Environmental Physical Science deals with the identification, study, and treatment of a variety of environmental problems including ground and surface water quality and management, waste treatment, land-use planning, soil testing, contaminant chemistry and monitoring, hazardous waste disposal, land reclamation, and energy management and production. The Science Department at Black Hills State University is a small, personable department committed to quality undergraduate programs in science, with a special emphasis on involving students in research and internship experiences.

BHSU student Brandi Wood measuring lava flow channel dimensions in Hawaii.

Although the Environmental Physical Science major is rigorous, the rewards are great. This is a broad and varied science, requiring a background in a number of different science areas. In addition to a variety of geology classes, students must finish additional course work in chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Students with a strong background in these physical sciences are thus able to successfully compete for internship, graduate school, and employment opportunities. More advanced study at the graduate level opens up even more opportunities, including advanced research in national laboratories, environmental law, and teaching/research at the college or university level.

One of our goals at Black Hills State University is to provide students with high-quality employment opportunities after graduation. To this end, the environmental physical science major is important because the market potential has never been better. Several publications have recently discussed the strong demand for trained professionals in this field. In two separate issues of U.S. News and World Report, managing the environment is listed as one of the hottest career choices. In addition, the February 1992 edition of Money only listed the geological profession as the "No. 2 Best Job in America". Of the geological profession as a whole, environmental geology is the "hot specialty," accounting for nearly 50% of all geology positions.

Environmental positions for Bachelors degree graduates exist in the private sector through consulting, chemical, petroleum and other manufacturing corporations. Positions also exist with state and federal government agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation, US Geological Survey Water Resource Division, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Forest Service.

There is an occupational demand for environmentally trained personnel in non-science areas as well. For example, environmental law is listed by US News and World Report as one of the top career choices, with environmental lawyers earning a starting salary of $53,000 to $85,000. Lawyers with an environmental science background will have a "leg up" on others in the field. In addition to lawyers, architects and graphic artists, and business personnel including managers, accountants, marketers will also have an advantage in gaining employment with environmentally-oriented business if they too have taken a few environmental courses.

The United States Federal Government has also taken note of the demand for Environmental Geoscientists. Dr. Richard G. Luthy, Carnegie Mellon University civil engineering professor and past president of the Association of Environmental Engineering Professors, states that the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment predicts a five-fold increase in demand for scientists in the field of hazardous waste. These sentiments were echoed by Paul L. Busch, past president of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, who noted that "more than ever, environmental engineers are in short supply."

This major also takes advantage of Black Hills State University's geographical location in an area of active renewable and nonrenewable resource production. The environmental concerns surrounding this type of activity creates a wide variety of opportunities for internships and undergraduate research projects.

There are no other undergraduate environmental physical science programs offered in the state/region. Two South Dakota universities offer degrees in Geology or Geological Engineering (University of South Dakota and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology).