Environmental & Sustainability Studies (ENVST) Bachelor of Arts

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Utah

Program Overview

The University of Utah’s Bachelor of Arts in Environmental & Sustainability Studies is designed for students who want to understand how environmental challenges connect with society, the economy, public policy, and everyday life. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines environmental science with social sciences and the humanities, students learn to evaluate sustainability challenges, consider environmental justice, and develop practical approaches to building healthier, more resilient communities.

Curriculum Structure

The BA combines core Environmental & Sustainability Studies coursework with an area of emphasis, supporting courses, language study, and general education requirements. The year-by-year outline below describes the broad progression of study; individual schedules may vary depending on prerequisites and course selection.

Year 1: Building a Foundation

Students begin by completing general education requirements and developing the academic skills needed for interdisciplinary study. Introductory environmental science coursework, including ENVST 2050 — Intro to Enviro Science, introduces topics such as ecology, sustainability, biodiversity, Earth resources, and environmental quality, helping students connect environmental questions across scientific disciplines.

Year 2: Exploring Environmental and Social Issues

Students begin to focus more closely on their chosen emphasis through ENVST emphasis electives while continuing their general education and language requirements. This stage allows them to explore how environmental issues relate to communities, resource use, conservation, social equity, and sustainable development while preparing for more advanced coursework.

Year 3: Developing Research and Analytical Skills

Students progress into upper-division coursework and build the research, writing, statistics, and methods skills required for environmental analysis. The programme’s interdisciplinary approach encourages students to examine complex environmental problems from multiple perspectives and evaluate how social and ecological systems influence one another.

Year 4: Integrating Knowledge and Applying Sustainability Concepts

In the final year, students complete advanced emphasis requirements and prepare to apply their learning to environmental and sustainability challenges. ENVST 5556 — ENVST Initiatives, a capstone course listed in the university catalog, asks students to integrate theories, models, and concepts from earlier study through a project, while reflecting on their roles as educators, communicators, and responsible citizens. Students should confirm the course’s availability and applicability to their particular degree plan with an academic adviser.

Focus Areas

The programme offers four areas of emphasis, allowing students to tailor their studies to their interests:

Air, Water, and Health: Explore air and water quality, environmental pollution, resource management, and the effects of environmental conditions on human and ecological health.
Conservation and Land Management: Study conservation, restoration, land-use planning, and the ecological, cultural, and social dimensions of managing landscapes.
Ecojustice Education: Examine environmental justice, education, social change, and the political, economic, and ethical dimensions of environmental issues.
Food Systems and Community: Explore how food production and consumption connect with ecosystems, public health, social equity, and community resilience.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to assess environmental challenges through multiple academic disciplines and understand the interdependence of social and ecological systems. They develop critical-thinking, research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, evaluate how global processes affect communities differently, and learn to integrate human health, ecological well-being, and social equity into sustainability solutions. The programme also emphasises community engagement, leadership, and responsible citizenship.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The programme develops interdisciplinary skills relevant to environmental policy, conservation, sustainability planning, community engagement, and environmental education. The university's official programme information does not identify a separate professional accreditation for this BA, so students interested in regulated professions should confirm any additional qualification or licensing requirements for their intended career.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Utah's School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability brings together faculty working across physical, social, and data sciences, giving students opportunities to approach environmental challenges from different perspectives. The school identifies career pathways in government agencies, nonprofit organisations, education, and business, including roles in sustainability coordination, conservation, environmental advocacy, and resource management. The official sources reviewed do not establish a specific employability ranking, programme-level employment rate, or average salary for Environmental & Sustainability Studies BA graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Utah's Environmental & Sustainability Studies programme emphasises peer learning, community engagement, and applying classroom knowledge to real environmental challenges. Students can complete an internship, research project, or honours thesis focused on an environmental or sustainability issue. These experiences help students develop professional skills and apply theoretical concepts in real-world settings. Students can also explore campus sustainability projects and community-based opportunities through the School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability.

