If you’re considering a major in Environmental Science, finding a college that offers exactly what you’re looking for can be a little tough. Almost every college offers something that looks like Environmental Science — or at least sounds like it — and some people will say, “Isn’t that just biology?” Well, first, no, it’s not. Environmental Science is not the same as biology. It’s studying the environment in a way that overlays natural sciences, social sciences, and policy. Most Environmental Science programs approach this through the lens of problem-solving, hence the policy side.
“But wait,” you ask, “what if a school offers Environmental Studies? Is that the same?” Yes, or no, depending. Let us explain.
Environmental Science and Environmental Studies can be interchangeable, but not always. Some schools offer both, in which case they’re obviously different. But many schools only offer one, in which case they are a combination of the two. This isn’t a good or bad thing, but is worth knowing. Other schools — some of which are on this list — offer both a Bachelor of Art and a Bachelor of Science option for their Environmental Studies degree, which makes the BS version their equivalent of an Environmental Sciences major. Yes, we’d also like them to all just use the same terminology but apparently that’s inconvenient for them.
When you are looking for somewhere to study, keep in mind how you want to study. Studying Environmental Sciences in a big urban city will be a very different experience than studying it in a smaller city or somewhere with quick access to nature. Some programs are more intellectually, and classroom-focused, while others prioritize fieldwork. Neither is better or worse — it’s just about how you want to spend your time.
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Harvard University — Cambridge, Massachusetts
The Harvard University Center for the Environment offers a few options for students interested in the environment, most notably two interdisciplinary programs, one in Environmental Science & Engineering and another in Environmental Science & Public Policy. Both programs are focused heavily on the theory and big picture intellectual thought than on fieldwork compared to some of the other schools on this list, which is ideal for people who want to apply an environmental science perspective or lens to a career in another field, like public health, policy, development, or engineering — all at one of the best universities in the world.
University of Washington Seattle — Seattle, Washington
The College of the Environment is the University of Washington’s school for environmental sciences and it is a global leader in the field. The program is impressive on campus and off, and they boast that they conduct research “from the Earth’s core to the cosmos on all 7 continents and in all 5 oceans.” Students can pursue majors in Environmental Studies, Earth and Space Sciences, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Oceanography, and more, with additional minors as well. While the sciences majors are more (unsurprisingly) technical, the Environmental Studies route is designed for future environmental leaders in the public and private sectors.
As mentioned in the intro, some schools combine Environmental Science and Environmental Studies, and UC Boulder is one of them. This isn’t a reason to write it off, though. The Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder can be found in the College of Arts and Sciences, and it’s known for an integration of diverse academic divisions from the fields of natural science, social science, and humanities with the goal of pursuing solutions to environmental challenges. Students “produce an independent research-based analysis of an environmental issue,” and have amazing access to nature and research opportunities in the field. And if you want to go more specific, Boulder also offers degrees in Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences (BA), Environmental Design (BEnvD), and more.
University of California Santa Barbara — Santa Barbara, California
UC Santa Barbara is another one of those schools we mentioned that doesn’t offer a major called “Environmental Sciences” at the undergraduate level. While they do offer a degree of that label for graduate students, the undergraduate equivalent is a major in Environmental Studies with a BA or BS option. If you want to emphasize the sciences, the BS route is your best option, as it’s a more deeply science-focused degree with more math and science courses required than the BA option. Students who pick UCSB have access to fabulous field studies programs including the Wildlands Studies Program that throws you in the field all around the world including Costa Rica, Hawaii, Big Sur, and Peru, and the Bioma Program, which offers students the opportunity to do hands-on field work with sea turtles in Costa Rica.
Yale University — New Haven, Connecticut
You’ll see a trend here, as Yale is another Environmental Studies major that isn’t called Environmental Science but is equivalent if you go with the BS option. All students at Yale have to pick a “concentration” from a list framed around grand environmental challenges including Environmental Justice, Food & Agriculture, and Urban Environments. What we really love about Yale is that they have a 5-year program with the School of the Environment, Yale’s graduate school for environmental studies. Through this, you can graduate with your BA or BS in Environmental Studies and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management or Environmental Science.
University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, California
The Rausser College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley offers a killer major in Environmental Sciences through the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management Department. The major pulls together biology, ecology, chemistry, hydrology, statistics, behavioral science, economics, law, and that’s only half the list. Students can pursue concentrations in Biological Science, Social Science, and Physical Science, and finish their degree path with a Senior Research Seminar, a year-long research project of their own design. Outside of the classroom (and inside, to be honest), students can join the Environmental Sciences Student Association (ESSA) to connect with fellow environment enthusiasts. They organize events, trips, career and internship opportunities, and even hiking and camping trips.
Columbia University — New York, New York
Columbia has a deep history in the earth sciences and environmental sciences, with a geology department that extends back to the late 1700s. Through the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the Environmental Science Major leads students towards developing a firm general foundation science at the collegiate level before then branching out into other areas with greater depth. The Department also offers majors in Climate System Science and Earth Science, and seniors take on a Capstone research thesis, and the proximity of the American Museum of Natural History is an amazing resource just a short distance from the Columbia campus.
University of California Davis — Davis, California
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis is one of the top institutions in the world for Environmental Sciences with a practical perspective. There is a highly-respected major in Environmental Science and Management, but there are so many other environmentally-focused majors to pick from. If you go with the Environmental Science major, you can pursue specializations in things like “Climate Change and Air Quality,” and “Soils and Biogeochemistry.” Across the college, there is a strong emphasis on food security, climate change, and social impact.
Brown University — Providence, Rhode Island
Students at Brown can pursue a major in Environmental Studies through the Institute for Environment & Society as either a BA or a BS. The BA is broader and more policy-focused, while the BS is “a more in-depth treatment of a single field.” The major offers tracks in “Air, Climate & Energy,” “Environment and Inequality,” and more, and students can access the Voss Environmental Fellowship to fund summer projects as well as summer internships on steroids through the IBES Summer Internship Program. Being in Rhode Island offers access to a diverse array of ecosystems to learn from and study in, and the Brown Environmental Studies program is uniquely intimate with only a few dozen students graduating each year.
Colgate University — Hamilton, New York
Whereas the overall trend for colleges is to offer generalized environmental degrees, Colgate goes in the opposite direction. The environmental program offers an array of super-specific majors including Environmental Biology, Environmental Economics, Environmental Geography, Environmental Geology, and Environmental Studies. With courses like “American Literature and the Environment” and “Hunting, Eating, and Vegetarianism,” Colgate students are challenged to directly address the “consequences and impacts of the human experience on the environment.”
As you’ve seen, while these colleges don’t all call their programs by the same name, they share some core similarities: a foundation in science, a passion for our global ecosystems, and a layering in of humanities content and ideals resulting in a multi-disciplinary major that will challenge you every step of the way. As you pick your best fit, remember to consider the physical environment you want to be in — you’re studying the environment after all!
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