Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies

Admissions & Aid College of Arts and Sciences
A group of environmental ethics students from the University of Portland pose with signs on the steps of the Oregon state capitol building.

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies

What Will I Learn in the Environmental Studies Major?

Transform your passion for environmental stewardship into meaningful action through University of Portland’s (UP) bachelor of arts in Environmental Studies degree program.

The Environmental Studies major examines how environmental initiatives shape theological, political, and socioeconomic policies. The curriculum builds a comprehensive understanding of ecological principles blended with an ethical framework to advocate for sustainable solutions that serve the greater good.

Environmental Studies Courses

Courses in evolution and ecology, environmental studies, ethics, economics, policy, and global justice are the foundation of the major. You can also customize your path based on your interests, selecting upper-level coursework in subjects such as marine biology, ornithology, entomology, conservation biology, or geoscience. Round out the degree with electives like political rhetoric, environmental literature, perspectives on social justice, or American public policy—deepening your understanding of the profound societal influence of environmental science and ecology.

The environmental studies degree program culminates in a senior capstone experience, during which you’ll use your cumulative knowledge to study and propose real solutions to issues facing the Pacific Northwest environment.

Degree Requirements

University Core

At University of Portland, the liberal arts-based Core Curriculum nurtures your development as an environmental scholar who boldly approaches challenges with not only technical skills but also a multidisciplinary lens and a voracious curiosity for purposeful solutions.

The Core

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More than a Degree

Explore how UP’s student-focused environment, rich with hands-on learning, community-building events, values-based training, and individualized attention, jump-starts your environmental ethics career.

Two University of Portland students stand at an informational table for the Student Led Unity Garden at the student activities fair.

Student-Led Unity Garden Project (SLUG)

SLUG combines sustainable food production with environmental education, offering fresh produce while hosting sustainability workshops and spurring deeper conversations on the connection between food and the environment.

An member of the College Ecology Club at the University of Portland carries a measurement tool while walking in the surf along the Oregon coast during a field research trip.

College Ecology Club (CEC)

Through collaborative events, community education, and cross-campus partnerships, UP’s student-led College Ecology Club raises environmental awareness and drives positive change locally and globally.

A group of University of Portland students are gathered in a close circle, each holding a lit candle, at the bell tower ceremony.

Holy Cross Tradition

UP’s environmental ethics and policy major goes beyond textbook knowledge. It weaves in our Holy Cross values of integrity and social consciousness, preparing you to approach your future work with a sense of moral purpose.

The UP Difference

Take a look at University of Portland’s distinctive academic experience.

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#

“Regional Universities – West” by U.S. News & World Report

:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

An environmental ethics student and professor at the University of Portland review data on a computer screen while wearing lab coats.
Two UP students with long brown hair smile for a posed picture holding signs that say thank you. Trees and a university building are in the background.

%

of Students Receive Financial Aid or Scholarships

Careers and Outcomes

UP’s individualized attention ensures you build a dynamic plan of study filled with industry-leading theory and hands-on learning, positioning you for your next academic or professional step.

Jobs in Environmental Ethics and Policy

Environmental ethics and policy majors hold careers in a variety of fields, including:

  • Environmental advocacy
  • Environmental policy development
  • Public policy research
  • Sustainability consulting

Graduate Studies

The BA in environmental ethics and policy equips you with the skills necessary to thrive in graduate programs that can expand your professional footprint, including:

  • Master of Public Affairs
  • Master of Public Policy
  • Master of Science in Environmental Policy
  • Master of Science in Environmental Science
  • Master of Science in Sustainability Management
  • MBA in Nonprofit Management

Alumni Employers

Organizations seek our graduates for their combination of ecological expertise, innovative problem-solving skills, and firmly rooted ethical values. Here’s where our environmental ethics and policy alumni have worked:

  • Green Business Certification Inc.
  • Hoyt Arboretum
  • Impact NW
  • Pollution Prevention Resource Center
  • Monarch Solutions
  • IES Abroad
  • Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen

Related Degrees

A helicopter is parked on a vast, snowy landscape under a clear blue sky. A UP environmental science student is in the foreground digging in deep snow surrounded by scientific instruments.

BS in Environmental Science

A close-up of a UP Biology student looking into a microscope, focusing on the lens and eyepiece, with a blurred background.

BS in Biology

A UP biology professor and student smile while they examine a bottle of Willamette river water being sampled for an algae study on a sunny day with the river and hills in the background.

BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Influence Environmental Policy for the Greater Good

The world needs leaders who understand both environmental science and policymaking. Apply to UP’s bachelor of arts in environmental studies degree program now to get started shaping environmental policy at local, national, and global levels.

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