Ecology and Environmental Science Major

Program Contact/Coordinator
Dr. Nels Troelstrup, Interim Department Head
Department of Natural Resource Management
Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory, Room 138D
605-688-5503
Nels.Troelstrup@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/nrm/
Click here for additional information. 

Program Information
The Ecology and Environmental Science major includes a strong core in biophysical sciences and a variety of elective courses that allow students to follow their interests within the major. Most students enrolled in this major are planning careers with environmental monitoring and regulatory agencies or private consulting firms. Students are given the opportunity to select from two emphases, Ecology and Environmental Science.

• The Ecology Emphasis allows substantial flexibility in course selection for those interested in employment with state or federal agencies, or private consulting firms as an ecologist.
• The Environmental Science Emphasis is for students seeking careers or graduate programs to address contemporary environmental issues. This emphasis includes a broad selection of elective credits, allowing the student to design a track optimal for their future career or graduate education path.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
The Ecology and Environmental Science program is based on certification requirements of the Ecological Society of America. Curricula are designed so that upon completion, ecology students may become a Certified Ecologist from the Ecological Society of America.

Course Delivery Format
Program coursework is delivered on-campus, in lecture, discussion, and laboratory settings, and off-campus in numerous field-based settings.