Modern society faces a plethora of environmental problems — from air and water pollution, to a loss of biodiversity, to urban sprawl and global warming. These are global issues: decisions on environmental use and protection in one country affect environmental use and protection in all other countries.

Scientific approaches are certainly required to solve these issues but they alone are not enough; we must also address the complex social, cultural, economic and political factors that influence society’s understanding and adoption of these solutions. Combating global warming, for instance, requires that society first acknowledge that such environmental problems exist. Affected groups must be fully aware of and invested in technical solutions, or else the burden of environmental degradation is shifted onto the poor, less educated and less organized. Our world needs leaders who can discover and implement societal solutions to environmental and sustainability problems.

Program Overview

The Environmental Studies and Sustainability bachelor’s degree program is for students who want to address contemporary environmental issues from the perspective of the humanities. Environmental studies graduates will have a firm foundation in international studies and foreign language, allowing them to participate in cross-cultural dialogue and help people around the world understand environmental issues.

By taking courses alongside their classmates in the environmental science programs, students will gain a valuable background in field research and the basics of environmental sampling. This technical expertise will complement the liberal arts skills they will gain in communication, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, and leadership. Through Drexel’s Co-op program, students will gain the competitive edge of occupation-specific skills and professionalism.

Learn More About the Environmental Studies & Sustainability Degree in the Course Catalog

Experiential Learning and Research

Drexel University emphasizes experiential learning for all students with global research partnerships, field sites and state-of-the-art facilities. There are numerous opportunities to gain hands-on experience from day one: from the first-year STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholars Program to research co-ops and assistantships. Students benefit from the mentorship and instruction of top scientists from Drexel’s Academy of Natural Sciences and the Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science.

The Drexel Co-op

Through Drexel’s renowned cooperative education (co-op) program, environmental studies and sustainability majors gain career-boosting skills and connections on up to three, six-month periods of employment. Students have the opportunity to earn a salary and apply their skills as they explore different career options. Recent environmental studies majors have completed co-ops such as:

• Environmental Education and Animal Behavior Co-op, Philadelphia Zoo
• Curatorial Assistant, Academy of Natural Sciences
• Development Assistant, EDF Renewable Energy
• Supply Chain Co-op, Eversource Energy
• Corporate Communications Co-op, IKEA
• And Many More!

Learn More About Drexel’s Co-op Program

Environmental Studies and Sustainability Careers

Students with an Environmental Studies and Sustainability degree have many options for careers post-graduation. These careers include positions like:

• Sustainability Consultant
• Urban Planner
• Environmental Policy Analyst
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist
• Nature Educator

Learn More About Career Opportunities with an Environmental Studies & Sustainability Degree