Welcome to The School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (SESS)
SESS is home to the Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences programs, offering a range of undergraduate degrees. Our Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs include Environmental Biology, Environmental Science, Geo-Science, and Sustainability Science. These B.S. programs have a strong scientific foundation that provide the students with skills developed through individualized internship and research opportunities in addition to a series of program-related electives that are selected for each student based on his/her career ambitions. Our Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program in Earth Science has a diverse set of courses that spans Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Environmental course. The B.A. is designed to prepare the student for teacher certification in Earth Science and elementary education with an Earth Science specialization.
Our programs are committed to educating a new generation of scholars and teachers who reflect the diversity of cultures, life experiences, and views of our society and who will be equipped to address the major issues facing people and the Earth today. The students are ready for careers in both public and private sectors jobs where diverse interdisciplinary knowledge in the Environmental Sciences is required. Below is a brief description of our programs:
- The Environmental Biology, Biology B.S. is geared towards people who are interested in careers such as: conservation biology, ecology, veterinary science, plant science, zoology, marine biology and wildlife biology. Many of our students are interested in pursuing a career in human health, such as becoming a medical doctor, physical therapist or physician assistant, and this program offers a unique approach to understanding the link between the environment and human health, while ensuring that they meet their graduate program prerequisites. Students become skilled at conducting field and laboratory research, biodiversity assessment, and species identification.
- The Sustainability Science B.S. was the first degree of its kind in New Jersey and one of only a dozen degree programs in the nation with such a focus. The mission of this program is to prepare students in the emerging discipline of sustainability science that focuses on developing technological and social solutions to issues pertaining to energy, climate change, food production, waste management, transportation, and product development. The program also prepares students to pursue positions related to the environment in the fields of law, business, sociology, health, and political science. Students can become trained to be certified in LEED (for certifying green buildings), Life Cycle Assessment (recognizing a product’s impact), and in OSHA (Environmental, Health and Safety)
- The Environmental Science, Earth Science B.S. is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a strong background in science and fundamentals as they relate to the environment. Students become skilled at soil and water sampling, conducting field and laboratory research, resource management, and using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The program is designed to prepare graduates for technical positions in the environmental industry and/or to continue their education in the graduate level.
- The Geo-Science, Earth Science B.S. is geared towards students interested in learning about and practicing the use of the most current geological and geochemical technologies including X-ray absorption spectroscopy, remote sensing, aerial photographic interpretation and GIS. They are trained through a system approach to study the earth and environment as a system that integrates geology, geochemistry, meteorology, oceanography, geography, environment science and also astronomy.
- For our B.A., Earth Science, our students becoming introduced to each of our areas of specialty. For example, students interested in oceanography are engaged in marine conservation, marine resource management and learn about the important interactions between ocean, climate and man. In the atmospheric sciences, students are exposed to the fundamental science behind meteorological phenomena like hurricanes and tropical storms, learn about weather prediction and gain insights to the climate change debate.
What distinguishes the SESS programs is that students have an opportunity to engage in broad interdisciplinary studies of the policy and politics, and conservation and resource management issues important today, and increasingly important for the future. We aim to build a community with a greater understanding of the role science plays in society. The mission of the faculty from SESS is to provide students with strong scientific background, interdisciplinary problem solving skills and strong communication skills. As a small department, the faculty get to know the students well and have the great opportunity to help you become tomorrow’s leaders.
Career Options for those studying in SESS fields (click for PDF)
For more information contact:
Daniela Shebitz, Ph.D.
Executive Director, School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences
Associate Professor, Environmental Biology and Sustainability
Kean University, College of Natural, Applied, & Health Sciences
School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences
Phone: (908) 737-3745
Email: dshebitz@kean.edu
http://www.kean.edu/~dshebitz/
Juyoung Ha, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor
Earth Science, Environmental Science and Geoscience
Kean University, College of Natural, Applied, & Health Sciences
School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences
Phone: (908)737-3739
Email: haj@kean.edu
NEWS:
KEAN UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $13K GRANT TO CONDUCT RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKSHOPS
