Award: Associate of Science Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Professor Tami Imbierowicz, 443-412-2122, timbierowicz@harford.edu or Associate Professor Andy Adams, 443-412-2283, anadams@harford.edu (August 15 – June 15); and stem@harford.edu or Admissions, 443-412-2019, admissions@harford.edu (year-round).

Program Description

The Environmental Science program prepares students to pursue a bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field.  The program provides students with foundational scientific knowledge, problem solving skills, and field and laboratory experiences. Students conduct field work to gain knowledge and solve problems in living and non-living aspects of ecosystems, including populations and communities of organisms; water, soil, and air quality; and weather and climate. Environmental Science is a diverse and interdisciplinary field of study. The program prepares students to pursue careers in wildlife, plant, or soil biology; law and policy; mapping and land planning; development of technology; sustainability; or environmental education.

Program Goals

At the successful completion of the AS Environmental Science degree program, the student will be able to:

1. Apply the interdisciplinary principles of environmental science.
2. Complete experiments and/or projects using scientific processes.
3. Demonstrate safe laboratory and field techniques.
4. Evaluate ethical issues in the discipline.
5. Evaluate scientific information effectively.
6. Apply quantitative skills to make informed decisions about environmental issues.
7. Communicate scientific ideas and arguments effectively.

Transfer Information

Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should check the degree requirements of that institution. If they differ significantly from those listed, students should consult with an advisor for academic guidance.

Employment Information

Federal, State, and local governments employ over half of all environmental scientists and specialists. The strongest job growth is expected to be in private-sector consulting firms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average growth rate for occupations in this field is 11% from 2014-2024.

Degree Requirements

Recommended Course Sequence

¹

Consult Program Director to ascertain which course(s) best suit individual needs.

²

Core electives are chosen based on the transfer institution degree program. The student is encouraged to consult the transfer institution and HCC advisors to select core electives.

Core Electives  

General Education Degree Requirements

Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:

Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)

Part-Time Progression Plan

The part-time progression plan for programs of study has been developed as a helpful example for students to guide their academic journey. This plan outlines a likely sequence of courses and milestones over three years to help students visualize their academic path. It is important to note that this progression plan is based solely on the core requirements outlined in the approved program of study and does not include any additional requirements. Each student’s experience may vary based on their specific interests, course availability, and academic history. Therefore, students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor.

Part-Time General Education Electives

To earn an Associate degree, students must complete at least 60 college-level credits, including a required number of General Education (Gen Ed) credits:

• AA, AS, and AAT degrees require 28–36 General Education credits as part of the 60 total. This includes a minimum of:
  • 6 credits of Arts/Humanities (GAH)
  • 6 credits of Behavioral/Social Sciences (GB)
  • 3 credits of English Composition (GE) - satisfied by ENG 101 English Composition (GE)
  • 4 credits of Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
  • 3 credits of Mathematics (GM)
  • 3 credits of Biological/Physical Science (GS)
• AAS degrees require at least 18 General Education credits, including one course from each of the following categories: GAH, GB, GE, GL, and GM.

General Education courses must be selected from the college’s approved list and may be further specified by individual degree programs. Unless a General Education course is specifically required by a program, the elective General Education courses listed in the recommended sequence are intended as suggestions, not mandatory selections.

Recommended Part-Time Sequence

¹

Course only offered in the spring semester

²

Course only offered in the fall semester

 Core Electives