AS in Environmental Science
Northampton Community College
Key Information
Campus location
Bethlehem, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 2,535 / per semester *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* Northampton County PA: $2,535 Monroe County PA: $3,990 Other PA County: $5,325 Out of State/Country: $7,410. Additional fees may apply
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Introduction
The Environmental Science curriculum at Northampton Community College parallels the first two years of most four-year programs and is designed for transfer; NCC has transfer agreements with a number of colleges where students of the program can transfer their credits in full. The field unites a number of disciplines so students can understand the biologic, hydrologic, geologic, and atmospheric components of the earth and the role of human beings on the earth. The program can be customized to prepare for the range of majors and fields that are based on the environment, including laboratory sciences, wildlife conservation, resource management, environmental law, human ecology, and more.
Transfer potential:
Our Environmental Science degree is designed to transfer to a four-year school upon completion and mirrors the first two years of most bachelor's programs.
Northampton has close articulation agreements with a variety of colleges; these agreements will enable you to transfer from NCC to the four-year institution you select. You will receive close advising, and, based on your performance, you are assured of easy transfer of your credits.
Students graduating from NCC often transfer to schools such as East Stroudsburg University, Cedar Crest College, and the State University of New York-College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry.
Admissions
Curriculum
Northampton has close articulation agreements with a variety of colleges; these agreements will enable you to transfer from NCC to the four-year institution you select. You will receive close advice, and based on your performance, you are assured of easy transfer of your credits. Students graduating from NCC often transfer to baccalaureate institutions such as Moravian College, Cedar Crest College, College of the Atlantic, the State University of New York-College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry as well as universities belonging to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
Requirements
We expect you to have a sufficient background in English, math, and chemistry. Students who come to NCC without these previous experiences can take courses to prepare for the more advanced math and science required in the program. We recommend that you take the necessary preparatory classes prior to or during your first semester.
First Semester
- COLS101College Success
- BIOS107Biology I
- CHEM120General Chemistry I
- ENGL101English I
- MATHMathematics Elective (QL) +
- Environmental Concepts Elective ++
Second Semester
- BIOS150Biology II
- CHEM220General Chemistry II
- ENGL151LEnglish II
- CMTH102Introduction to Communication
- MATHMathematics Elective (QL) +
Third Semester
- BIOS206General Ecology
- CHEM201GOrganic Chemistry I
- Environmental Concepts Elective ++
- General Education Elective
Fourth Semester
- BIOS210Environmental Biology
- CHEM251Organic Chemistry II
- Environmental Concepts Elective ++
- General Education Elective
+ Mathematics Elective options: MATH140, MATH145, MATH150, MATH160, MATH175, MATH176, MATH180, MATH181, MATH210, MATH211. To ensure transfer, electives should be selected to meet the requirements of the appropriate transfer institution.
++ Environmental Concepts Electives: Students are required to take three electives from the following courses: BIOS220, BIOS230, GEOG121, GEOG140, GEOG271, GEOL201, HUMA150. To ensure transfer, electives should be selected to meet the requirements of the appropriate transfer institution.
- For the General Education Electives, students must select one course from the list of approved courses in two of the following categories: Arts & Humanities (AH); Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time (SIT), and Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior (SSHB).
- One course must be designated Diversity (D).
- Completion of CHEM201G satisfies the program-related Writing Intensive (WI) requirement. In addition, one General Education Elective course must be taken in a Writing Intensive (WI) section.
- Computer competencies are included in various program courses. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.
Program Outcome
Graduates of the program will:
- Understand fundamental concepts of Environmental Science, interrelating the functions of living and nonliving systems and the role of humans in the environment.
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for sharing discipline-specific knowledge and communicating professionally.
- Conduct scientific inquiry and research on environmental topics as those topics relate to science, technology, and society.
- Proficiently function in laboratory and field settings, demonstrating proper field techniques and using modern scientific instrumentation, including sampling and measuring devices as well as computer technology.
- Demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of environmental safety to ensure both personal and group safety.
- Understand the use of the scientific method to interpret scientific data and make policy recommendations based on the data.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with industry to reduce waste. Environmental scientists and specialists work in offices and laboratories. Some may spend time in the field gathering data and monitoring environmental conditions firsthand. Most environmental scientists and specialists work full time.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) projects that the employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 15 percent through 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Heightened public interest in the hazards facing the environment, as well as the increasing demands placed on the environment by population growth, is expected to spur demand for environmental scientists and specialists
Future Career Paths
- Environmental Scientist
- Environmental Specialist
- Wildlife Conservation
- Environmental Law