科学专注于自然系统的研究以及保护和改善环境的技术应用，而环境研究专注于人与自然系统之间的相互作用以及科学与政策之间的联系。环境和可持续性问题极为复杂，应对这些挑战需要一套独特的技能。因此，两个专业都采用跨学科的方法进行批判分析和解决问题，同时为学生提供使用各种工具的经验。来自两个专业的学生在许多相同的高年级课程中共同努力
The challenges of today's environment -- air and water pollution, deforestation and species loss, peak oil consumption and climate change -- are complex and interconnected issues. The interdisciplinary fields of environmental science and environmental studies are both dedicated to the study of these critical problems with the aim of identifying feasible solutions. Environmental Science focuses on the study of natural systems and the application of technology to protect and improve the environment while Environmental Studies focuses on the interaction between human and natural systems and the connection between science and policy.<br>Environmental and sustainability issues are overarching and complex, addressing these challenges requires a unique set of skills. Because of this, both majors utilize an interdisciplinary approach toward critical analysis and problem-solving while providing students with experience in the use of a wide range of tools. Students from both majors work together in many of the same upper division courses to foster respect for diverse perspectives and abilities and to build skills for working effectively within interdisciplinary teams.<br>The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) major is designed for those students with an interest in the more technical aspects of environmental systems. Students take a series of rigorous courses in chemistry, physics, biology, earth systems science, and mathematics. Upper level B.S. students can choose to follow a general environmental science track or complement their environmental science courses with a biology or chemistry concentration.