Environmental sciences

B.S.
Online You can complete all or nearly all requirements of this program online.*
delivery
$366 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
4
start terms/year

The future of our planet depends on bold thinkers who have the knowledge and abilities to tackle today’s toughest environmental challenges. By earning your environmental sciences bachelor’s degree online from Oregon State University, you’ll gain the skills to think critically, analyze complex problems and devise innovative solutions to protect our natural world.

This interdisciplinary program weaves together science, math and policy — a powerful mix that will help you to develop a holistic understanding of environmental systems. You’ll learn from world-class Oregon State faculty who are experts in the biological, physical and social sciences. Plus, you’ll specialize in an area that aligns with your passions and empowers you to deepen your expertise.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online environmental sciences degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s online environmental sciences degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world experience in the field.

  • Field sampling (water/air/soil/vegetation)
  • Data analysis
  • GIS
  • Remote sensing
  • Wetland delineation
  • Environmental technical writing
  • Environmental problem-solving
Snow-capped mountain reflecting in an alpine lake with beautiful pine forest along shoreline
Best Online Bachelor's Programs 2025 - U.S. News & World Report

Program details

The online coursework in Oregon State’s environmental sciences bachelor’s program will teach you how to address challenging scientific and policy issues, from climate change and pollution to biodiversity conservation and resource management. You’ll also learn to articulate the connections between human and natural systems and their resulting impacts.

The online environmental sciences program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits — at least 60 of which must be upper-division credits — are required to graduate with your degree in environmental sciences, including:

A blue glacier feeds into a small lake, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and a cloudy sky

Additional program features

When you pursue an environmental sciences degree online, you’ll work with an academic advisor to choose a specialization. You can select from a variety of options, a minor in education or an undergraduate certificate in various disciplines.

Options

Education minor
The education minor consists of courses that represent key topics in education-related fields. This program is designed to help students in non-education majors gain an overview of educational careers and concepts.

Geographic information science certificate
Earning Oregon State’s GIS undergraduate certificate will teach you how to use geographic information technologies that are vital to countless scientific, natural resource management, government, industry and business organizations.

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

Get a jump-start on your M.S. or PSM in Environmental Sciences degree while working toward your bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences. Through Oregon State’s Accelerated Master’s Platform, current undergraduate students can take graduate-level courses online that will be applied to their bachelor’s degree.

The credits you earn will be transferred to the M.S. or PSM in Environmental Sciences program. Students enrolled in Oregon State’s online graduate courses will pay the graduate tuition and fees rate.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online with Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Environmental sciences careers

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online environmental sciences degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs in the global marketplace. As a leader in this area, you’ll enter the workforce ready to provide insights in economic sectors that need environmental sciences experts.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to environmental sciences. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.