Program Details
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Bachelor of ScienceSweet 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

Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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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.
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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

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.
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.
Applicable Admissions Agreements

There are no Applicable Admission Agreements for the Program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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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... |
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College Level Information

College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
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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

Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
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Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Science | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Integrated Environmental Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
University of Lynchburg | BS in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Emory & Henry University | Environmental Studies: Science (BS) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Roanoke College | Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
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19-2041.01 | Climate Change Policy Analysts | Research 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 |
13-1041.00 | Compliance Officers | Examine, 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 |
13-1041.06 | Coroners | Direct 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 |
13-1041.08 | Customs Brokers | Prepare 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 |
13-1041.01 | Environmental Compliance Inspectors | Inspect 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 |
19-2041.02 | Environmental Restoration Planners | Collaborate 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 |
25-1053.00 | Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach 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 |
19-4042.00 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | Perform 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 |
19-2041.00 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | Conduct 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 |
13-1041.03 | Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | Monitor 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 |
19-4071.00 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | Provide 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 |
13-1041.04 | Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations. | Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
19-2041.03 | Industrial Ecologists | Apply 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 |
13-1041.07 | Regulatory Affairs Specialists | Coordinate 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
