Earth and Environmental Sciences ,BA
Climate, Climate Change, Earth Science, Environment, Land Use, Natural Resources, Policy, Science, Studies, Sustainability, Water, approved for STEM-OPT extension, geology
Explore today's most pressing challenges in environmental health, climate change and natural resources, and develop your capacity to improve the human condition in the present and in the future. Develop critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills as you become an environmental steward and changemaker.
The Bachelor of Arts in Earth and environmental sciences helps students understand the function and evolution of the world and the vulnerabilities of the environment. Students receive broad training in physical science and geoscience, with an emphasis on understanding Earth's life-sustaining surface environment.
The program explores climate change, energy resources, natural hazards, ocean environments and implications for sustainable human civilizations, empowering graduates to help Arizona and the global community address many critical environmental challenges facing society.
Through elective tracks, students can focus their studies on climate and environmental change, environmental policy, sustainability, Earth resources, environmental management or environmental education.
In addition to reviewing the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, students interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are advised to visit The College's website for more information and requirements.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.
The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: Yes
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
- First
required math course:
MAT 170 - Precalculus
or higher - Math
intensity: Moderate
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
First-year
| Transfer
| International
| Readmission
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Apply scientific methods to analyze Earth-system and environmental data.
- Synthesize core concepts of Earth system science and societal factors to analyze linkages among Earth-system processes, environmental conditions, and human societies.
- Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary groups to evaluate societally significant environmental problems and propose viable solutions.
The physical environment is highly varied across the globe, and so is the human treatment of it. Global education programs enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the global environment, how culture affects the environment, and how to best communicate environmental research to a diverse audience. Programs are offered in a variety of countries around the world.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Geosciences Institute project strong job growth in environmental science and geoscience. Graduates are well prepared for "green" professional careers in fields such as environmental education, environmental reporting, public planning, environmental consulting and natural resource management. Graduates are also prepared for graduate school in related disciplines, such as natural and environmental sciences or education, environmental public policy and environmental management.
Career opportunities include these positions:
- conservation scientist or natural resource manager
- data analyst
- environmental monitoring and exposure assessor
- environmental or sustainability consultant or planner
- environmental protection or remediation scientist, consultant or manager
- environmental specialist, analyst or technician
- natural hazards assessment and mitigation specialist
- public policy and planning specialist
- science teacher
- water resources specialist
Career settings include:
- educational institutions
- environmental consulting firms
- environmental engineering firms
- federal, state and local government agencies
- museums
- nongovernmental organizations
- nonprofit organizations
- publishing companies
- regulatory agencies
- utility companies
For more information, please see the career opportunities page on the School of Earth and Space Exploration website.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
6.1%
|
$76,480
|
|
|
35.2%
|
$103,500
|
|
|
0.7%
|
$61,690
|
|
|
4.1%
|
$64,460
|
|
|
6.1%
|
$76,480
|
|
|
6.1%
|
$76,480
|
|
|
4.2%
|
$83,040
|
|
|
14.8%
|
$48,110
|
|
|
1.0%
|
$62,360
|
|
|
0.8%
|
$61,810
|
School of Earth and Space Exploration
|
ISTB4 795
sese-advising@asu.edu
480-965-5081
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
