Environmental Scientist observing a sample outside

Online Bachelor of Science Environmental Science Degree

Gain Hands-on Experience with an Environmental Science Degree Online

Environmental scientists analyze environmental issues and develop practical solutions. They look to repair and prevent damage caused by climate change, overpopulation, loss of biodiversity and other crises. They're protectors of the planet, champions of clean energy and self-admitted tree huggers.

At Southern New Hampshire University, you can gain the education and experience you need to pursue your passion with an online environmental science degree. This BS degree program gives you a strong foundation in natural and physical sciences. Choose the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree program alone or elect a concentration in Natural Resources and Conservation or Geospatial Technologies.

In the natural resources and conservation concentration, you'll focus on the conservation and management of natural resources and remediation of natural and human hazards. You'll develop a broad-based interdisciplinary skill set that companies and organizations are looking for to solve complex environmental problems like climate change, alternative energy, and sustainability.

The geospatial technologies concentration will give you practical, real-world experience in geographic information systems (GIS) technology, including spatial awareness, remote sensing and imagery analysis. These technologies are an essential planning, analytic and management tool used in the field of environmental sciences to help GIS professionals visualize data in a geographic model. In SNHU's online geospatial technologies degree, you'll explore the acquisition, integration and analysis of geospatial data that's applicable to a wide array of environmental issues.

Watch the two-minute video to learn more about this online degree, including how you'll get hands-on experience in courses and labs.

Not available for students outside the continental U.S.

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See Yourself Succeed in Environmental Science

The unique interdisciplinary BS in Environmental Studies online program gives you a foundation in essential environmental concepts with courses such as Ecological Principles and Field Methods, Environmental Ethics and Environmental Science Research Methods. Coursework features instructor-led labs using custom lab kits that are mailed to students to provide hands-on learning.

Upon completion of the online environmental science degree, you'll have the knowledge and skill set to:

Utilize effective oral and written communication strategies in the construction, evaluation and presentation of solutions to environmental problems
Analyze intersections of the human and natural world, drawing upon an understanding of the structure and functions of ecological systems and processes
Propose practical solutions that address the complexity of environmental problems by employing interdisciplinary approaches
Articulate a personal ethical framework that integrates environmental science concepts, principles and practical experiences
Apply various technological and field-based methods to the study of the environment
Design and execute projects that effectively integrate the scientific method using quantitative and qualitative research methods

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your bachelor’s in environmental science online at SNHU include:

Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee
Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree

Career Outlook

Our online environmental science programs equip you with the skills you need to pursue or advance your career in a wide array of roles, including environmental scientist, geospatial analyst, geographic information systems specialist, protection specialist and hazardous substance scientist.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees 11% growth for environmental scientists and specialists through 2026.* The BLS also projects 6% growth for geographers through the same time period, about as fast as the average rate for all occupations.*

Curriculum

The online environmental science degree program gives you a strong foundation in natural and physical sciences, like biology, chemistry and physics. Choose the environmental conservation concentration, and you'll study the implications of climate change, loss of biodiversity and other environmental issues. In the geospatial technologies concentration, you'll tackle spatial awareness, geospatial programming, remote sensing and imagery analysis.

Courses To Prepare You For Your Career

SNHU's bachelor's in environmental science program includes:

General education
Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

Writing
Communication
Analysis
Problem solving

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog

BS in Environmental Science

Courses May Include

BIO 120 General Biology I

General biology course that includes mammalian cell structure and function, cellular reproduction and physiology, and Mendelian genetics. Laboratory exercises (BIO 120L) to follow lecture topics.

BIO 120L General Biology I Lab

Laboratory course to follow topics presented in BIO 120.

BIO 315 Ecological Principles and Field Methods

This course introduces students to the principles of ecology and practical methods used in the field. Students will explore theoretical topics in the ecological systems including the level of the population, community and ecosystem; energy flow and biogeochemical cycles; and the concept of sustainability. Students will read literature and conduct research projects in the field and will use critical thinking to evaluate research, design studies, present findings and debate on the issues.

CHM 101 Fundamentals of Chemistry

An introductory, general education course for the non-science major emphasizing the contribution of chemistry in our everyday lives. This course will enable students to look at various aspects of the world around them through the lens of chemistry. It will introduce basic concepts and applications of chemistry as well as chemical topics and their relationship to matters of societal concern.

CHM 101L Fundamentals of Chemistry Lab

This course will use laboratory techniques to study the fundamental principles of chemistry. Topics such as the mole, chemical equilibria, chemical and physical properties, solutions, kinetics, etc., will all be covered along with other topics important to chemistry.

ENV 101 Environmental Science

This course provides an introduction to the scientific aspects of the environmental field. The first part of the course introduces students to the foundations of environmental science, while the second part concentrates on the application of these foundations to real life environmental problems. Therefore, the course not only engages the fundamentals of environmental science but also shows students how science informs sustainability, environmental policies, economics and personal choice.

ENV 250 Environmental Science Research Methods

This course provides students with an understanding of how to evaluate, conduct, write and design research. Required for environmental science majors, it introduces the why, when and how quantitative and qualitative methods are used as investigative tools. The course follows the scientific method and focuses on how to search the literature, write a literature review, formulate research questions/hypotheses, and design experiments to test these hypotheses. We will also explore qualitative methods and discuss their use in the field with special attention to conducting interviews, case studies, and focus groups. Students will prepare a research proposal on a topic of interest. Formulation of this project begins early, forms the basis for a final project, and is presented in a mock scientific conference.

ENV 344 Environmental Science Colloquium I

This is an issue and methods based course that will introduce environmental science majors to the tools and technology used in the field. Students will read and discuss primary literature that use these techniques and will participate in hands-on activities. A main focus of the course will be on the use and application of geographic information systems (GIS).

ENV 444 Environmental Science Colloquium II

This is an issue-based discussion course aimed to define and explore multifaceted topics in environmental science. Designed like a senior seminar, students are expected to conduct extensive research on varied topics and then communicate their knowledge in both oral and written assignments.

PHY 101 Principles of Physics

Principles of Physics is an algebra based course that explores the major topics in physics, such as motion and forces, gravity and projectiles, energy and work, thermodynamics, vibrations and waves, electricity and magnetism, solids and fluids, light and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics.

PHY 105 Geology

This course surveys the major themes in geology. Students will examine topics such as plate tectonics, the rock cycle, surface processes, and concept of geologic time.

PHL 363 Environmental Ethics

This course analyzes the application of ethical theory to moral questions about the environment. A number of different traditions in environmental ethics will be discussed and their strengths and weaknesses evaluated by applying them to practical moral problems.

Total Credits: 121

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs	Per Course*	Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates	$960	$320
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)	$675	$225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm and https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geographers.htm (viewed online November 3, 2017). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.