Bachelor in Environmental Studies (Bachelor's)

At Bates College, tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $60,980..

This programme prepares students for careers addressing environmental challenges through a social justice lens. It combines natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to study human-environment relationships. Students engage in community-based projects across urban, rural, and coastal areas. They develop skills in qualitative analysis, ethnographic methods, and environmental education design.

Focus areas include Environmental ethics, Environmental peacebuilding, Water and watersheds, Climate change impacts, Community-engaged scholarship, Environmental education.

The programme requires 36 credits, distributed across core courses, electives, and a senior thesis or capstone project. Students complete coursework in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities with a focus on interdisciplinary environmental inquiry.

Graduates pursue roles as environmental consultants, policy analysts, conservation specialists, and educators in public and private sector organizations.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. The college requires submission of transcripts, standardized test scores, and a personal statement. Admission is competitive and based on academic record and personal qualifications.

The programme totals about 36 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 13% of applicants.

Students at Bates take part in a campus community that connects academic life with social responsibility and the wider city of Lewiston. Campus activities include arts and athletics, concerts, readings, plays, exhibitions, and dance performances. Public and community events, alumni activities, and student-led conversations add to the range of experiences available beyond scheduled classes. The college's calendars also include orientation, holidays, examinations, registration, commencement, and reunion.

Academic choice is central to the Bates experience. Students can choose from 38 majors and 29 minors, or create an interdisciplinary major through the Independent Interdisciplinary Studies program. The faculty community includes scholars, scientists, and artists who support students through personalized mentorship. Academic opportunities extend from first-year seminars to senior thesis work, with an emphasis on intellectual inquiry, reflection, personal growth, and engagement with the world beyond the campus.

International students can connect with Bates through virtual information sessions, student-led Bobcat Chats, and an on-demand virtual campus tour. The admission team provides regional contacts for applicants selecting their country or region, alongside opportunities to speak with current students or admission staff. Bates is located at 2 Andrews Road in Lewiston, Maine. In-person visits include a student-guided campus tour, an information session, and opportunities to learn about admission and financial aid.