Environmental Studies
Major & Minor
Bachelor of Arts
Would you like to help solve some of the biggest issues facing our planet? At Austin College, we recognize environmental progress requires an interdisciplinary approach. With that in mind, as an environmental studies student, you will take courses ranging from biology to economics to philosophy, all to prepare for a career solving the world’s environmental problems.
Your experiential learning may include aiding in the restoration of native ecosystems, holding internships at world-class organizations, and designing real sustainability projects for the College to adopt.
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Finish in Four*
with the skills to launch your career
Your four year academic experience
will develop your critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration ability, all of which will be critical to your future path. With a degree in environmental studies, upon graduation you will be prepared to
- articulate and present the world’s most pressing environmental problems through written research and professional presentation simulations.
- investigate and identify obstacles to environmental progress.
- characterize environmental impacts associated with the operation of organizations through research and analysis of academic papers.
Explore our Graduate Outcomes to learn more about what our graduates are doing today.
Environmental Studies Degree
Program Highlights
![Student Seed Harvesting]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1720557272/austincollegeedu/i8hchobdgbsfbk1qtvxb/Sneed-Prairie-Restoration_JT19-63.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1720557272/austincollegeedu/i8hchobdgbsfbk1qtvxb/Sneed-Prairie-Restoration_JT19-63.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1720557272/austincollegeedu/i8hchobdgbsfbk1qtvxb/Sneed-Prairie-Restoration_JT19-63.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1720557272/austincollegeedu/i8hchobdgbsfbk1qtvxb/Sneed-Prairie-Restoration_JT19-63.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1720557272/austincollegeedu/i8hchobdgbsfbk1qtvxb/Sneed-Prairie-Restoration_JT19-63.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1720557272/austincollegeedu/i8hchobdgbsfbk1qtvxb/Sneed-Prairie-Restoration_JT19-63.png","width":2200}])
Exclusive summer internships at The East Foundation, The Land Institute, and the Little Traverse Conservancy
![Climate ambassadors 2023]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721791664/austincollegeedu/k2oxzorekl5pcsdapdij/IMG_2255DavidBaker.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1721791664/austincollegeedu/k2oxzorekl5pcsdapdij/IMG_2255DavidBaker.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1721791664/austincollegeedu/k2oxzorekl5pcsdapdij/IMG_2255DavidBaker.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1721791664/austincollegeedu/k2oxzorekl5pcsdapdij/IMG_2255DavidBaker.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1721791664/austincollegeedu/k2oxzorekl5pcsdapdij/IMG_2255DavidBaker.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721791664/austincollegeedu/k2oxzorekl5pcsdapdij/IMG_2255DavidBaker.jpg","width":1882}])
Become a Climate Ambassadors to the annual UN Climate Conference as part of the Austin College Delegation.
![Students volunteering with the Austin College Think Green Club]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1720557100/austincollegeedu/ru7zion80eltxayeh2k8/2019-GreenServe_NH-69.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1720557100/austincollegeedu/ru7zion80eltxayeh2k8/2019-GreenServe_NH-69.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1720557100/austincollegeedu/ru7zion80eltxayeh2k8/2019-GreenServe_NH-69.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1720557100/austincollegeedu/ru7zion80eltxayeh2k8/2019-GreenServe_NH-69.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1720557100/austincollegeedu/ru7zion80eltxayeh2k8/2019-GreenServe_NH-69.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1720557100/austincollegeedu/ru7zion80eltxayeh2k8/2019-GreenServe_NH-69.png","width":2200}])
Austin College Thinking Green serves as an umbrella for all campus greening initiatives, including our annual residence hall energy conservation ...
![students working in the writing center]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1720558725/austincollegeedu/sjsqzewb8ylctfrfqlrl/SneedPrairieRestoration.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1720558725/austincollegeedu/sjsqzewb8ylctfrfqlrl/SneedPrairieRestoration.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1720558725/austincollegeedu/sjsqzewb8ylctfrfqlrl/SneedPrairieRestoration.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1720558725/austincollegeedu/sjsqzewb8ylctfrfqlrl/SneedPrairieRestoration.png","width":1024}])
Austin College's Sneed Prairie Restoration has two goals: restoration of 100 acres of former Blackland Prairie, and provision of educational opportunities for college and elementary school students.
![Field Research]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1716896962/austincollegeedu/kz4zd4brjkyc0nzbmwcm/Kids-on-Prairie-by-Jan-Beckert-900x668.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1716896962/austincollegeedu/kz4zd4brjkyc0nzbmwcm/Kids-on-Prairie-by-Jan-Beckert-900x668.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1716896962/austincollegeedu/kz4zd4brjkyc0nzbmwcm/Kids-on-Prairie-by-Jan-Beckert-900x668.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1716896962/austincollegeedu/kz4zd4brjkyc0nzbmwcm/Kids-on-Prairie-by-Jan-Beckert-900x668.jpg","width":900}])
Austin College maintains five field laboratories totaling nearly 360 acres near the campus.
Meet our Faculty
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Popular Courses
- Conservation and Restoration Ecology
- Ecosystem Ecology
- Environmental Justice
- Environmental Solutions
- Ethics and the Environment
- Food Systems
- Natural Resources and Environmental Economics
- Resilient Systems