Bachelor in Environmental Studies (Bachelor's)

Applications for the Jan 2027 intake close on Nov 15, 2026; tuition is Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is $38,500 per year..

This programme is designed for students interested in the relationship between human activity and environmental systems. It combines coursework from biology, chemistry, economics, political science, and sociology to address real-world environmental challenges. Students develop analytical skills to study and solve issues like pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning through fieldwork and research projects.

Focus areas include Environmental monitoring, Sustainability coordination, Environmental policy analysis, Urban stream health assessment, Stormwater management, Lead paint risk assessment.

The programme requires a total of 120 credits, including core environmental studies courses and electives from multiple disciplines. Students complete at least one internship and engage in research through the Upper Mississippi Center for Sustainable Communities.

Graduates work as environmental monitoring technicians, sustainability coordinators, remediation specialists, or environmental policy analysts in public, private, or nonprofit sectors.

High school applicants must submit transcripts, standardized test scores, and a personal statement. Transfer students need official transcripts and must meet minimum GPA requirements. Application materials are reviewed for academic readiness and alignment with programme goals.

The programme totals about 120 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 68% of applicants.

Augustana's liberal arts curriculum encourages connections among disciplines. Students have combined public health, biology and Classics, while faculty and alumni work across health care, science, journalism, education and the arts. Research connected to the college includes studies of reproductive health, the brain's glymphatic system and coronary artery disease. Historical inquiry also has a place: faculty research on Bishop Hill, Illinois, brings political science and anthropology together, and Special Collections has helped shape careers in preserving personal stories.

The Rock Island campus follows the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities region. Facilities include the John Deere Planetarium, Fryxell Geology Museum, Thomas Tredway Library, Brunner Theatre Center and the Swenson Swedish American Research Center. Students can gain practical experience through the EDGE Center, providing communications, marketing and creative services for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Music and performance are part of campus life, with faculty recitals and concerts held on campus.

Augustana offers 100 majors and areas of study, along with career tools and support for student goals. A recent graduate survey found that 95% of respondents were employed, in graduate school or continuing experiential learning during a gap year within six months of graduation. For international students, the incoming class profile offers a sense of the community: students came from 36 countries and represented 25 languages. Financial need is met at 100%.