Environmental Studies, BA

This program of study includes the following concentration options:

• Education & Eco-Social Justice Concentration
• Geographic Information Science Concentration
• Geography Concentration
• Policy, Politics, and Governance Concentration
• General Environmental Studies

Introduction

Environmental Studies takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to understanding human-environment systems and environmental challenges. The Environmental Studies major includes core classes in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to prepare our students to integrate knowledge from multiple fields of study. Our students learn to analyze and interpret complex environmental data and communicate environmental information for diverse stakeholders. The Environmental Studies major equips students to succeed as environmental professionals through experiential learning and advanced coursework in each student’s choice of an emphasis.

Why Consider an Environmental Studies Major?

Do you want to use your knowledge and skills to promote positive change in the environment? Do you want to understand the interactions and interdependencies between human and natural systems? Do you want an interdisciplinary education that reflects the complexity of society’s environmental challenges? Do you want to learn to communicate and integrate knowledge across areas of environmental expertise? Then Environmental Studies is the major for you.

Student Resources

Department website: Environmental Studies

Contact information: College of the Environment Professional Advisors, 360-650-3520, cenv@wwu.edu, Environmental Studies Building 539.

Department advising: See the Advising section of the College of the Environment website.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample Careers: Environmental Communications, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Advocate, Government Agency Employee, Sustainability Officer, Water Resource Manager, Park Ranger, Forest Service Employee, Educator

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Category of Major : Open major

Open majors can be declared by new and continuing students in good standing without additional requirements. All students are eligible for Direct Admission to Major at the time of admission to the university, subject to space availability.

Students who began their studies at WWU before the 2026-2027 academic year may declare their major by completing the Student Academic Declaration & Change Form and meeting the major’s retention requirements (if applicable).

To declare as a major:

• Go to the College of the Environment Undergraduate Student Forms webpage.
• Click on the Student Academic Declaration & Change Form link under the Declaration Forms section.
• Fill in the form with your information, writing in Environmental Studies major as the specific major you want to declare.
• Submit the form to CENV@wwu.edu.

If you have questions about this process, please set up an appointment with a professional adviser on our Undergrad Academic Advising webpage, visit the College of the Environment Student Support Office in Environmental Studies Building 539, or call 360-650-3520.

Advising Tips

ENVS 201 is a requirement for many Environmental Studies courses; students are encouraged to complete this requirement as soon as possible to avoid delaying access to upper division ENVS courses. Similarly, we encourage students to take ENVS 302, ENVS 303, and ENVS 305 early in the junior year. These courses prepare students for subsequent offerings in the department.

Many other General University Requirements provide good foundations for studying the environment. The following courses are particularly encouraged:

• Communications (ACOM, BCOM & CCOM): ENG 101 and courses with COMM, JOUR and ENVS prefixes.
• Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (QSR): ENVS 201 and MATH 112 or MATH 240.
• Natural Sciences (LSCI & SCI): ENVS 203, an LSCI course, and ESCI 225, a SCI course, are required for most Environmental Studies majors. For efficient GUR progress, choose these two courses and one additional LSCI course to complete your natural science GURs.
• Social Sciences (SSC): ENVS 204 is required for most Environmental Studies majors. Other courses to consider are ENVS 115, ECON 101, PLSC 250, UEPP 202, and UEPP 270.
• Additional math and sciences courses, such as MATH 114, CHEM 161 and BIOL 204 are also good GUR choices as these courses will allow enrollment in a broader range of upper division environmental science courses in the College of the Environment.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.