Are you passionate about the earth? Are you interested in a career in which you can be a significant contributor to the betterment of our environment? If so, you can start by getting an online bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences.
Environmental Science, the study of natural sciences, is offered at the undergraduate level on a web-based learning approach. The program courses typically consist of biology, chemistry, geology, and ecology blended with environmental policy, regulation and law, as well as the principles of sustainability.
Why is there a need to earn an online Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences? Throughout the years, nature had undergone tremendous, unpleasant changes. Society has progressed in every way possible to the detriment of the environment. As the call for public awareness and vigilance intensifies, more and more people are acknowledging the importance of a green economy, giving rise to green advocates.
Today, companies and government institutions are seeking environmental scientists and specialists to create solutions to environmental challenges and issues. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has reported that the job outlook for Environmental Scientists and Specialist will rise by 11% within the next eight years.
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- Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences
- Oregon State University
- Wilmington University
- Florida International University
- Prescott College
- Stevenson University
- American Public University
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Bellevue University
- Columbia Southern University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Arizona State University
- Fort Hays State University
- Unity College
- University of Florida
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Frequently Asked Questions
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METHODOLOGY
We have gathered 15 best online schools for Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences to bring to light the programs that integrate the promotion of sustainability principles and theories into academic courses.
The colleges and universities we feature offer Environmental Sciences courses in green building, public health, food and farming, hydrology, botany, and zoology.
The coursework for online Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences is designed to be flexible and convenient to help students balance their responsibilities. We feature each of the program’s policies, duration, accreditation, and accolades if any. A few of the online schools on this list are affiliated with the private sector, non-profits, and the government that translates to better opportunities for students upon earning the online degree.
On our profiled picks of these 15 Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences, listed in random order, we emphasize the skills and proficiency that students acquire as outcomes of their education and training, in addition to, other qualities that students find helpful, such as:
- Innovative online format availability; offering small class sizes for personal interaction with fellow students and faculty,
- Offers numerous and rewarding career paths; such as an environmental consultant, EPA inspector, fish & wildlife management, policy analyst, as an educator, or a park ranger, just to name a few,
- Instruction on all related coursework in the field of Environmental Sciences, such as research and analysis, policy writing, pollution management, finding creative solutions to today’s environmental issues relevant to natural resource management, as well as, the connection between human behavior and their environment,
- Prepares students for graduate degree programs in Environmental Science,
- Hones critical-thinking, communication and problem-solving skills needed to excel in the field of Environmental Sciences,
- Taught by exceptional faculty members and mentors, experienced in Environmental Sciences,
- Available Financial Aid options, Properly Accredited, Online Student Help Support availability, and positive student reviews.
To learn more, see our Methodology page.
Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences
Oregon State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (ENSC)
Oregon State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (ENSC) that is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. It is a program that is ideal for students seeking to obtain a Geographic Information Science Certificate or looking to choose a specialization in:
- Applied Ecology,
- Aquatic Biology,
- Conservation,
- Resources and Sustainability,
- Earth systems,
- Environmental Agriculture,
- Environmental Policy and Economics,
- and Environmental Water Resources.
ENSC can be taken entirely online and requires 180 credit hours to finish. OSU, which serves more than 31,000 students in its 200 undergraduate and 100 graduate programs under 11 colleges, is located in one of the safest and greenest small cities in the US. It has been delivering quality education to students from across the country and all over the world since 1868.
Learn more about Environmental Science program at Oregon State University.
Wilmington University
Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy Program
Wilmington University’s College of Online and Experiential Learning offers programs that are work-integrated and 100% online. WilmU’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy program combines course offerings from:
- the College of Arts and Sciences
- the Colleges of Social and Behavioral Sciences,
- the Colleges of Technology and Business.
Environmental Science students can take advantage of the university being a member of the Delaware Space Grant Consortium, a NASA program designed to train students in the fields of:
- science,
- technology,
- engineering,
- mathematics,
- and geography.
Along with its main campus in New Castle, WilmU operates 13 more partner locations in both Delaware and New Jersey states. It was established in 1968 as Wilmington College and has now enrolled more than 20,000 students.
For more information about the Environment Science program, visit Wilmington University.
Florida International University
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainability and the Environment
Future environmental analysts or managers can enroll in Florida International University’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainability and the Environment. Its upper division program includes units in Natural Dimension courses like:
- Applied Field Ecology,
- Energy Flow in Natural and Man-made Systems,
- Ecology of South Florida,
- Geographical Information Systems,
- Environmental Resources and Pollution,
- and Earth Resources.
The university operates one of the three underwater ocean laboratories in the world called Aquarius Reef Base where the study and the protection for the marine ecosystem help build and enhance FIU research and training.
Committed to being one of the best universities to provide first-rate research facilities, Florida International University is highly regarded in its achievements in research in solving local and global problems for more than four decades. It is one of the country’s biggest universities, admitting 56,000 students. FIU’s academic divisions of 11 schools and colleges offer a total of 190 programs.
