Environmental Technology Management Major to Be Offered in Fall

A bachelor-degree major for students seeking jobs as compliance officers, laboratory technicians, hazardous-materials managers, wastewater operators, and project planners and managers in the environmental field will be offered this fall at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The 140-credit Environmental Technology Management major to be offered through the School of Natural Resources Management at Penn College expands upon career opportunities presented by the Environmental Technology associate-degree offering. The four-year degree will help graduates find employment with state and federal environmental agencies.

The degree is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of environmental issues and solutions as they apply to air, water and wastes. With emphasis on hands-on activities and projects, the Environmental Technology Management major will build students' technical skills in hydrology; water sampling and analysis; site remediation; Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems; emergency response planning and execution; advanced laboratory instrumentation; project writing; and risk assessment. A summer internship and senior seminar are required.

The program will prepare students to pass the following exams: Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, Qualified Environmental Professional, Environmental Profession Intern, Registered Environmental Scientist and Certified Environmental Systems Manager.

Recommended high school subjects include four years of English, two years of algebra, and one year each of biology, chemistry and physics.

A unique feature of the new major allows students who complete two years of study to graduate with an associate's degree in Environmental Technology.

"Many of our two-year graduates, although highly skilled and well-qualified for employment, have been unable to obtain positions with state and federal agencies, which require bachelor's degrees for entry-level positions," said Dr. Mary A. Sullivan, assistant dean of natural resources management at Penn College. "Offering a four-year degree in Environmental Technology Management will allow more of our graduates to enter state, federal and managerial positions within the environmental field."

For more information, call the School of Natural Resources Management at (570) 320-8038, send e-mail or visit on the Web.