School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

From Molecules to Ecosystems, the World Is Yours to Explore

The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick prepares you to tackle the challenges facing the world today—from sustainable food systems to obesity, from water policy to clean energy, and from climate change to the link between the human genome, diet, and disease. The school’s curriculum combines classroom instruction with experiential learning, including field and lab work, internships, and study abroad opportunities.

21
Undergraduate majors
11
Research centers and institutes
$4.2M
in scholarships awarded to SEBS students annually
3,000+
Full- and part-time undergraduate students
15:1
Student-to-faculty ratio

Program Spotlight: Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Science

Choose from 11 majors, 17 minors, or several certificates and dual degree opportunities taught by experienced faculty in the world of biology, ecology, and environmental sciences. SEBS offers more than just lectures and labs – You get hands-on research experience working alongside acclaimed scientists to build a strong foundation for careers in diverse areas of interest such as Animal Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Marine Sciences, Meteorology, and more.

Mark Choroszucha SEBS'18 works with a vertical garden in the Cook greenhouse

Beyond the Classroom

Imagine yourself in a caring, community-oriented learning environment that advances research and prepares you to succeed in your professional and academic life through experiential learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom and into the field, laboratory, and community. If you can imagine this, you can imagine yourself at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

Our students have access to many experiential learning opportunities throughout their academic career, including community service, research programs, study abroad, and more.

On campus and off, our programs connect your studies to the real world through internships, study abroad, and research projects.

Our school includes a diverse array of farms, forests, research field stations, gardens, and preserves. We are re-envisioning various sites on campus as "living labs" – Places for students and faculty to experiment and experience green infrastructure, habitat creation, and food production.

Focusing on interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research, we are committed to studying how human and environmental health intersects with creating a healthy and sustainable future. We are dedicated to providing students valuable research opportunities through grants and partnerships with research centers.

Program Spotlight:
Plant Science

The Plant Science program prepares students for careers or further study in areas related to food and plant production, natural products, bioenergy, plant pathology, plant breeding, and more. The curriculum offers three pathways: Horticulture and Turf Industry, General Plant Biology, and Natural Products.

The curriculum also offers minors and certificates in diverse areas of study such as Agroecology, Horticultural Therapy, Medicinal and Economic Botany, and Turfgrass Science.

Rutgers students working on a plant biology experiment

Alumni Spotlight

Mamadou Ndiaye (SEBS’19)

After graduating from SEBS with a degree in environmental sciences, Ndiaye became a field technician for a NYC environmental management company. Then COVID hit and he lost his job like many others that required in-person work. As we learn in his interview with NJ.com, Ndiaye found a niche in TikTok videos that would channel his passion for animals and the environment.

At the time, he didn’t anticipate that the general public would share his “animal nerd” interests. After four years and a billion "likes" on TikTok, Ndiaye is now his own boss, working full time making edutainment content.

Mamadou Ndiaye