Environmental Studies Bachelor's Degree overview.
Applications deadlines:
Fall: Feb. 1
Summer: May 1
Spring: Nov. 15
View comprehensive KU course catalog
View KU grading and grades
Visit KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
View KU calendar
View KU refund policies
The Johnson County Education Research Triangle (JCERT) helps support this program.
Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies
Admissions criteria
The admissions requirements for KU’s undergraduate environmental studies programs include:
- Meet with an academic advisor/success coach at the Edwards Campus
- Apply to the University of Kansas as a transfer or readmit student
Curriculum and requirements
BA/BGS in Environmental Studies
The BA and BGS programs in Environmental Studies requires 40 credit hours, with a minimum of 30 hours at the junior/senior level. This includes a three credit hour capstone project.
Environmental Studies Introduction to Science and Culture
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 140/144: Global Environment I/Honors | 5 | EVRN 140/144 |
EVRN 142/145: Global Environment II/Honors | 5 | EVRN 142/145 |
Environmental Studies Core Knowledge and Skills
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 320: Environmental Policy Analysis | 3 | EVRN 320 |
EVRN 332: Environmental Law | 3 | EVRN 332 |
EVRN 460: Field Ecology | 3 | EVRN 460 |
EVRN 615: Capstone Experience | 3 | EVRN 615 |
BA/BGS in Environmental Studies Required Electives/Options
Environmental studies majors must select an option or design their own area of emphasis. Each option requires four courses at the 300+ level (12 hours)
Statistics (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
MATH 365: Elementary Statistics | 3 | MATH 365 |
GEOG 316: Methods of Analyzing Geographical Data | 4 | GEOG 316 |
BIOL 570: Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 | BIOL 570 |
Research Methods (satisfied by one of the following)
UBPL 538: Environmental Planning Techniques | 3 | UBPL 538 |
EVRN/ECON 550: Environmental Economics | 3 | EVRN/ECON 550 |
EVRN 410: Env. Appl. Geographic Information Systems | 3 | EVRN 410 |
EVRN 510: Adv. Env. Appl. In Geospatial Techniques | 3 | EVRN 510 |
GEOL 351: Environmental Geology | 3 | GEOL 351 |
GEOG 510: Human Factors | 4 | GEOG 510 |
BS in Environmental Studies
The BS in Environmental Studies requires 66 credit hours, with a minimum of 24 hours at the junior/senior level. This includes a three credit hour capstone project.
Environmental Studies Introduction to Science and Culture
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 140/144: Global Environment I/Honors | 5 | EVRN 140/144 |
EVRN 142/145: Global Environment II/Honors | 5 | EVRN 142/145 |
Environmental Studies Core Knowledge and Skills
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 320: Environmental Policy Analysis | 3 | EVRN 320 |
EVRN 332: Environmental Law | 3 | EVRN 332 |
EVRN 460: Field Ecology | 3 | EVRN 460 |
EVRN 615: Capstone Experience | 3 | EVRN 615 |
BS in Environmental Studies Required Electives/Options
Environmental studies majors must select an option or design their own area of emphasis. Each option requires four courses at the 300+ level (12 hours)
Statistics (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
MATH 365: Elementary Statistics | 3 | MATH 365 |
GEOG 316: Methods of Analyzing Geographical Data | 4 | GEOG 316 |
BIOL 570: Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 | BIOL 570 |
Mathematics (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
MATH 115+MATH 116, or MATH 125: Calculus | 3-4 | MATH 115+MATH 116, or |
Biology and Ecology
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
| BIOL 150/151: Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 4 | BIOL 150/151 |
| BIOL 152/153: Principles Organismal Biology | 4 | BIOL 152/153 |
| BIOL 414: Principles of Ecology | 3 | BIOL 414 |
Chemistry
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
CHEM 130/190: General Chemistry I/Honors | 5 | CHEM 130/190 |
CHEM 135/195: General Chemistry II/Honors | 5 | CHEM 135/195 |
Supporting Laboratory Science (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
GEOG 104+105: Principles of Physical Geography and Intro Lab in Physical Geography | 5 | GEOG 104+105 |
GEOL 102+103: Intro to Geology and Geology Fundamentals Laboratory | 5 | GEOL 102+103 |
GEOL 101+103: The Way the Earth Works/Honors and Geology Fundamentals Laboratory | 5 | GEOL 101+103 |
CHEM 310/or/CHEM 330+CHEM 331: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 | CHEM 310 |
Minor in Environmental Studies
The BS in Environmental Studies requires 18 credit hours.
Environmental Studies Minor Core
Principals of Environmental Studies (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 140/144: Global Environment I/honors | 5 | EVRN 140/144 |
EVRN148/149: Scientific Principles of Environmental Studies/honors | 3 | EVRN148/149 |
Environmental History and Culture (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 142/145: Global Environment II: The Ecology of Human Civilization/Honors | 5 | EVRN 142/145 |
EVRN/HIST 103: Environment and History | 3 | EVRN/HIST 103 |
EVRN/GEOG 150: Environment, Culture and Society | 3 | EVRN/GEOG 150 |
EVRN/HIST 347: Environmental History of North America | 3 | EVRN/HIST 347 |
Required Courses
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 320: Environmental Policy Analysis | 3 | EVRN 320 |
EVRN 332: Environmental Law | 3 | EVRN 332 |
Environmental studies elective at the Junior/Senior Level
Research Methods (satisfied by one of the following)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
EVRN 410: Environmental Applications of Geographic Information Systems | 3 | EVRN 410 |
EVRN 460: Field Ecology | 3 | EVRN 460 |
EVRN/ECON 550: Environmental Economics | 3 | EVRN/ECON 550 |
GEOG 358: Principles of Geographic Information Systems | 4 | GEOG 358 |
UBPL 538: Environmental Planning Techniques | 3 | UBPL 538 |
GEOL 351: Environmental Geology | 3 | GEOL 351 |
The KU Edwards Campus also offers an environmental studies minor. Visit our list of minors page to learn more.
Some requirements can be met by transfer credit from a community college or other accredited postsecondary institution. Please contact the program advisor for advising on your situation.