University of Denver
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

With an interdisciplinary focus, our BS in environmental science helps students develop knowledge and skills in fields lie sustainable development, ecosystem preservation and climate change. With classwork focused on physical and natural science, students gain an understanding of the physical properties that affect the environment and how those factors are shaping scientific discourse around the world. The program is built on practical field experience, so they have the opportunity to explore the evolving science of the environment and work on new solutions to today's most pressing challenges.

This program offers students a foundation in the natural sciences while helping develop skills in the technical aspects of environmental science. Graduates can leave prepared to work in many career fields, including environmental quality assessment, natural resource monitoring and pollution measurement and abatement. Graduates will also be well-equipped to enter grad school and pursue greater depth and practice in the environmental sciences.

The University of Denver's Bachelor of Arts program in ecology and biodiversity offers students a cross-disciplinary focus on these two fields. Students complete 44 credit hours of biology coursework. The BA degree allows students flexibility to combine their interests in biology with other disciplines such as law, policy or business.

Our biological sciences department provides specialized upper-level coursework taught by active researchers in the discipline, along with the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on in-depth research. Students can access cutting-edge research and go to several exciting field sites. Research opportunities encompass plant-insect interaction, ecology of invasive species, and forest ecology and evolutionary biology. Graduates can leave well prepared for jobs or graduate work in a range of areas related to ecology and evolutionary biology.

As the conversation around the global climate has overtaken both the public and scientific spheres, the need for trained environmental scientists has grown rapidly. The BA in environmental science covers a range of environmental issues, from climate change, air and water quality and resource preservation to sustainable development and waste management. Our program is founded on a hands-on approach to scientific exploration, meaning students have the chance to participate in field studies and travel to diverse locations to gather a truly expansive knowledge of environmental science.

As students learn about issues of environmental preservation and discover solutions to challenging global problems, they have the opportunity to explore a variety of other disciplines. The BA program is flexible and allows them to take courses across other fields to complement their degree. With the environmental science BA, students have gone on to careers in conservation, resource management, policy and many other fields with a focus on the health and preservation of the natural world.

The University of Denver's minor in sustainability, offered through the Department of Geography & the Environment, is an excellent choice for students no matter their major. An understanding of sustainability includes the scientific basis for sustainable resource use as well as the social and economic implications and costs of sustainable practices. As we move into the future, sustainability will be of paramount concern in nearly every professional field, and this minor can help you contribute to a healthier word, whether you find your career in engineering or education, marketing or biology.

Among the problems facing society are an uncertain global economy, the heavy reliance of both developed and developing nations on increasingly limited supplies of nonrenewable energy sources, and the resulting social unrest building throughout many parts of the world. Understanding and finding a solution to these challenges and moving toward a sustainable future will require an interdisciplinary perspective on these problems. Our minor in sustainability will give you the opportunity to develop the insight to work toward a better future.

The Urban Studies minor at DU offers a multidisciplinary introduction to a range of issues that are affecting cities today. Our courses examine the history and nature of urban life in the United States and other parts of the world. They explore topics such as inequality and poverty, gentrification, transportation and landscape planning, housing policy, sustainability, building design and development and more. The majority of the world's population lives in cities. A minor in Urban Studies can prepare you to make informed decisions about urban policy, planning and development questions that face today's citizens and their communities. Careers in fields like urban planning and development, social work, public policy work and human services benefit from the kind of skills you'll develop with the minor in Urban Studies. 

The minor in environmental science is designed to provide students with a firm foundation in earth science, ecology, and the scientific perspective of current issues concerning the environment or the management of natural resources. This minor is an excellent companion for students majoring in either the natural sciences or the social sciences. Students may customize their minor to suit their individual interests.