College of Arts and Sciences
Sustainability and Environmental Science
Environmental professionals use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. Through field-based investigations, faculty-mentored research and promoting sustainable solutions, the University of Dayton offers students many opportunities to find their passion and help solve pressing environmental issues.
UD provides students with experiential learning opportunities in such areas as waste reduction, energy conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation, procurement, landscape and environmental quality, and food systems.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, environmental science is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country, with a median salary of $76,480. Employment of environmental scientists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
In the UD College of Arts and Sciences, students can choose pathways in sustainability, environmental biology or environmental geosciences.
Hanley Sustainability Institute/Sustainability Program
Housed in the Hanley Sustainability Institute, the Sustainability program trains future leaders with the knowledge, skills and values needed to address today's social and environmental challenges. The program offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in sustainability, as well as a minor in sustainability and a 12-credit-hour graduate certificate in sustainability. There are concentrations in energy, food systems, sustainable watersheds and urban sustainability. Established in 2014, the Hanley Sustainability Institute is a leader in sustainability education and research.
The University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute and its Sustainability program provide students with a broad base of skills in the emerging field of sustainability. Students with majors or minors in sustainability learn how to work across disciplines to identify and solve sustainability problems.
Students from across the University of Dayton are involved in campus and community sustainability efforts through the Hanley Sustainability Institute and its Sustainability program. Courses based on experiential learning and student-run programs allow students to implement sustainability solutions in real-world situations.
University of Dayton students enjoy one-on-one mentorship opportunities to work with faculty on sustainability-related research projects. The Hanley Sustainability Institute and its Sustainability program offer internship and student-leader programs that allow students to create their own pathways to career success.
Environmental Geosciences
Environmental geosciences tackle society’s most important environmental problems – climate change, energy resources, pollution and hazards – through a detailed and integrated study of major components of the Earth system: atmosphere, hydrosphere and the solid earth. Field-based research is central to our curriculum. All majors participate in Geology Field Camp, which takes place in the Rockies of Colorado.
The University of Dayton Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences has a strong focus on the environment and sustainability, with an integrative curriculum that trains students to solve 21st century problems. Students work closely with faculty to learn about the workings of the Earth and develop skills to thrive in modern geoscience careers.
University of Dayton students majoring in geology and environmental geoscience perform field work in the western United States, Canada, China, India, Africa and New Zealand. Students learn how to identify environmental problems in real-world settings, and gain valuable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, data analysis and accountability.
The University of Dayton Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences offers students opportunities to conduct field and laboratory research with faculty experts to learn first-hand what it is like to be a geoscientist. Students build connections with knowledge and relationships with professors to help find their purpose and passion.
Environmental Biology
Environmental biology is a dynamic and growing major that prepares students with the scientific background needed to understand and address the many pressing environmental concerns that exist in the modern world. Our program emphasizes experiential learning and creates opportunities for students to get out of the classroom into nature.
The University of Dayton Environmental Biology program offers students the opportunity to learn about environmental science in outdoor areas that include a pollinator prairie and a 5-acre research and education park. Students gain skills through hands-on research experiences and learn how to implement them to make an impact on modern environmental concerns.
University of Dayton students majoring in environmental biology apply what they learn in the classroom through actual field research in outdoor laboratory spaces, seeing the impact of their work in real-world settings. Students work with faculty, graduate students and peers to develop the skills to succeed in environmental science careers.
University of Dayton students majoring in environmental biology gain real-world experience through faculty-mentored research, working in campus laboratories and field research areas. Students build close relationships with faculty and connect what they learn in the classroom to the ecological processes they see occurring in the field.