Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Stonehill College

Program Overview

Stonehill College’s Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies explores the relationship between people, society, and the natural environment, with an emphasis on the social sciences and humanities alongside foundational environmental science. It is a strong choice for students who want to help address climate change, conservation, sustainability, environmental policy, and community environmental issues through research, communication, advocacy, and informed decision-making.

Curriculum Structure

Stonehill’s Environmental Studies major combines environmental knowledge with social science and humanities perspectives. The university does not publish a fixed year-by-year course sequence on the main program page, so the following is an illustrative progression based on the program’s listed courses rather than an official four-year schedule.

Year 1: Explore environmental challenges and build a foundation. Students can begin by developing an understanding of environmental issues and the relationship between human activities and natural systems. Courses such as ENV 200 Principles of Environmental Science provide a foundation for understanding environmental problems and potential solutions, while the college’s core curriculum helps students develop writing, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning skills.

Year 2: Understand the social, political, and ethical dimensions of the environment. Courses such as ENV 270 Environmental Ethics explore how people think about their responsibilities toward nature and how environmental decisions involve competing values. Students can also explore the policy and economic dimensions of environmental challenges through related social science courses, connecting environmental concerns with government decisions, business activity, and community priorities.

Year 3: Apply environmental knowledge to real-world issues. Students can deepen their understanding through subjects such as ENV 275 Environmental Law and ECO 327 Environmental Economics, which examine the legal and economic frameworks that influence environmental decisions. The program’s research and internship opportunities can help students connect these ideas with environmental organizations, sustainability initiatives, and public-sector work.

Year 4: Integrate learning through a senior capstone experience. Students complete a senior capstone experience and participate in the senior seminar, bringing together environmental knowledge, research, and their chosen areas of interest. Depending on the approved course options and academic plan, experiential pathways may include an internship, directed study, independent research, or a senior thesis. Students should confirm the current requirements and course availability with the department.

Focus Areas

Environmental policy, sustainability, environmental ethics, environmental law, environmental economics, conservation, environmental communication and advocacy, community engagement, and the social and human dimensions of environmental challenges.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to examine environmental issues from social, ethical, political, and economic perspectives; evaluate how human decisions affect the natural world; communicate environmental concerns; and apply research and critical-thinking skills to sustainability and policy challenges. The program also helps students prepare for work involving environmental education, advocacy, management, planning, and community initiatives.

Professional Alignment and Accreditation

The B.A. is oriented toward the non-technical areas of environmental work, including policy, management, sustainability, education, outreach, and advocacy. Stonehill’s official program information does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for this major, so students planning to pursue a regulated profession should check the qualifications required for their intended role.

Reputation and Employability

Stonehill publishes Environmental Studies graduate outcomes that include employment and graduate-school destinations. Listed career destinations include the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey, AmeriCorps, the New England Botanical Garden, the New England Aquarium, and environmental and sustainability organizations. These examples demonstrate the range of paths graduates have pursued, but they are not a guarantee of placement or a program-specific employment rate.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Stonehill offers Environmental Studies students opportunities to connect environmental issues with research, community engagement, and professional experience. Through faculty-guided research, internships, and career-focused events, students can explore how environmental policy, sustainability, conservation, and advocacy work in practice. The college also offers the Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), which allows eligible students to undertake substantial research in collaboration with faculty.

Key practical learning opportunities include:

- Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE): Students who have completed their first year can apply to conduct full-time research under the guidance of an experienced faculty researcher. The program is designed to support significant research that may be suitable for publication.

- Faculty-guided research: Students can pursue directed studies and independent research on environmental topics. Examples of research at Stonehill include studies of ocean circulation patterns in the Gulf of Maine and the reproductive morphology and genetics of the invasive wetland plant purple loosestrife.

- Environmental internships: Previous internship locations listed by Stonehill include the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance, Marine Biological Laboratory, Casella, Millstone Wildlife, Catalina Islands, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM).

- Career fairs and environmental networking: Students can participate in annual career fairs, a Green Careers Lunch, sustainability-industry career lunches, and an environmental careers and networking panel.

- Campus recruiting: Stonehill offers on-campus recruiting for internships and entry-level positions, giving students opportunities to connect with potential employers while developing their career plans.

- Research communication: Faculty-guided research and independent studies can help students develop skills in investigating environmental questions, interpreting findings, and communicating their conclusions.

- Library and academic resources: Students can use Stonehill’s library and academic resources to support coursework, research, and preparation for internships. The university does not specify a particular digital research platform or software package as a required tool for the Environmental Studies major on the official program pages reviewed.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Stonehill’s B.A. in Environmental Studies can prepare graduates for careers that address environmental challenges through policy, sustainability, conservation, education, and community engagement. The college lists Environmental Studies alumni career destinations across government, nonprofit organizations, environmental businesses, and conservation institutions, as well as graduate-school placements in areas such as urban planning and community development.

Potential career paths include:

Environmental Policy or Sustainability Assistant
Environmental Outreach and Education Coordinator
Conservation Program Assistant
Sustainability or Environmental Program Coordinator

These are potential career directions rather than guaranteed job titles; specific opportunities depend on experience, employer requirements, and any additional qualifications.

Career Support and Professional Preparation

- Career Development services: Stonehill’s Career Development team assists students pursuing employment, further study, and postgraduate service opportunities. It also supports students in building long-term career-management skills.

- Internship and entry-level recruitment: The college offers on-campus recruiting for internships and entry-level jobs, alongside annual career fairs and environmental networking events.

- Employment and graduate-school destinations: Stonehill’s Environmental Studies outcomes page lists career destinations such as the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey, AmeriCorps, the New England Botanical Garden, the New England Aquarium, and Clean Harbors.

- Graduate-school progression: Listed destinations include the University of Massachusetts Boston for Urban Planning and Community Development, UMass Lowell, Pace University Law School, and Montana State University.

- Industry and community exposure: Internship opportunities and environmental networking events can help students explore work in conservation, sustainability, environmental organizations, and public agencies. The university’s published internship locations are examples of past student experiences, not guarantees of future placements.

- Employment statistics and salary figures: The official Environmental Studies outcomes page lists career and graduate-school destinations but does not provide a program-specific employment rate or average salary. Students should consult current job-market and salary information for their intended occupation and location.

- Accreditation value: Stonehill’s official program information does not identify a separate professional accreditation for the Environmental Studies major. The degree’s value is instead reflected in its interdisciplinary preparation and the range of career and graduate-school pathways available to graduates. Students considering regulated professions should check the relevant licensing and qualification requirements.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue their education through master’s programs in Environmental Studies, Environmental Policy, Sustainability, Urban Planning, Community Development, Environmental Management, or related fields. Students interested in environmental law may pursue a law degree, while those drawn to research or academic work can consider further postgraduate study in a relevant environmental or social science discipline. Stonehill’s published graduate-school destinations illustrate several of these possible directions.