Program Overview

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Earth and Environmental Sciences, BS

The Bachelor of Science program in Earth and environmental sciences provides broad training in the physical sciences, especially process-oriented geosciences that focus on Earth's life-sustaining surface environment. This training establishes a foundational understanding of the evolution of the Earth system, with an emphasis on the surface environment, oceans, and climate, and implications for sustainable human societies.

Program Description

The program empowers graduates to help Arizona and the global community address some of the most pressing challenges of the day in environmental health, climate change, and natural resources. Through elective tracks, students can focus their studies on climate and environmental change, environmental policy, sustainability, Earth resources, environmental management, or environmental education.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe or Online, ASU Local
• Second language requirement: No
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
• First required math course: MAT 251 - Calculus for Life Sciences
• Math intensity: Moderate

Curriculum

View 2025 - 2026 curriculum. View curriculum archives.

Concurrent Program Options

Students pursuing concurrent degrees earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Change of Major Requirements

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Attend Online

ASU Online offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.

Transfer Options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Apply basic, quantitative methods of science to analyze Earth-system and environmental data.
• Synthesize core concepts of Earth system science and societal factors to analyze linkages among Earth-system processes, environmental conditions, and human societies.
• Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary groups to evaluate societally significant environmental problems and propose viable solutions.

Global Opportunities

With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available to them, Earth and environmental sciences students are able to tailor their experience to their unique interests and skill sets.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared to attend graduate school in the natural and environmental sciences, education, environmental journalism, environmental law, public policy, and environmental management. They are also well prepared for "green" professional careers in fields such as education, environmental reporting, public planning, environmental consulting, and natural resource management, and more technical positions, such as environmental scientist, in a variety of subdisciplines. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and corroborated by data reported by the Occupational Information Network, the many career opportunities in growth areas available to graduates of this program include:

• Conservation scientist or natural resource manager (7% growth, $64k median salary)
• Environmental science educator (secondary education: 8% growth, $63k median salary)
• Environmental science technician (11% growth, $47k median salary)
• Environmental scientist (8% growth, $73k median salary)
• Geological and hydrologic technician (8% growth, $73k median salary)
• Geoscientist (7% growth, $93k median salary)
• Hydrologist (6% growth, $84k median salary)
• Natural science manager (9% growth, $51k median salary)