Environmental Sciences and Studies

The Majors

The BA degree in Environmental Studies (ENST) will provide students with a broad introduction to the scientific, social, political, cultural, economic, and policy aspects of environmental issues. BA students will minor in a discipline that complements their major and will be prepared to pursue careers with environmental groups, policy groups, and consulting firms and to continue studies in graduate programs in environmental studies and law.

The BS degree in Environmental Sciences (ENSC) will educate students in the scientific, social, political, ethical, and policy aspects of environmental issues in preparation for scientific careers in industry, government, and consulting and for graduate programs in environmental sciences.

Comparison of the majors

• Both majors prepare students for a variety of future endeavors.
• Students majoring in environmental sciences will take much more science and mathematics as compared to students majoring in environmental studies.
• Students majoring in environmental studies are required to have a minor, while environmental sciences majors are not.
• Students majoring in environmental studies will take more environmental humanities and social sciences courses than the environmental sciences majors.
• Both majors will take an introductory courses (ENVS 101) which is open to the general student population as well as a senior capstone course (ENVS 520) which is restricted to seniors in ENSC and ENST only.
• It is relatively seamless for students to switch from the BS in ENSC to the BA in ENST or from the BA in ENST to the BS in ENSC. However, knowing that this might be a possibility will assist your advisor in suggesting appropriate courses.