With a focus on transdisciplinary research and community engagement, our academic programs will build your understanding of the environment and prepare you to develop creative, effective solutions to environmental and sustainability issues.
Check out the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in environmental studies.
You can choose from a variety of emphases to enhance your course of study:
Emphasis options for students enrolled prior to fall 2023 also include:
No matter what you're majoring in, an environmental studies minor will develop your understanding of environmental concepts and issues from the viewpoints and with the approaches of the natural sciences, social sciences, policy sciences, humanities, technology and engineering.
Our undergraduate certificate in sustainable food systems will provide you with an interdisciplinary understanding of sustainable food production and distribution systems, as well as the economic, social and environmental implications of food systems.
The B.S./J.D. or B.A./J.D. six-year accelerated program leads to a bachelor's degree in environmental studies and a J.D. degree. You can only start this program in the fall.
To participate, you must have completed 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework that satisfies general education and major requirements. These courses must be completed by May of your junior year. Your first year of law courses will satisfy your remaining credits (up to 120 undergraduate credit hours). You must also:
If interested, you should apply to the College of Law as early as possible your junior year. Admission is competitive and depends on the number and quality of applicants to the program and the College of Law, as well as other factors the college normally considers.
A bachelor's degree in environmental studies can be your gateway to graduate school. By taking a few additional undergraduate courses, you can prepare yourself for graduate programs beyond environmental studies. Some options at NIU that might be a good fit for you include:
Our academic programs will enable you to:
I was always so indecisive about what I wanted to learn or be because I wanted to learn and be so much. That’s what I specifically love about environmental studies. It is a truly interdisciplinary study that allows everyone to dabble in a little of everything.
Jennifer Schaumberg, environmental studies major