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Texas A&M bioenvironmental sciences degree ranked second largest in U.S.
Texas The bioenvironmental science degree program offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University has been rated as the second most popular environmental degree program in the U.S., according to www.stateuniversity.com/program/03-0104/Environmental-Science#10604, a website offering rankings of U.S. state universities and colleges. The Bachelor of Science degree program, which is offered by the department of plant pathology and microbiology, had 72 students graduate with the degree last year, second only to the University of Illinois, with 82 graduates. Other universities rounding out the top five are the University of California-Santa Barbara with 67 graduates, the University of North Carolina with 64 students, and Western Washington University with 62. According to the site, there are at least 100 U.S. universities and colleges offering degrees in environmental areas. Nine of these are in Texas, with Texas A&M being the largest. The top five Texas universities are Texas A&M; Texas State University with 56 graduates; Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with 25; the University of Houston-Clear Lake with 25; and the University of Texas at San Antonio with 22. The degree is growing in popularity as students increasingly turn to green career options. The Texas A&M program, which was started in 1989, has grown consistently over the years. There are currently 183 students majoring in bioenvironmental sciences. "The (Texas A&M) degree offers a huge array of career options that make it very attractive to students," said Charles Kenerley, Ph.D., associate head of the department of plant pathology and microbiology. "Graduates can go into applied biotechnology, bioremediation, energy production, environmental consulting, waste management, public health, regulatory agency compliance, and law. Many of our former students have used the degree to move into the legal profession. The broad interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum prepares students well for a legal career." According to the website, one of the hallmarks of an environmental degree program is its interdisciplinary emphasis. "The curriculum must be interdisciplinary, with an emphasis in the experimental sciences such as chemistry, physics, biology, and geology," according to the website. "The focus is on scientific methodology, because the goal of the environmental scientist is to find practical solutions. Current and future problems are examined in a hands-on manner whenever possible." The program offers a selection of courses that feature insights into economics, political issues, communications, environmental law, and the biological and geological sciences, said Texas A&M student Laura Cherry, a 2009 graduate. "The program here is easily tailored to fit you and your goal," Cherry said. The bioenvironmental sciences program has also grown due to its multiple career applications, said Bill Gibbs, marketing and manager of communications for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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