Learn more about Environmental Science at Florida International University.
Prescott College
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies
Prescott College offers an online Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies that requires students to complete 120-semester credits. Courses include:
- Sustainability,
- the Environment and the Arts
- and Awakening Citizens to Community Engagement for Beneficial Change.
The Prescott community is known for its advocacy on sustainability and active participation in environmental and social causes.
Prescott College has over 20 undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as one Ph.D. program. Students can choose to learn through the online or limited-residency model where they can study from home in a community-based setting.
The college’s roots go back to the 1960s when the Ford Foundation gathered a group of educators to create a prestigious college in a small city in central Arizona. Over the years, the non-profit institution has held classes in recycled buildings and built centers and residence halls that are LEED certified.
To know more about their Environmental science courses, visit Prescott College.
Stevenson University
Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Degree
Stevenson University serves nearly 4,000 students and offers more than 60 academic programs. Among them is the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree that emphasizes the fundamental concepts of the impact of human, businesses, communities on the environment.
Students are required to complete the Stevenson Educational Experience where they get the opportunity to explore the natural environment right outside the classroom at the accessible Chesapeake Bay. Classes are of small sizes, so students obtain personalized attention and instruction.
Stevenson University traces its history to 1947 when it was named Villa Julie College. Back then, it was a college for women founded by the Roman Catholic women’s religious order Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, until its coeducational institution in 1972. It was in the late 2000s that the school gained its university status and was renamed Stevenson University.
Learn more about the Environment Science program at Stevenson University.
American Public University
Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
American Public University (AMU) offers more than 200 degrees and certificate programs online with classes that start monthly and cover 8- or 16- week courses. One of its popular programs is the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with courses taught by top educators who hold positions in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, the Nature Conservancy, and other government organizations.
Students are required to choose from five concentrations upon enrollment, and full-time students are granted books without charge.
A part of the American Public University System, AMU was established initially to offer higher education to students within the military and those who want to pursue post-military careers. In 2002, the university was restructured to serve more students and working adults who wish to continue their education.
For more information regarding their BS in Environmental Science degree, visit American Public University.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Fully Online Bachelor of Science in Earth Society and Environmental Sustainability
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Earth Society and Environmental Sustainability with advanced courses in:
- Environment and Human Response,
- Earth’s Physical Systems
- Earth’s Ecology among others.
Students can choose between Science in the Earth System and Society and Environment as a field of concentration.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is classified as R1 Doctoral Research under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The distinction proves the school is an excellent research center with topnotch research activity.
The university also takes pride of its Public Ivy League status, its library which is one of the world’s largest public university collections with over 50 million online visitors annually, and its alumni who are recognized as Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize Winners. Each year the institution accepts over 32,000 undergraduate students in more than 150 programs.
To know more about their Environmental Science courses, visit the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Bellevue University
Online Bachelor’s in Sustainability Management
Bellevue University offers accelerated, cohort-based, on-campus and online programs in 4 colleges.
The College of Science and Technology offers a bachelor’s degree program in Sustainability Management which focuses on the latest technology development and utilization for:
- environmental science,
- green technology,
- and natural resource management.
Its courses like Environmental Sustainability extend over physical and biological sciences, engineering agricultural sciences that address ecological problems. The program also serves as a preparation for students who want to take the LEED Green Associate exam for green construction and operations.
Established in 1966, Bellevue College has been providing education for working adults who want to get a quick track for degree completion.
Learn more about Environmental Science courses at Bellevue University.
Columbia Southern University
Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies Management
Columbia Southern University (CSU) is based in Orange Beach, Alabama and is a unit of the Columbia Southern Education Group.
Students of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies Management begin the core set of classes with Assessing Environmental Science that tackles some major environmental issues and highlights a disciplinary approach to:
- environmental policies
- Environmental Law
- Air Quality and more.
CSU started its first-degree program for Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health in 1994 and has grown into an online education institution which now offers nearly 50 programs for associate, bachelor’s, master’s and certificate levels. CSU is duly accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
Learn more about the Environmental Science course at Columbia Southern University.
Southern New Hampshire University
Online Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with an Environmental Sustainability Concentration
At Southern New Hampshire University, students earn an online Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with an Environmental Sustainability concentration. This program infuses anthropological theories with environmental and historical cultural issues.
Coursework includes subjects and topics like:
- ecology,
- global climate,
- water and ocean pollution,
- and other ecological problems.
To earn the degree, students need to complete 132 credit hours.
Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, SNHU opened in 1932 as a school of accounting and secretarial science. Since 2003, the university has reorganized their higher education into serving more students for College Online and Continuing Education and now offers more than more than 300 programs from various fields of study.
For more information on their Environmental Science courses, visit Southern New Hampshire University.
