Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Gustavus Adolphus College

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College prepares students to address environmental challenges through an interdisciplinary education that connects natural sciences, social sciences, history, theology, and the arts. With a choice of four concentrations — Environmental Justice, Living Systems, Earth Systems, or Distributed Environmental Studies — students can tailor their studies to their interests in sustainability, conservation, environmental policy, and creating a more equitable and sustainable world.

Curriculum Structure

The Environmental Studies major consists of six core courses and five concentration courses, totaling approximately 46–51 credit hours, depending on the selected concentration. The following is an illustrative progression through the degree, as the college does not prescribe a single year-by-year sequence for all students.

Year 1: Building Environmental Foundations

Students can begin with ENV 120, Geochemistry of the Environment, alongside ENV 121, Geochemistry of the Environment Lab, to explore the chemical and geological processes connecting rocks, water, air, and living organisms. They can also take introductory environmental humanities coursework, such as ENV 131, Environmental Literature, or ENV 104, Injustice & Resistance: Global Environmental Issues, to understand how environmental challenges intersect with culture, history, and social justice.

Year 2: Exploring Society, Science, and Environmental Systems

Students develop a broader understanding of human–environment relationships through ENV 230, Nature and Society, examining the social, ethical, and economic factors behind environmental problems. Depending on their interests, they can begin concentration coursework in areas such as ecology and biodiversity, environmental justice, or Earth systems, building a foundation for more specialized study.

Year 3: Specialization and Applied Learning

Students deepen their knowledge through concentration-specific courses and interdisciplinary study. Those interested in environmental data and spatial analysis can explore GEG 240, Fundamentals of GIS, while students focusing on Earth systems may study subjects such as Earth Surface Processes, climate change, hydrology, and environmental chemistry, depending on their selected requirements. Sustainability internships, independent research, advocacy, and study-away experiences can also help students connect academic knowledge with practical environmental challenges.

Year 4: Integration and Professional Preparation

In their final year, students complete ENV 399, Senior Seminar, which forms part of the major's core curriculum, while finishing their concentration and remaining degree requirements. This stage brings together their interdisciplinary knowledge and specialized interests, helping prepare them for careers in sustainability, environmental policy, conservation, or further academic study.

Focus Areas

Environmental Justice; Living Systems; Earth Systems; Distributed Environmental Studies; sustainability; biodiversity and conservation; environmental policy; environmental history; climate and water systems; geographic information systems; and interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental challenges, examine the relationships between human societies and natural systems, evaluate environmental and social justice issues, build scientific and analytical knowledge, and explore potential solutions through research, advocacy, internships, and applied learning experiences. The program also encourages students to connect environmental knowledge with community needs and sustainable decision-making.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree relevant to environmental and sustainability-related careers. No specific professional accreditation for the Environmental Studies major is identified in the official program and catalog information reviewed. Students should confirm any additional certification requirements associated with their intended profession.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Gustavus reports an average salary of $55,174 five years after graduation for the Environmental Studies major's career information, citing the U.S. Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer. The college also identifies graduates working in areas such as conservation, sustainability advising, solar analysis, and fisheries biology, with employers including Engie Impact, Frontier Energy, Medtronic, and Pivot Energy. This is an employment and salary indicator, not a program-specific QS or Guardian ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Gustavus Adolphus College, Environmental Studies students can connect classroom learning with practical environmental research, field experiences, sustainability initiatives, and community engagement. The Environment, Geography, and Earth Sciences department offers specialized learning spaces, scientific equipment, and opportunities to explore environmental questions through laboratory work and off-campus excursions. These experiences help students develop research, analytical, and problem-solving skills relevant to environmental careers.

Students can develop practical expertise through the following program-related opportunities:

Environmental Studies Student Projects Room: A dedicated space with resources such as grow lights, power tools, and sewing machines, allowing students to explore and develop interdisciplinary environmental projects.
Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Teaching Lab: Access to specialized GIS software for learning spatial analysis and geographic techniques relevant to environmental planning and research.
Nobel Hall of Science: Science classrooms, laboratories, and scientific equipment that support learning and research across environmental and natural science disciplines.
Field trips and off-campus excursions: Departmental field experiences give students opportunities to investigate geological, environmental, and landscape-related questions outside the classroom.
Research opportunities: Students can work with faculty on research projects, gain career-relevant techniques, and investigate environmental topics in laboratory or field settings.
Sustainability internships: Students can participate in campus sustainability projects and develop leadership skills by contributing to practical environmental initiatives.
Environmental advocacy and community engagement: The major encourages advocacy experiences and community-oriented approaches, particularly for students concentrating in Environmental Justice.
Internships and professional experience: The college's Center for Career Development helps students identify internships, prepare applications, and explore opportunities for career-related experience.
Study-away opportunities: Students can explore international learning experiences and work with academic advisers to identify courses that complement their Environmental Studies requirements.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Environmental Studies prepares students to explore careers that combine environmental knowledge, sustainability, research, policy, and community engagement. Its interdisciplinary structure allows graduates to pursue different professional pathways according to their chosen concentration, practical experience, and additional qualifications. Gustavus identifies career possibilities ranging from sustainability and environmental compliance to conservation and environmental education.

Potential job roles include:

Sustainability Coordinator or Sustainability Adviser
Environmental Policy or Compliance Analyst
Conservation Technician
Environmental Education Specialist

Career Support and Employment Opportunities

Career planning and guidance: The Center for Career Development offers career exploration, résumé and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, networking support, and guidance with job searches and graduate-school planning.
Internships and practical experience: Students can use the college's career resources and Handshake platform to explore job and internship opportunities. The Engaged Learning Fund also supports eligible unpaid or underpaid career-related experiences.
University–industry connections: Gustavus provides opportunities for employers to recruit students, offer internships, host workplace visits, and connect with graduates. The college's Environmental Studies page identifies graduate destinations and employers such as Engie Impact, Frontier Energy, Medtronic, and Pivot Energy; these examples do not guarantee placements or formal partnerships for every student.
Employment outcomes: Gustavus reports that nine out of ten graduates find employment related to their career goals, enter graduate school, or participate in service programs within nine months of graduation or sooner. This is a college-wide outcome rather than a statistic exclusively for Environmental Studies graduates.
Salary information: The Environmental Studies program page reports an average salary of $55,174 five years after graduation, based on the U.S. Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer. Individual earnings vary with job responsibilities, location, experience, and further qualifications.
Career networking: Students can connect with alumni through mentoring opportunities and professional networking, while employer events and job and internship fairs offer additional ways to explore career options.
Accreditation and professional development: No specific professional accreditation for this major is identified in the official program information reviewed. Graduates pursuing regulated or specialized environmental professions should check the additional qualifications required for their intended role.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the BA in Environmental Studies, graduates can consider postgraduate study in areas such as environmental science, sustainability, environmental policy, conservation biology, geography, or related interdisciplinary fields, depending on the admission requirements of the chosen institution. Students interested in research-focused environmental science programmes should plan their undergraduate concentration and supporting coursework carefully, particularly in biology, chemistry, geology, statistics, or other relevant sciences. Those interested in environmental law or public policy can also explore appropriate postgraduate programmes after completing the bachelor's degree.