Environmental Studies
School of Arts and Sciences

Regional Accreditation — The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Affordable Tuition — Full-time financial aid availability and reasonable costs. Faculty — Academic credentials and real-world experience. Cohort Program - complete the program major with the same group of peers from start to finish.

Why choose a career in Environmental Studies?
Attention to the impact of humans on their environment has never been greater. Mountain State University’s environmental studies program addresses the increasing need for environmental professionals in businesses, public agencies, and private interest groups.

Companies and organizations have recognized the necessity of anticipating environmental stressors, evaluating potential hazards in and from the workplace, and correcting potential damages or injuries. Students who wish to make a positive impact on the environment through industrial hygiene or occupational health and safety may enjoy a career in environmental studies.

Why choose MSU?
Mountain State University’s Beckley campus is located in a state known for its wealth of underground minerals and fuels. Extraction of these products requires the identification and correction of hazardous work practices and pollutants that can harm the fragile nature of our water resources and the quality of our soil and air. MSU’s environmental studies program provides technical education in such hazardous-materials related topics as medical surveillance, toxicology, decontamination procedures, industrial hygiene, radiation, and environmental issues.

What can I study?
The core curriculum provides technical education in such hazardous material-related topics as industrial hygiene, protective clothing and equipment, decontamination procedures, medical surveillance, safety, toxicology, emergency response, properties of hazardous materials, radiation, and environmental issues. Students will also study chemistry and technical writing, and may choose from electives in environmental studies, as well as the natural and social sciences.

The Environmental Studies program is available only at our Beckley campus. The B.S. in environmental studies is available through a liberal studies concentration. Both the B.S. and A.S. are offered through independent study as well as traditional classroom study.

What are my career options?
Graduates are prepared for entry and midlevel positions that provide essential technical support to business, industry, and government in handling, transporting, storing, and disposing of toxic and hazardous materials. The degree provides qualifications and credentials for hazardous materials management employees who are required to meet changing industry demands in light of increasingly stringent and complex federal and state regulations, such as those imposed by OSHA.

Please see our catalog for degree and program requirements.