KKU as the largest university in the northeast is recognized as the leader of teaching, learning and research innovations.
While Khon Kaen is the key trade and administrative hub of the northeastern Thailand and is on a main transport route between the south and the Mekong sub-region, KKU is placed to support the development of the northeast and its neighboring countries. Our department vision is to be a leading institution in environmental science at the national level.
Environmental Science
The Department of Environmental Science offered its first bachelor degree in 1993 with a small group of 15 students. Over 25 years, it is now home of more than 300 students in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
We have produced nearly a thousand of environmental science graduates working nationwide and internationally, and will continue growing to serve the country and greater Mekong subregion. Though bigger, all classes are oriented to make students feel being in
a small classroom setting with hand-on experiences. Every semester, we organize field excursions in ecology, ecosystem protection and environmental management, which will help broaden student visions by connecting theories to real-world situation.
Environmental work requires both knowledge and practical experiences because environment is our every day life.
Career paths
Approximately 60% of our B.Sc. graduates work in industrial and private sectors as an environmental officer, auditor, quality control officer and environmental consultant.
About 20% go into governmental and non-governmental organizations, especially in areas of natural resource and biodiversity conservation, at local, national and international levels e.g., Office of Natural
Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning and Wildlife Conservation Society. A growing number of new career opportunities is environmental businesses, especially consulting company and organic farming business. Meanwhile, 20% enter graduate schools.
The majority of M.Sc. and Ph.D. graduates work in academic sectors, including university lecturers and researchers.
