Biology students at the Ozark Research Field Station. Photo by Michael Pierce, Missouri S&T.

In 2022, Missouri S&T began offering a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. The program, offered through S&T’s biological sciences department, draws on the university’s expertise in science, engineering, humanities and social science fields to help address the projected growth in demand for environmental scientists in Missouri and elsewhere.

Dr. Robin Verble, director of the program and professor of biological sciences at S&T, recently answered some questions about the growing program:

Where have you seen the most growth for the program?

The environmental science program has grown fast! We have more than 70 students now – some of whom come as first-year students, others who have realized transferring to our program makes sense and is straightforward, and internal students who realized that this is the career path for them.

I attribute this growth to excitement and passion among students for making big changes in their world. Students want to make a difference, and this degree provides ample opportunity to do so both on campus and in their future careers.

I also think students want hands-on learning, opportunities to get career training, and, in our field, to be outside. Resources like our Ozark Research Field Station, field courses, international field courses and faculty-led research provide our environmental science students with lots of options.

What are the biggest needs for the program going forward? What would help take it to the next level? 

Our program is a true interdisciplinary degree – students have core coursework in five departments across all three colleges, so our success is truly hinged upon the success of the university.

The three biggest priorities I have are:

1. We need continued investment in excellent faculty across multiple departments who  can teach in our students’ specific areas of interest, including geospatial, public health, restoration and conservation, and the environmental social sciences and humanities (policy, history, ethics and literature).
2. We also need additional dedicated scholarship opportunities to attract additional outstanding students from across Missouri and beyond.
3. We need to make sure prospective students know we are here and what our program has to offer. This year, we’ll be running our first for-credit camp for high school students interested in environmental science. They’ll be able to earn credit for their introductory course in the topic, so they can hit the ground running. They’ll also be gaining valuable experience in environmental techniques, so they are able to be ahead of the competition for future internships and jobs.

What has surprised you most in the first few years of the program? 

While it shouldn’t surprise me, the students’ response to the program and their enthusiasm and dedication to their work never ceases to amaze me. Students in this program are service-minded, have a deep passion for the natural world, and they are curious and ready to explore. Our students are participating in internships and training programs across the United States – with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Danforth Plant Science Center, The Nature Conservancy and more, and they are eager and self-motivated to find these opportunities. 

Also, to some extent, it surprises me that we didn’t already have this program in place 20 years ago. We had talented environmental faculty, excellent research in the field, deep connections to environmental employers, and nearly all the curriculum to form a degree in place – they just needed to be assembled into the bachelor’s degree we have today.

What is the dream scenario for the future of the program?

This is a tough question, because we’re working on a lot of new projects. We pride ourselves on being a program with invested faculty who know their students’ names and goals. As we grow, I don’t want to lose that – I want to continue to expand the diversity of courses and options that match our students’ interests. For example, we’ve recently added an undergraduate certificate in environmental policy and a double major option in environmental economics. We’re working closely with the environmental engineering program to build connections between students across degrees, too.

In the near future, I would like to grow our enrollment to more than 100 undergraduate students. We’re also working toward an online master’s degree in environmental health and safety that will be able to serve existing professionals nationwide.

I think the biggest goal and dream scenario is being a known and recognized entity statewide and regionally, and eventually nationally, for a high-value degree in environmental science. Our legacy as a science and technology institution means that students coming here can have an immersive experience in their degree, and our location is situated in a beautiful landscape, near ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once people see what we have to offer, I think it will be the natural environment for students in environmental science.

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to The Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.