My daughter is having a difficult time finding the correct information. She wants to study Environmental Chemistry with an emphasis on water quality. Having a difficult time finding the best colleges with that major. Can anyone give insight on where to look?
Thank you!
Allegheny College in PA has an excellent Environmental Sciences program:
Two majors are offered in the department: Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. Core courses in the Environmental Science major include biology, chemistry, geology, and mathematics. Upper-level courses synthesize and integrate basic sciences and apply that knowledge to analysis and solutions of current environmental problems. Upper-level courses are rich in lab and field experiences.
Water Quality tends to fall under the broader, interdisciplinary categories of Environmental Health, Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Engineering and Environmental Policy/Planning. There are also programs that integrate policy/diplomacy as well as management. It tends to be a specialty that is offered at the graduate level.
Here is some background info:
https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/water-quality-specialist
Professional groups like this are good to know about.
https://newiee.org/events/
Tufts has a focus on water
Here are two free (archived) on-line courses from Tufts/edx and a research guide - They could allow your daughter to explore some aspects the area ahead of time to see if she likes it. They are graduate level courses, so don’t let her get discouraged, or worry about understanding everything - just explore. Maybe a high school teacher could advise/provide guidance.
https://www.edx.org/course/biology-water-health-fundamentals-oecx-ph241x-0
https://researchguides.library.tufts.edu/water_health
Tufts Engineering has an undergraduate Environmental Health degree that can be specialized.
https://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/current/undergraduate/majors/bseeh
Tufts Arts and Sciences has a very interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program that integrates Environmental Engineering. There is a stand alone, applied major with a track in Environmental Science as well as a co-major with an Environmental Science track. Within the Environmental Science track you can concentrate on Water Science. If you have a 3.5 GPA then there is the option to deign your own track with the help of a faculty adviser.
https://as.tufts.edu/environmentalStudies/curriculum/majorAppliedEnvStudies.htm
https://as.tufts.edu/environmentalStudies/curriculum/track1_environScience.htm
Here are some graduate programs available at Tufts
https://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/current/mscee/water
https://now.tufts.edu/articles/new-degree-sustainable-water-management
https://environment.tufts.edu/wsss/
https://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/reason/rt/wab.html
https://now.tufts.edu/articles/new-water-filtration-method-devised
Here are some related research areas at Tufts
https://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/research/research-areas/environ-water-resources
https://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/water/index.htm
Best of luck, - this is an important area and we need more people working in it.
Check out Eckerd in FL. With it’s location right on the water and its well known Environmental/Marine Sciences major, they may indeed have someone specializing in it (but you need to check). A bonus with them is there are no grad students getting to do all the “fun” stuff. Undergrads can roll out of their bed and walk over to the lab to do it. They have a superb location.
SUNY ESF’s environmental health major has a choice of emphases, one of which is focused on water quality issues. https://www.esf.edu/environmentalscience/envhealth/ There’s also a Water Resources Engineering emphasis within the Environmental Resources Engineering major. https://www.esf.edu/ere/undergraduate/
OP: Is your daughter interested in limnology or drinking water?