Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Sciences, BS

BS in Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Sciences
Location: AU Online
Credits for Degree: 120 semester credits
Standard Mode of Instruction: Online
Standard time to completion: 36 months

General Degree Requirements

All Antioch University undergraduates must meet general education requirements in the areas of Liberal Arts (called Domains of Knowledge), Academic Writing, and Mission-core classes. See the School of Undergraduate Studies: General Degree Requirements  page for an explanation of undergraduate general education requirements.

Program Overview

This B.S. in Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Sciences (ES3) degree prepares the next generation of environmental professionals. Students with some undergraduate credits transfer to Antioch University to complete their BS degree with engaging online courses and optional field study courses. Students are taught by diverse and engaged faculty with expertise and passion for sustainability, science, advocacy, and leadership. The BS ES3 program emphasizes practitioner preparation and service to new majority, first-generation, and BIPOC student populations.

Program Outcomes

● Understand complex physical and biological aspects of environmental issues

● Critically evaluate the social, economic, and political dynamics of environmental problems

● Analyze environmental challenges through interdisciplinary lenses

● Apply research methods to analyze environmental solutions

● Articulate humans’ historical and ethical issues with the natural world

● Use systems thinking to conceptualize sustainable solutions and advocate for effective

environmental problem solving that includes the voices of marginalized communities

Unique Aspects

Time is of the essence for environmental studies students to develop the tools to lead as global citizens, prioritizing the health of our planet’s ecosystems. The world needs adept, flexible, creative, collaborative, culturally aware leaders, scientists, policy-makers, advocates, artists, philosophers and citizens. The BSES3 program emphasizes practitioner preparation including skills to integrate justice, equity, diversity and inclusion into their practice. Courses in the major include Conservation and Ocean Science, Environmental Health, Climate Justice and Advocacy, Environmental Economics, Environmental Ethics, Human Population and Global Poverty, and Environmental Justice and Advocacy. Our hope is together, we - students, faculty, staff and community members -  build our capacity to serve in essential, eclectic roles for the good of the planet.

Students are expected to transfer in a minimum of 6 semester units, including:

1. An Introduction to Environmental Studies/ Environmental Science course from an accredited institution (if none, take SCI-3150 Environmental Science) 

2. At least one additional Science course (Geology/Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Antioch options that could help satisfy this requirement would be SCI-4120 Conservation Science or SCI-4110 Ocean Science.