With growing challenges to the environment from a number of directions, including global climate change, shortage of natural resources, hazards, and sustainable development, the Environmental Science Major offers students with a strong scientific and technological background for understanding and addressing the environmental issues faced by human society and reducing our impacts on the environment and conserving its life-supporting system.

It is no longer sufficient to be educated in traditional sciences of biology, chemistry, physics and geology. Understanding the environment and human impacts on the environment requires that we cut across the traditional boundaries of knowledge. This major will prepare students for work in industries and government agencies where they will have to wisely manage the resources for which they are responsible.

Students will acquire a solid foundation on the natural sciences in order to understand the interactions between the physical and biological world and appreciate the linkages between the environment and human society.  By its very nature, environmental science is a truly interdisciplinary subject providing a broad-based education. Specifically students will gain training in areas of life and environment, physical and sustainable environment, pollution and remediation, and application of knowledge and skills in environmental science in industry and commerce.

Please click here to the ENVS website.

Career Prospects

There is an increasing demand for environmental science graduates, both locally and internationally in the government and industrial sectors, including (1) environmental consultants for environmental impacts assessment, engineering consulting, advising government departments and international organizations, risk analysis for insurers, re-insurers and commercial organizations, (2) environmental laboratories using skills in eco-toxicology, bio-remediation, pollution control and environmental protection, (3) planning departments for energy policies, resources management, land-use planning, statutory regulations and hazards prevention, (4) environmental professionals in conservation organizations, habitats and ecosystems management, conservation biology and fisheries, and (5) teaching profession as academics and school teachers.

Selected Courses in the Major

Introductory level:
Introduction to Environmental science; Environmental life science; Basic chemistry; Blue planet; Basic physics 

Advanced level:
Environmental microbiology; Demographic principles on population and evolutionary biology; Ecological demography in changing environments; Global change: anthropogenic impact; Earth resources; Natural hazards and mitigation; Sustainable energy and environment; Chemical process industries and analysis; Food and water analysis; Environmental radiation; Pollution; Remediation; Environment and society; Environmental risk assessment and management; Environmental science in practice

Student Sharing

CHIU Wing Tung Ruby                           
Year 3, BSc (Environmental Science)

“The fact that human has made so much damage to the environment has driven me to study Environmental Science at HKU. This major does not only teach us about conservation, but it also helps us understand the environment, especially how to utilize it in a sustainable way. Through interactive activities like discussions, presentations, experiments, debate sessions and field trips, I have enhanced my presentation and critical thinking skills. By studying cases around the globe, it has also broadened my horizon. As greater emphasis is put on corporate accountability on environment these days, I believe that graduates from Environmental Science will definitely have a bright future.”