Environmental Studies and Sustainability BA

Major: Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 183.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 03.0103
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-2041

About the Program

The Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES) is the prime destination at Drexel for students who are committed to fighting for environmental justice and addressing climate change. The BEES motto is “Field Experience, Early and Often.” Environmental Studies and Sustainability majors investigate firsthand how to restore vulnerable coastal marshes and preserve vulnerable forestlands. They learn from and work with Drexel faculty and local community activists seeking to enhance the ecological resilience of urban neighborhoods and create sustainable urban food systems. Experiential learning through BEES courses and co-ops permits students to develop the knowledge they desire to create a just and sustainable world. 

Drexel University’s unique partnership with the Academy of Natural Sciences, America’s oldest natural history museum, offers students opportunities to take leadership roles in ecology, environmental science, environmental policy and environmental justice. Working side-by-side with faculty affiliated with both BEES and the Academy enhances students’ experiential learning and opens doors to make a difference locally, regionally and globally. Work at the Academy opens extraordinary doors. Students have gone on to lead non-profits, be awarded Fulbright Scholarships, earn PhDs and influence public policy. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Sustainability is for students who want to address contemporary environmental issues from a perspective that foregrounds the social sciences and humanities. Drexel’s nationally and internationally acclaimed scholars in environmental politics, environmental sociology, environmental philosophy, global studies, and science and technology studies support students’ creative and critical thinking, pursuit of leadership skills, desire for research expertise and self-directed explorations of the environmental concerns that matter to them. 

Additional Information

For more information about the program, visit the Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science's webpage.

Laurie G. Zinberg, M.A.
Senior Academic Advisor
College of Arts and Science
Email: lgz23@drexel.edu

Or email bees@drexel.edu.

Degree Requirements

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Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

5 year, 3 co-op

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Students not participating in co-op will take an extra Free Elective credit in place of COOP 101

4 year, No co-op

 4 year, 1 co-op

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Students not participating in co-op will take an extra Free Elective credit in place of COOP 101

Career Opportunities

The largest job opportunities exist in the areas of environmental communication, sustainability, environmental policy, community action, water quality, parks and outdoor recreation, ecotourism, natural resources and conservation, international environmental policy, renewable energy and climate change.

This major will educate individuals who seek careers and/or additional academic training in the following fields:

• Sustainability planning and implementation
• Urban, regional, and community planning
• Geographic information systems
• Environmental communications
• Environmental journalism
• Environmental law
• Park management and outdoor recreation
• Environmental consulting
• Environmental policy analysis
• Natural resource management

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

Environmental Studies and Sustainability Faculty