A major in Environmental Studies provides students with interdisciplinary coverage of natural resources and climate science, social science, geographic information science (GIS) and remote sensing technology, research methods, a regional or international focus, and policy issues related to human-environment interactions. Graduates may work as researchers, communications specialists, educators, advocates, or policy developers. This major is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in geography, arid lands or natural resources science, environmental law, public policy, landscape architecture, or ecology.

The B.A. in Environmental Studies focuses on human-environment interactions and environmental policy with coursework that combines topical, methods, theoretical and field-based instruction and encourages the understanding of environmental issues from the regional (Southwest US) to global scales. Course choices include social science and policy courses on water, land use, food, energy, the built environment, environmental history, gender and the environment, and climate-related issues in both urban and rural contexts. Students are expected to take selected courses in environmental science that provide a basis for understanding environmental policy. Methods training will cover basic statistical and qualitative analysis as well as geographic information science and remote sensing, with the option to take advanced courses in this area. Core courses will introduce students to a variety of social science theories for understanding human-environment interactions with options for advanced coursework in areas such as political ecology, risk assessment, institutions, and environmental economics.