Programme-specific experiential learning opportunities include:

Internships — ENVST 4800: Complete an approved internship related to environmental or sustainability issues. Students are responsible for finding and securing an opportunity, and the programme provides guidance and resources to support the search.
Faculty-mentored research — ENVST 5000: Undertake research on an environmental topic with a faculty or other qualified mentor. Research may be completed with ENVST faculty or other university researchers, provided the project has an environmental focus.
Honours thesis — ENVST 4999: Eligible students can develop an independent research project and complete an honours thesis with guidance from a faculty adviser.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP): Explore undergraduate research opportunities and potential funding to support research with a faculty mentor.
Environmental and sustainability capstone projects: Courses such as ENVST 5559 — Air, Water, & Health require students to assess sustainability approaches and complete a group project aimed at making the University of Utah campus more sustainable.
Food systems and community learning: ENVST 5558 — Capstone: Food for Justice, Health, and Sustainability includes practical activities and field trips to local farms and restaurants, connecting food systems with health, justice, and sustainability.
Career preparation and internship support: U Career Success offers assistance with internship searches, interview practice, and résumé and cover-letter reviews. Students can also explore internships through the university's Handshake resources.
Community and sustainability initiatives: Students can explore local internship listings and community-based projects involving conservation, sustainability, environmental advocacy, and public engagement.

Course availability and eligibility vary by semester and degree plan. The programme requires three credits of approved internship, research, or honours thesis work to fulfil the major requirement.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Environmental & Sustainability Studies BA prepares students to explore careers that connect environmental challenges with communities, policy, conservation, education, and sustainable business practices. Its interdisciplinary structure helps graduates understand environmental problems from scientific, social, economic, and ethical perspectives, while internships, research, and community engagement can help them build relevant professional experience.

Potential Career Roles

Sustainability coordinator or adviser
Conservation coordinator or natural-resource specialist
Environmental policy associate or advocate
Community engagement coordinator

The university also identifies potential career paths such as GIS analyst, environmental compliance coordinator, development associate, habitat restoration biologist, environmental educator, and environmental attorney. Some positions may require additional technical training, professional experience, or postgraduate qualifications.

Career Development and Professional Opportunities

University career services: U Career Success supports students with career exploration, job-search strategies, internship preparation, interview practice, and résumé and cover-letter reviews. Students can use career resources and Handshake to research opportunities and connect with employers.
Internships and practical experience: The School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability publishes internship opportunities, including positions related to environmental sustainability, conservation, community engagement, and public policy. Examples in its listings have included Utah Conservation Corps, Recycle Utah, Save Our Canyons, and the Central Wasatch Commission. Listings change by term, and students should confirm current availability and eligibility.
Employment and salary figures: The official sources reviewed do not provide a verified employment rate or average starting salary specifically for Environmental & Sustainability Studies BA graduates. Students can use the university's career resources and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to investigate salary and employment projections for their intended roles.
University and employer connections: The programme encourages students to engage with local communities and seek internships with relevant organisations. Its internship listings feature opportunities with environmental and community organisations, but the sources reviewed do not establish a guaranteed placement or formal employment partnership for every student.
Accreditation and long-term value: The degree builds transferable skills in research, critical analysis, communication, sustainability, and problem-solving. No separate professional accreditation is identified for the BA in the official sources reviewed; students planning to enter a regulated field should check that profession's requirements.
Graduate outcomes: The school identifies career opportunities across education, business, government agencies, and nonprofit organisations. Students can strengthen their preparation through an emphasis area, internship, research project, or honours thesis, depending on their interests and eligibility.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the BA, graduates may pursue master's or doctoral study in sustainability, environmental policy, environmental management, conservation, environmental education, geography, or related interdisciplinary fields. Depending on their interests, they may also consider postgraduate study in public policy, community development, urban planning, or environmental law. Entry requirements vary by institution and programme, and students should check whether their chosen postgraduate pathway requires additional science, quantitative, or professional coursework.