Major in Environmental Science
On this page:
- About the Environmental Science Major
- Major Requirements
- Dual Major in Environmental Sciences, and Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Environmental Sciences Second Major for ISP Students
- Undergraduate Research & Honors Requirements
- Advising
- Learn More
About the environmental science Major
Our new Curriculum launches new major requirements for those joining NU in Fall 2025. If you are a first year students or transfer in Fall 2025, please be sure to consult the new curriculum outlined on this webpage, or in the 2025-2026 NU catalog.
Students in the Environmental Science undergraduate major build knowledge and skills relevant to further studies of, and/or careers in environmental science, with specific emphasis on areas of relevance to humans such as climate change, conservation and resource management, sustainability, and energy. It is ideal for the undergraduate who is interested in highly interdisciplinary science addressing many of the most profound issues facing the world in the 21st century. The curriculum synthesizes courses in the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. The Environmental Sciences major is open to all Northwestern undergraduates.
Students who major in the Environmental Sciences will learn to:
- Understand environmental systems organization and function, as well as the physical, chemical and biological processes that produce components of environmental systems.
- Make and properly record spatial observations; visualize earth and human systems and processes in two and three dimensions.
- Understand the interface between social systems and the environment, including economic, legal, ethical, and policy dimensions.
- Think quantitatively about Earth and Anthropogenic systems, implementing mathematical and computational analysis tools, equations, and techniques.
- Analyze, interpret, and critically evaluate scientific data and primary literature.
- Conduct analytical, field, or laboratory research in Environmental Science.
Please note that most ENVR_SCI course codes have transitioned to EARTH course codes effective starting with the 2025-2026 Catalog year.
The Environmental Science major is offered by the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS), which also offers the Earth and Planetary Sciences major and minor. Environmental Science majors are involved in the full spectrum of departmental activities beyond coursework, including research, seminars, field trips, and social functions. Many do research projects with faculty and graduate students that lead to honors theses and scientific publications.
Many of the STEM Related Courses are prerequisites for advanced courses and should be completed as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to take the 200-level Core Courses as early as possible in their studies, beginning with EARTH 210-0 Earth Systems Science and Climate Change and EARTH 211-0 Data Analysis in Earth and Environmental Sciences (first offering will be Spring 2026).
Students envisioning graduate training in Environmental Sciences are encouraged to take additional math and one or more of the sequences in physics, biological sciences, and organic chemistry. Students interested in environmental health and medical professions are advised to take the full 200-level sequence in biological sciences and two additional quarters of organic chemistry.
environmental science major RequiremEnts
The major entails three successive levels:
- Related Courses in science, mathematics, and economics.
- Core Courses that provide more specific education about the discipline.
- Advanced Studies Courses offering specialized training in science and society.
The Advanced Studies List are a feature of the ENVR SCI major that provides great flexibility in tailoring the major to your interest - that may span environmental economics, sustainability, environmental health, law, hazards, and more.
The presently pre-approved Lists are on this dynamic online document: ENVR SCI Course Tracker 2025.xlsx . This best-effort document is updated quarterly. Always consider the content in CAESAR and on the individual department and program webpages for scheduling and pre-requisites as authoritative. Additional courses may be submitted for review to be counted to the Advanced Studies List.
I. RELATED COURSES - in Science, Math, & Economics
All of the following:
- MATH 220-1 and 220-2, or MATH 218-1, 218-2, and 218-3.
- CHEM 131 and 132 with lab courses 141, 142, or CHEM 151 and 152 with lab courses 161, 162, or CHEM 171 and 172 with lab courses 181, 182
Five courses from the following, with at least two from the same group (i.e. BIOL_SCI, CHEM, ECON, PHYSICS, or STAT/MATH). Labs do not count toward the 5-course total.
- BIOL_SCI 201, 202, 203, with corresponding labs where required
- CHEM 215-1, 215-2 with lab courses 235-1 and 235-2; CHEM 220
- ECON 201, 202
- MATH 226, 230-1, 240-0, 250-0;
- PHYSICS 135–1, 135-2, 135-3 with the corresponding labs 136-1, -2, -3
- STAT 202 or 210
II. CORE COURSES - 200-level sequence
Four courses are required.
- EARTH 210: Earth Systems Science & Climate Change
- EARTH 211: Data Analysis in Earth & Environmental Sciences
- EARTH 212: Ecology & Environmental Change
- EARTH 213: Decision-Making in the Anthropocene
While not strictly required by the ENVR SCI major, we direction your attention to EARTH 397 - Scientific Communication for Earth and Environmental Sciences as an excellent option in fulfilling your WCAS Advanced Communication degree requirements. The EARTH 397 is typically offered in Winter quarters.
III. ADVANCED STUDIES - Science List, Society List, and Skills Requirement
- Students must complete 2 courses from the Society List, with at least one (of the 2) being an Environmental Policy & Culture (EPC) courses.