Arizona State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Sustainability
The online Bachelor of Science in Sustainability in Arizona State University is designed for aspiring Environmental specialists who want to probe the technical and social facets of sustainability, covering disciplines in:
- Environmental Sciences,
- Renewable Energy
- Business and Policy.
Educators of this degree program are recognized as members of the National Academy of Sciences and the UN Environment “Champions of Earth”.
For more than 130 years, ASU has been thriving to be the leader in innovation. Being one of the largest public universities in the nation with nearly 80,000 students, ASU is committed to support these learners by providing them tools and applications like eAdvisor and me3 that let them build their college-graduation timeline and help track student progress.
ASU also offers more than 350 undergraduate and 450 graduate degree programs in its four campuses across the metropolitan areas of Phoenix.
Learn more about their Environmental Science courses at Arizona State University.
Fort Hays State University
Online Bachelor’s Degree Program with a Specialization in Sustainability
The College of General Studies at Fort Hays State University offers a bachelor’s degree program with a specialization in Sustainability.
Its coursework tackles the global challenges and the elements of physical geography affecting human and environmental issues combined with disciplines in:
- social entrepreneurship,
- politics,
- renewable energy,
- social,
- art
- and conservation topics.
To earn the degree, students need to earn 120 credit hours.
FSHU is a public institution that sits on a 200-acre, a tree-filled campus located in Hays, Kansas. This comprehensive university has been operating since 1889 and has now grown into serving over 15,000 students for both on-campus and virtual college.
FHSU offers inexpensive programs under 46 departments. Candidates can choose from hundreds of course options for undergraduate and graduate levels.
Learn more about their Environmental Sciences courses at Fort Hays University.
Unity College
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies Online
A Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies degree program is offered entirely online at Unity College in Unity, Maine. Some of the core courses in the program are:
- Conservation Biology,
- Environmental Psychology,
- Sustainable Solutions to Globalization
- and Natural Resource Law and Policy
Founded as a liberal arts and sciences school in 1965, Unity College has become focused on building a sustainability-based and environmental school. This private college instills experiential and collaborative learning among its students through internships and community-based education, enabling them to work closely with faculty members and researchers.
Unity College claims to be the first in the nation to integrate sustainability science in its curriculum framework and boasts of its unique location overlooking the Lake Winnecook, fostering exceptional research and adventure for its learners. Virtual learners are also welcome at the university.
To know more about their Environmental Sciences courses, visit Unity College.
University of Florida
Online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources
Offering distance education in a variety of fields of study, the University of Florida offers a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources degree. This online program curriculum highlights:
- Environmental and Engineering Geology,
- Agricultural Ecology,
- Environmental Hydrology
- Natural Resource Policy and Economics
By completing 120 credits, students can earn this degree and gain knowledge and expertise in the agronomic production and environmental protection subjects.
A public university that is home to more than 52,000 Gators, UF traces its roots back in 1853 and is one of the elected members of the Association of American Universities. With all the grants and research funding that is five times more than the national average, UF actively advocates research, development, and innovation.
For more information on their Environmental Sciences courses, visit the University of Florida.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Fully-online Bachelor of Arts-Sustainability Concentration
The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a fully-online Bachelor of Arts-Sustainability Concentration that features classes in tracts and covers a range of topics such as:
- green building,
- earth science,
- policy and planning,
- green economics and more.
UMass’ online format gives students the freedom to create their programs of study in Sustainability through its UMass Amherst University Without Walls.
UMass stands as the flagship university of the University of Massachusetts System and has been around for the last 155 years. This public university has been on the list of top universities in the country and admitted a total of 30,593 students in the fall of 2018.
Its academic catalog includes distance education which consists of more than 295 programs for the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees, certificates, professional development continuing education and digital badge.
Learn more about Environmental Sciences courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does it cost to attend an online Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences degree program?
Students should expect to pay between $28,000 to 59,000 in tuition for an online Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences degree program. Other fees to consider are:
- Orientation Fee,
- Sustainability Fee,
- Technology Fee,
- Books,
- and Miscellaneous Fees.
There are academic institutions that segregate the total cost per credit depending on the academic division or college the courses belong to. Some schools consider the student’s residency with tuition being a lot higher for out-of-state students.
What is the typical length or duration of an online Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences degree program?
Full-time students take four years to finish a degree in an online Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences and a total of 120 credit hours as a requirement.
What are the career opportunities for Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences degree holders?
Graduates with an online degree for Bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences degree are qualified in a variety of entry-level positions in the field. Government agencies hold a significant number of job openings in the area of Environmental Sciences.
Private companies have also begun to consider green economy is creating high demand for green careers like:
- Environmental Analyst,
- Environmental Scientist,
- Sustainability Specialist,
- Environmental Manager,
- Conservation Scientist or Biologist
- and Zoologist.
Professionals are responsible for assessing the relationship between human and other organisms, running lab tests, and writing reports about the ecosystem and environmental issues.