University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Environmental Studies BA
Johnstown, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 27,134 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time, two terms | for out-of-state residents
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The unique nature of Pitt-Johnstown’s environmental studies major accommodates a wide variety of career paths, preparing students for jobs ranging from niche to the most popular in the field. This interdisciplinary major produces well rounded students knowledgeable in many different fields of both natural and social sciences.
The major consists of two core courses – Introduction to Environmental Studies and Senior Seminar – and an internship. Major requirements consist of seven environmental policy courses including courses such as biodiversity conservation, environmental planning, and environmental ethics. Eight environmental science courses are also required with classes such as soil in the environment, watersheds, physical geography, hydrology, and animal behavior. Seven social science courses round out the major requirements with classes such as environmental field studies, earth and people, urban development, and comparative politics.
Students are encouraged to pursue a Geographic Information Systems certificate. This certificate prepares students for spatial data collection and analysis by using advanced drone technology and many other important tools.
The major also includes unique field courses for a more hands-on experience and requires an internship for real-world learning. Many students are offered jobs after graduation with the companies they interned for during their time at UPJ. Most environmental studies majors also complete a minor or a second major in geography, geology, biology, or political science and many also continue their education at graduate schools around the country.
UPJ Soil Judging Team
Soil Judging is an intercollegiate competition that takes place across the country. Pitt-Johnstown participates in the Northeast Regional competition which takes place early October every year, with a rotation of schools hosting the location.
Pitt-Johnstown Financial Aid
Scholarship eligibility for incoming first-year or new students to Pitt-Johnstown will be assessed by the Admissions Office upon acceptance.
Process For Continuing Students
Each year, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Financial Aid Office awards numerous Gift and Endowed (G&E) scholarships, made available to deserving students through the generosity of many individuals, clubs, organizations, industries, businesses, and foundations.
The selection of scholarship recipients is based on specific criteria defined by the donor. A student’s academic performance and financial need may also be considered when deciding upon qualified candidates. Most G&E scholarships are geared toward continuing students; Pitt-Johnstown may require students to complete a scholarship application for consideration.
Completing the scholarship application does not guarantee selection, however, by completing the application, students are automatically considered for each scholarship that Pitt-Johnstown offers as well as several outside scholarships.
General Requirements
For consideration, students must:
- be enrolled for at least 6 credits in a degree-seeking program at Pitt-Johnstown.
- have successfully completed 12 credits as a degree-seeking student at Pitt-Johnstown.
- have earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1 to be considered for need-based scholarships.
- be registered for the upcoming fall term by May 15.
- comply with Pitt-Johnstown's satisfactory academic progress standards for financial aid.
- not be in default on an educational loan or not owe repayment on a federal grant.
- not have earned a Bachelor’s Degree.
Scholarship Exclusions/Adjustments
Limited G&E funds are available to full scholarship recipients. Scholarship awards may be adjusted if Financial Aid determines a student is the recipient of a full tuition scholarship or tuition remission.
Any student who receives a scholarship and/or grant awards that total more than Pitt-Johnstown’s annual cost of attendance, as defined by the Financial Aid Office, will have one or more awards reduced or cancelled.
The Financial Aid Office awards G&E scholarships based upon the information available at the time of the award, including intended major or cumulative GPA, as well as any other possible variables. In the event that this information is inaccurate or changes, the Financial Aid Office has the right to reduce, change, or cancel the award.
I. Core Requirements
- ENVSTD 0100 - Intro to Environmental Studies
- ENVSTD 1200 - Internship
- ENVSTD 1700 - Senior Seminar in Environ Studies
II. Environmental Policy
Select seven courses from the following.
Biology
- BIOL 1110 - Biodiversity Conservation
- BIOL 1220 - Wildlife Management
Economics
- ECON 1370 - Economics And the Environment
English Literature
- ENGLIT 0345 - Literature and The Environment
English Writing
- ENGWRT 0551 - Science and Nature Writing
Geography
- GEOG 0320 - Geography of Africa
- GEOG 1160 - Population Geography
- GEOG 1190 - Geodemography
- GEOG 1200 - Environmental Planning
- GEOG 1230 - Resource Management
- GEOG 1260 - Energy, Environment and Society
- GEOG 1300 - Russia and Eurasian States
- GEOG 1610 - Urban Planning
Philosophy
- PHIL 0120 - Environmental Ethics
- Political Science
- PS 1245 - Environmental Politics & Policy
Sociology
- SOC 1113 - Environmental Sociology
- Or other electives as approved
III. Environmental Science
- Select eight courses from the following. A minimum of three departments must be represented with a maximum of four courses from any one department.
Biology
- BIOL 0080 - Life Sciences
or preferably - BIOL 0110 - General Biology 1
- BIOL 0111 - General Biology Laboratory 1 and
- BIOL 0120 - General Biology 2 and
- BIOL 0121 - General Biology Laboratory 2
- BIOL 0340 - General Ecology
- BIOL 1130 - Biology of Plants
- BIOL 1162 - Local Flora
- BIOL 1165 - Evolution
- BIOL 1232 - Animal Behavior
- BIOL 1274 - Ornithology
- BIOL 1520 - Aquatic Ecology
Chemistry
- CHEM 0111 - General Chemistry 1 and
- CHEM 0113 - General Chemistry Laboratory 1
- CHEM 0112 - General Chemistry 2 and
- CHEM 0114 - General Chemistry Laboratory 2
Civil Engineering
- CE 1503 - Intro To Environmental Engineering
- CE 1610 - Engineering & Sustainable Development
Environmental Studies
- ENVSTD 1400 - Soil in The Environment
Geography
- GEOG 0210 - Physical Geography
- GEOG 1200 - Environmental Planning
- GEOG 1220 - Natural Hazards
- GEOG 1240 - Watersheds
Geology
- GEOL 0024 - Meteorology
- GEOL 0061 - Historical Geology
- GEOL 0083 - Intro to Physical Oceanography
- GEOL 0086 - Environmental Geology
- GEOL 1061 - Geomorphology
- GEOL 1105 - Hydrology
- GEOL 1139 - Geology of Soils
Physics
- PHYS 0140 - Introduction To Physics 1 and
- PHYS 0141 - Introduction To Physics 1 Lab
- PHYS 0142 - Introduction To Physics 2 and
- PHYS 0143 - Introduction To Physics 2 Lab
Or other electives as approved
IV. Methodology and tools
Students must complete at least two of the following:
- CHEM 0325 - Analytical Chemistry
- ENGWRT 0551 - Science and Nature Writing
- ENGWRT 1192 - Technical Writing
- FR 0212 - Intermediate French 2
- GEOG 1425 - Remote Sensing
- GEOG 1440 - Geographic Information Systems
- GEOL 1108 - Rprt Writing & Comp Applica in Geol
- GEOL 1157 - Geologic Field Methods
- SOC 0300 - Social Research Methods
- SPAN 0212 - Intermediate Spanish 2
- STAT 1020 - Social Statistics
- Other methodology options as approved