Environmental Analysis & Planning

Bridge the gap between environmental science and environmental restoration/design

This major is no longer accepting new students.

Maintaining the balance between protecting the environment and using our rich natural resources is the focus of Frostburg State University’s acclaimed environmental analysis and planning program. The four-year bachelor’s curriculum is unique among environmental science programs because students not only receive the scientific background needed to analyze environmental challenges, but they also get the technical skills required to design solutions that mitigate the problems. The degree program provides extensive hands-on experience working with scientific tools in the field. The program provides an engineering problem-solving approach to environmental restoration and planning. Graduates are well prepared to enter a master’s program or gain employment with the federal government, state government or private industry.

  • Enter a program with many career options, including working with federal organizations such as the EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Natural Resource Conservation Service and the National Park Service. Most of our graduates have multiple job offers before graduation.

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Analysis and Planning Highlights:

  • Develop skills such as storm water management, laboratory techniques, wetland delineation, site analysis, surveying, mapping sciences, impact assessment, landscape grading and computer application.

  • Complete an internship in the environmental field, if desired. Our faculty helps by maintaining close working relationships with the U.S. Geological Service, the Maryland Bureau of Mines, Natural Resources Conservation Service and many engineering and environmental planning consulting firms.

  • Use our exceptionally well-equipped facilities that include PC-based computer labs with the latest scientific programs; field equipment and laboratories for surveying, soil investigation and hydrology; and extensive biological resources such as a herbarium, modern limnology laboratory and vertebrate and invertebrate collections.

  • Join organizations on campus that support your environmental science major, such as the student chapter of the Sierra Club and the Geography Club.

  • Get hands-on experience with scientific tools necessary to collect environmental data, analyze challenges and design solutions.

About Our Environmental Analysis and Planning Faculty:

  • Learn from faculty members who maintain an open-door policy and are available to coach you with lab work and class assignments.

  • Be a part of small classes, with 15 or fewer students in most classes, where you will receive individual attention and mentoring in your chosen field of study.

  • Study with faculty with diverse scientific backgrounds such as environmental engineering, remote sensing, biogeography and GIS.

  • Gain skills by working with published scientific authors who are avid researchers on such diverse topics as, “Silent Killer Project: Salt Pollution and Contamination,” “Thematic Cartography and Geovisualization” and “Local Food Initiatives in Tobacco Transitions of the Southeastern United States.

Sample Environmental Analysis and Planning Courses You May Take:

Soil and Water Engineering – Explore principles and methods for soil and water management related to surface land disturbances. Understand methods for calculating storm runoff and erosion, design of flow conveyances and water detention basins and computer assisted modeling.

Digital Image Processing and Analysis – Study digital image processing and analysis related to environmental and natural resource management. Explore satellite data acquisition, data formats and packaging techniques, image processing and analytical techniques, image classification and interpretation, integration of digital image processing applications and modeling with GIS.

Surveying and Field Techniques – Delve into the theory of measurements, computation and instrumentation; field work, use of Global Positioning Systems and compilation of topographic base maps; evaluation of errors; and profiling, grading, slope and grade stakes.

Find out more about Frostburg State University’s environmental analysis and planning requirements.

Career Outlook for Environmental Scientists:

An FSU degree in environmental analysis and planning opens doors to careers within government agencies as well as engineering and environmental consulting firms. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental scientists can anticipate 15 percent growth in career opportunities through 2022, which is greater than the average growth across all occupations. Visit the U.S. Government Occupational Outlook Handbook for more information on Environmental Scientists careers.

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