| Abstrakt: |
Many universities have developed undergraduate programs with environmental themes in response to increased public interest in environmental issues. Soil science has also responded by renaming or creating programs in environmental soil science. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence and basic characteristics of undergraduate academic programs in environmental soil science and environmental science existing at U.S. universities with agricultural programs. One-hundred sixty-two questionnaires were sent, and responses were received from 74 campuses in 43 states. Forty-two respondents indicated that 48 separate academic programs in environmental soil science exist. The majority were identified as majors, had steady or increasing enrollments, and were 5 yr or less in age. Six of the programs were associated with more than one department and five with more than one college or school. Enrollments ranged from 0 to 375. Employment with private consulting firms was the most frequent response to a question on employment opportunities, followed in descending order by government, private industry, regulatory agencies, Natural Resource Conservation Service, graduate school, and laboratory work. Sixty-four respondents indicated that 78 separate undergraduate programs in environmental science exist. The majority of these were also majors, had steady or increasing enrollments, and 54% were developed within the last 5 yr. Enrollments ranged from 0 to 1400. Thirty-two of the programs were associated with more than one department and 15 with more than one college or school. Reported employment opportunities were similar to those for environmental soil science. |
Plný text