- Students must complete 6 courses from the Science List, of which one must a course in GIS (Geographical Information Systems).
- Of the 6 Science List courses - 3 of them must meet the Skills Area Requirement.
- There is a maximum of 2 of the 8 total Advanced Studies courses that may be at 200 level. Thus - 6 / 8 must be at least at the 300-level. One 400-level may be approved by the DUS to substitute for a specific 300-level course.
- Optional Research Course - EARTH 399. Majors may substitute one EARTH 399 courses for courses from the Science list. Note that students pursuing Honors must complete 2 credits of 399, although only one counts to the major requirement.
Skills Requirement
Students must take at least 1 course from the 3 Skills Requirement area lists, below.
No course may be counted for more than one Skills Requirement.
A single course that appears on both the Advanced Studies list and the Skills Requirement lists, may be used to fulfill both requirements of the ENVR SCI major.
Some topic offerings of EARTH 390-0 may be applied to a Skills Area with department approval.
Computing: EARTH 361, the ENVR SCI 390 R Data Science
Quantitative: EARTH 310, 327, 340, 343, 353, 354
Spatial Reasoning: EARTH 300, 330, GIS Level 1, GIS Level 2
Analytical/Instrumentation/Field: EARTH 331, 360, 390 - Stable Isotope Methods, or Geochemical Analytical Techniques. BIOL_SCI 336, 346
Dual Major in environmental Sciences, AND Earth & planetary sciences
Students wishing to major in both Environmental Sciences and Earth and Planetary Sciences will take all 6 core 200-level EARTH courses (EARTH 210-0, EARTH 211-0, EARTH 212-0, EARTH 213-0, EARTH 214-0 and EARTH 215-0).
Dual majors will also take the 8 Advanced Studies courses for each major.
Dual majors will also take ONE additional Advanced Studies or other EARTH 300-level (or approved 400-level) to apply to one major to make up one of the two double counted credits from the 200-level sequence.
Courses for Advanced Studies and Skills Requirement must not be double counted across majors.
Environmental Sciences Second Major for ISP Students
The Integrated Science Program is a highly selective BA program in Weinberg College. Students majoring in ISP who wish to complete a second major in Environmental Sciences should fulfill the following requirements instead of those listed above. They may not substitute EARTH 399 or INTG_SCI 398 for the ISP-required course MATH 383 and must take the following additional courses:
- EARTH 210, 212, and 213
- 7 advanced studies courses at the 300-level, with
- 5 from the Science List
- 2 from the Society List, including one approved Environmental Policy & Culture (ENVR_POL) course
- 1 quarter of EARTH 399 (or INTG_SCI 398 if research is related to environmental science) may be substituted for 1 course from the Science List
Skills Area Requirement for dual ISP Major
Dual major with ISP students must take at least one course from two of the three Skills Areas listed below. No course may be counted for more than one Skills Area simultaneously. Skills Area course may be counted to both the Advanced Study List (Science or Society) and the Skills Area Requirement.
Quantitative: EARTH 310, 327, 340, 343, 353, 354
Spatial Reasoning: EARTH 300, 330, GIS Level 1, GIS Level 2
Analytical/Instrumentation/Field: EARTH 331, 360, BIOL_SCI 336, 346, 390 - Analytical Techniques in Geochemistry, 390 Stable Isotope Methods.
Undergraduate research & honors requirements
ENVR_SCI majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing research projects,should seek a faculty mentor early in their undergraduate career, but no later than spring quarter of their junior year. After the faculty mentor approves a proposed project, research is conducted. Here is the EARTH-399 Independent Research Form.
Student wishing to submit a senior thesis and pursue Honors, complete a minimum of two credits of EARTH 399-0 Independent Research credit with the academic advisor of their project (while many research active undergraduates take more). Only one quarter of EARTH 399 counts toward the major requirements. To earn the honors distinction, students must complete a thesis following the guidance provided in the Honors Degree Guidelines and Thesis Style Guide. Students whose grades, research, and written thesis meet departmental criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information, students should consult the Degree Guidelines , and Honors in the Major and/or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).
Learn more about how to get involved with ongoing research at Northwestern as an undergraduate!
Undergraduate ResearchAll DEEPS Research
Advising
Our advising page contains more information about declaring the major and other useful resources. If you have questions or need more information, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for ENVR SCI - Prof. Patricia Beddows (p-beddows@northwestern.edu) or directly book a meeting time on her calendar using this link - https://calendly.com/patricia-beddows/envr-sci-advising-30-mins
Learn More
There are several ways you can learn more about Environmental Science at Northwestern.
- Interested in conducting research? Our majors conduct a wide variety of projects.
- Careers in the environmental science and beyond…visit our careers page for more information.
- If you wish to keep current about social functions, department activities, research opportunities, and job openings, please contact us about being added to the Department’s undergraduate e-mail listserv.