Are you passionate about the environment and want to make a difference in the world? The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at the University of North Carolina Asheville is the right program for you.

Why Study Environmental Studies at UNC Asheville?

Student and Alumni Spotlight

Learn Environmental Studies Outside the Classroom

Students hiking and doing field biology

We believe that learning doesn’t just happen inside the classroom. The bachelor’s in environmental studies program offers a range of extracurricular activities and events that allow students to engage with environmental issues in a meaningful way. For example, you could participate in a campus-wide sustainability initiative, undertake a service-learning project, map the faults responsible for forming the Appalachian Mountains, or join an environmental student organization

UNC Asheville’s location in the Blue Ridge Mountains puts over a million acres of biodiverse forest at your fingertips, and hands-on learning is at the heart of the environmental studies major. Internships are built into the curriculum and through the McCullough Fellowship, and qualifying students can receive funding to conduct sustainability research in Asheville. Students passionate about leading environmental stewardship efforts can join our Student Environmental Center.

Meet Your Faculty Mentors

UNC Asheville environmental studies faculty members are experts in a wide range of environmental fields, including ecology, conservation biology, geology, hydrology, environmental policy, and environmental justice. Our faculty are dedicated to providing students with the tools they need to succeed in their academic and professional careers.

Environmental Studies Degree Careers & Outcomes

A B.S. in environmental studies opens doors to a variety of careers in sustainability, conservation, and policy. Our program prepares students through a combination of coursework and experiential learning. We also offer career-focused courses that provide practical skills and knowledge, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and field identification of plants, animals, and rocks and minerals. UNC Asheville equips its students for future success, whether it be in graduate school or working for government, education, consulting, and nonprofit organizations. For 15 years in a row, the Fiske Guide to Colleges has identified the our environmental studies program as one that provides excellent training for students’ careers.

Our graduates work in the public sector at the federal, state, and local level, for local and national non-profits, and in the private sector as environmental consultants, or in industry. Employers of recent graduates include the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Geological Survey, City of Asheville, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Bunnell Lammons Engineering, Duke Energy, and Sibelco Mining Corporation. Recent graduates have gone on to earn M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at schools such as Clemson University, Duke University, NC State, Pennsylvania State University, University of Georgia, University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, and others

Related Programs

 Ready to Make an Impact? Start With a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies

By earning your Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at UNC Asheville, you’ll join a community of students and faculty who are committed to environmental education and sustainability. Through the environmental studies major, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue a variety of careers in environmental sustainability, conservation, policy, and more.

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