Program Details
Program Details
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Program Details

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science
Sweet Briar College

No other college campus in the nation has so many different types of remarkable natural and agricultural environments right where students live and learn. Learn insect biology up close in our hillside pollinator habitat. Take a Saturday class in beekeeping that can lead to certification as a master beekeeper. Collaborate with local growers on sustainable economic development projects. Explore all the environmental, social, cultural and political issues that drive the global food economy.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Successful students are skilled in the natural sciences and comfortable with hands-on approaches to environmental studies. There will be many opportunities to work with on-campus natural and agricultural environments such as a greenhouse, vineyard, farmland and forests.
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

This major requires 37.0 to 39.0 hours of coursework. Required Courses: Sustainable Systems, Ecology, General Chemistry, Microeconomics, Field Methods, Environmental Policy, Mapping and GIS, and Statistics. Additional Required Courses: Research, Internship or Honors Research. Additional Electives to be Selected From: Ancient Studies, Business, Economics, English and Creative Writing, History, Philosophy, and Visual Arts. Culminating Experience: Senior Exercise/Evaluation of Environmental Issues

Considerations When Selecting Courses

Students should expect to complete CORE 140: Sustainable Systems, and General Chemistry with lab the first year.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Sweet Briar College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree After college, a career in agriculture and horticulture, arts, natural resource management and education, bioengineering, historic preservation, policy making, marketing and tourism, global trade, economic development, social justice, sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship or leadership, is a natural fit. Options are virtually limitless with the skills developed in this program.
Program Successes & Highlights Many of our alumna have continued their studies at top graduate programs. Recent graduates work in areas such as environmental protection, code enforcement, wildlife preservation and management, and food and environmental sustainability.
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
120
BS in Environmental Science
120
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 60 credits may be applied to this program.
Core Curriculum
30
CORE 110
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 120
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 130
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 140
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 150
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 160
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 170
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 180
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 210
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CORE 300
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Major Requirements
43
Required Courses
28
Earn 28 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Senior Exercise
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Environmental Elective
9
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Choose three additional 300-level ENVR courses, one of which must contain a lab. Can include ENVR 451, ENVR 377, or HNRS 399 (Environmental Science focus).
Earn 9 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Additional Elective
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Choose three additional elective hours
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Second Major, minor, electives
47
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Student may choose a second major, a minor, or elective credits to reach 120 credits for graduation.
Earn 47 credits by completing any available course
Applicable Admissions Agreements
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There are no Applicable Admission Agreements for the Program.

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Exemption from the general education requirement, our Leadership Core.

Completion of an associates degree (AA,AS, or AA&S) replaces Sweet Briar's required leadership core curriculum, the college's version of traditional general education requirements. Eligible students may move directly into coursework that fulfills the requirements of their major of choice.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Completion of an associates degree (AA,AS, or AA&S) replaces Sweet Briar's required leadership core curriculum, the college's version of traditional general education requirements. Eligible students may move directly into coursework that fulfills the requirements of their major of choice.
Credit for Prior Learning We accept AP and IB results for college credit if the score earned meets college expectations.
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Sweet Briar College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
81
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
65%
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Sweet Briar has a total enrollment of about 460 students, of which approximately 80 are transfer students. Our average class size is about 12 and the vast majority of our students live on campus.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by the first semester of attendance. However, students can petition to move back a year to be in the same catalog year as their classmates.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by the first semester of attendance.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions Same as other transfer students.
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Germanna Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in ScienceAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in Integrated Environmental StudiesAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
University of LynchburgBS in Environmental Sciences and SustainabilityBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Emory & Henry UniversityEnvironmental Studies: Science (BS)BachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Science in Environmental StudiesBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
19-2041.01Climate Change Policy AnalystsResearch and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
13-1041.00Compliance OfficersExamine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1041.06CoronersDirect activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1041.08Customs BrokersPrepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1041.01Environmental Compliance InspectorsInspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
19-2041.02Environmental Restoration PlannersCollaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
25-1053.00Environmental Science Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
19-4042.00Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthPerform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
19-2041.00Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthConduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
13-1041.03Equal Opportunity Representatives and OfficersMonitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
19-4071.00Forest and Conservation TechniciansProvide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. May compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
13-1041.04Government Property Inspectors and InvestigatorsInvestigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
19-2041.03Industrial EcologistsApply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
13-1041.07Regulatory Affairs SpecialistsCoordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.Business and Financial Operations Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Sweet Briar College
These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $11,865 Per Semester $94,920 $0 $94,920 Per semester tuition for a full time status of 12 - 19 credit hours. $990 per credit hour for part-time students or for credits taken over 19
Fees
Technology Fee $380 Per Semester $3,040 0 $3,040
Student Life Fee $600 Per Semester $4,800 0 $4,800 Reduced to 100 for non-residential students
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Tuition & Fee Notes:
  • New Student Reservation Fee
    • $250 non-refundable fee credited on the first-term fees.
  • Course Supply Fee
    • $100 - Only for applicable courses (such as science labs and arts)
  • Additional Fees
    • Additional fees may include Health Fee ($400), Parking Fee ($170), Post Office box ($72), Graduation ($150) and riding fees (vary) per year.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.