Environmental Studies & Sciences

What You'll Study

The Environmental Studies and Sciences Program connects science with study of the historical, social, ethical, legal and political issues that affect our natural world and how we interact with it. We offer two majors, a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Both majors are interdisciplinary, with students taking course work in humanities, social sciences, and life/physical science. The Environmental Studies major provides an emphasis on the social and humanities-focused disciplines within the context of environmental issues, while the Environmental Science major provides an emphasis on biology, chemistry, and earth science within the broader context of society and environmental issues.

Gonzaga Launches Careers

"A lot of my passion for the outdoors and the environment have come from wonderful teachers and park rangers. I would love to inspire others to love the environment as much as I do." Read his story here.

Outdoor Opportunities

Gonzaga, situated in the beautiful Inland Northwest, is in a dream location for studying nature and our relationship to it. We have more than a dozen National Parks, National Forests, and National Recreations Areas within less than a day’s drive from Spokane, including some of the literal wonders of the world. Our region has the deepest canyon in North America (Hells Canyon), as well as not just one, but two UN World Heritage Sites (Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks). Did you know that the largest floods ever to occur in the history of the planet passed right through Spokane—less than 10,000 years ago? At Gonzaga, you’ll have opportunities to study these places and events.

The ENVS program sponsors public lectures on environmental topics and offers students many opportunities for student-led research, internships, and volunteer positions. Students have opportunities to work with environmental community partners and collaborate with Gonzaga’s on-campus environmental organizations, such as the Gonzaga Environmental Organization (GEO), the Outdoor Pursuits living- and-learning community in Marian Hall, and the Gonzaga Outdoors program.