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Online Environmental Science Class SCI-220: Energy and Society

Kayla Stoll, who is earning her online degree in environmental science at SNHU, wearing a blue and yellow SNHU T-shirt and typing on a laptop with a large green tree in the background.

Course cost $1,026

Learning style 100% online

Term length 8 weeks

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Why SNHU? A faster way to upskill and get ahead

There are lots of advantages to taking a single course. Whether you want to grow in your current career, prepare yourself for a new one or get one step closer to a college degree, an individual course is a great way to get started.

Finish in Just 8 Weeks

Not only is a single course low-commitment, but it’s a fast way to gain skills and college credits while exploring what it’s like to take courses at SNHU.

Upskill for Your Career

SNHU courses focus on real-world, career-focused skills that you can use immediately in the workplace or to help prepare you to advance in the field.

Earn College Credits

Course credits may be transferred to a degree program at SNHU or another university, depending on your university’s transfer policy.

SCI-220: Energy and Society Online environmental science class built for your success

Explore the production, use and impact of energy in modern society. SCI-220: Energy and Society at SNHU dives into current topics in energy, helping you understand key issues surrounding available resources, environmental impact and economic considerations. Whether you're considering a career in environmental science or want to be an informed consumer, you'll gain knowledge you can apply to make decisions regarding energy use in your personal and professional life.

Skills you’ll learn

  • Energy systems analysis
  • Energy policy and issue evaluation
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Sustainable decision-making

Highly Recommended
★★★★★★★★★☆

84 students who took this course in 2024 were surveyed and rated it 9.3 out of 10 stars.

More than your typical environmental science course

Tyra Davey, associate dean of SNHU's online STEM programs, wearing glasses in front of a brick wall.

Energy is the foundation of modern life. From the fuel that powers our cars to the electricity that lights our homes, understanding how we produce and use it is essential for making informed and sustainable choices as individuals, communities and global citizens.

Tyra Davey, Associate Dean, STEM

Juliana Zambrano, who earned her online degree from SNHU in 2024, wearing an SNHU sweatshirt and sitting at a desk typing on her laptop.

Career-focused curriculum

In this 8-week online environmental science course, you'll study how energy choices impact our environmental, social and economic systems. Your Energy and Society assignments will have you analyzing scientific data and examining public policy and media coverage, preparing you to form evidence-based conclusions. Through discussions with peers, self-reflection journals and research papers, you'll build skills including scientific literacy, systems thinking, ethical decision-making and sustainability practices.

Should you continue your studies at SNHU, SCI-220: Energy and Society serves as a major elective option for the following programs:

  • BS Environmental Science (Natural Resources and Conservation concentration)
  • BS Geosciences (Natural Resources and Conservation concentration)
  • BS Operations Management
  • BA Anthropology (Environmental Sustainability concentration)

Alternatively, you could apply your earned credits to the Cornerstone Sustainability portion of The Commons (GenEd) required of all SNHU bachelor's students.

Apply for free in minutes

Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: March 2, 2026 | May 4, 2026

Next class starts:
January 5, 2026

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College that fits your life

With no set class times and 24/7 access to the online classroom, you can learn on your schedule. Learn more about what it's like to take a class at SNHU.

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU

What SNHU students are saying

Kayla Stoll, a student in SNHU's online bachelor's in environmental science program, wearing a white blouse and standing in greenhouse.

I actually get labs sent to me in the mail. The online program at SNHU, it’s such an immersive experience.

Kayla Stoll, BS in Environmental Science student

What's next See where a single course can take you

Catch Up or Get Ahead

Online courses can help lighten the course load required by your degree program at SNHU or another university.

Transfer Your Credits

Credits you earn can transfer to SNHU degree programs, or to another university, depending on their transfer policy.

Upskill for Career Moves

For moving up the ladder or changing fields entirely, new skills can help make you more marketable.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

New England Commission of Higher Education Logo

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online courses are among the lowest in the nation.

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Credits Earned
Online Undergraduate
$342
$1,026
3

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Please note: Books and materials are not included in the above costs. Federal Financial Aid is not available, but you can use employer tuition benefits or tuition reimbursement if available to you. Contact your employer benefits manager to see if you have funds available, or talk to our admission team to learn about payment options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can take environmental science classes online. In fact, you can enroll in single courses or earn your bachelor's in environmental science online at Southern New Hampshire University. As an accredited nonprofit university, SNHU is committed to providing high quality education, including flexible and affordable online degree programs.

The best way to learn environmental science depends on your goals and lifestyle. If you are looking to add credentials to your resume, you may want to consider enrolling in college classes. If you're interested in in-person instruction and labs, you may want to consider traditional campus programs. But if you're trying to fit environmental science education into a busy schedule, an online program could provide the flexibility you need.

Whether you want to take a single course or get your bachelor's degree in environmental science, Southern New Hampshire University has options. Our online programs were designed to give you hands-on, career-focused knowledge while providing the flexibility and affordability needed to fit your life.

The amount of time it takes to study environmental science depends on your goals. A bachelor's degree in environmental science typically takes 4 years to complete, but you could complete it faster by taking more courses per term and transferring previously earned credits.

If you're not sure how much time you want to commit to studying environmental science, starting with a single course could be a good way to test the waters. Southern New Hampshire University offers a variety of 8-week environmental science courses you can do online, including Energy and Society. Plus, you'll be able to roll your newly earned credits right into a full degree program at SNHU.

Environmental science is a vast field that encompasses many topics and specialties. For example, you could work in renewable energy, conservation biology, atmospheric science or pollution. Within those areas, your role could focus on research, policy, public health or conservation.

Here are just a few examples of jobs in environmental science:

  • Environmental health and safety specialist. Explore environmental health risks and work to create spaces that are safe for people and the planet. Adhere to EHS policies and procedures.
  • Conservation land manager. Protect the wildlife habitats, biodiversity, scenic value and other specific attributes of preserves and conservation lands.
  • Soil and water conservationist. Discover, develop, implement and improve ways to use land that sustains its productive capacity. Conserve water and identify/mitigate potential ecological issues.
  • Park ranger. Protect and manage federal/state parks and forests, ensuring the safety of campers and the environment. Enforce park rules, fire safety and search and rescue.

Learn more about what you can do with an environmental science degree.

Yes, you will need math for environmental science. Most bachelor's in environmental science programs will require you to take at least a statistics class, but depending on your goals, you may also need calculus, differential equations and quantitative methods. These math skills could serve you well in data analysis and mathematical modeling as well as field and lab work.

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