Department of Environmental Science, established in 2000, focuses its research on Environmental Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, Environmental Monitoring and Management. It offers degree programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels and post-doctoral program in Environmental Science, which has been recognized by Chinese Ministry of Education as the National Key Discipline. The department has assembled a group of 23 highly qualified faculty members. Among them, there are Distinguished Young Scholars supported by NSFC and awardee of “One Thousand Youth Talents”. Through providing excellent platforms for training international (and regional) talents, the department trains environmental professionals with practical skills and creative thinking and educates students with international perspectives.

Department of Ecology, established in 2012, focuses its research on Costal Wetland Ecology, Marine Ecology, Plant Ecology, Animal Ecology and Restoration Ecology. The discipline of Ecology was granted as the Top National Key Discipline for doctoral education in 2011. With a well-established undergraduate-to-postdoctoral talents training system, XMU has been one of the key national talents training bases in Ecology. Several research achievements have won the academic awards, including State Technological Innovation Award of China. The department currently has 30 full-time faculty members, including one Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries and foreign academician of Academia Europaea, one awardee of “National Excellent Teachers”, etc. In the context of national and local needs for social and economic development and eco-civilization construction, the department trains students with international vision and with theoretical knowledge, methodologies, technologies and new development of Ecology, and cultivate their ability to apply ecological methodologies to solve practical problems.

Department of Ecological Engineering for Environmental Sustainability, established in 2016, focuses its research on practicing ecological principals in Environmental Pollution-control& Engineering, to reach the goal of sustainable living environment. It also hosts an Environmental Evaluation unit. The department currently has 18 full-time faculty members. The department trains students with concept of sustainable development, basic theories, knowledge and skills in the field of Environmental Science and Engineering and Ecology. Meanwhile, the students should have rich innovation awareness and practice ability that can work on ecological environment assessment, environmental ecology planning and designing, construction and maintenance of environmental and ecological engineering.