Environmental Studies
College of the Environment
The Environmental Studies (ENVIR) major is designed for students who want to act critically and creatively in response to the environmental challenges facing the world today. Students integrate environmental knowledge across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to imagine, analyze and invent solutions to help bring about a more equitably sustainable world. Hands-on learning, field experiences and problem-based instruction focuses on finding answers to complex problems that include scientific, social, political, cultural and ethical dimensions. Our ENVIR alumni leverage professional experience gained through major’s year-long Capstone Experience to build careers in management, planning, advocacy, communications and policy-making across a wide array of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Major category: Minimum requirements
Minor available
Topic(s): Natural and environmental sciences
websiteDegree requirements
Applicant type
First-year students can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)
Read more about applying to the UW as a first-year student, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).
Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer
Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.
- Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
- Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
- Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
- UW college and school graduation requirements
Department admission information
Please contact the department for details about the application process.
The Environmental Studies major has minimum admission requirements which may be completed during first quarter. For more information, visit the department website . Transfer students may use equivalent courses to satisfy some of the major requirements. Consult UW Equivalency Guide to verify transferability of coursework and meet with departmental advisor prior to application.
Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.
Courses REQUIRED for admission:
Upon completion of the following transfer students may declare the major every quarter:
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Minimum 2.0 grade in ENVIR 100 NSc SSc – Introduction to Environmental Studies
- Completion of any ENVIR-prefix course at the 200-level with a minimum grade of 2.0
Entering transfer information:
Total undergraduates: 438
Total from Washington community colleges: 17
Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):
3.75 – 4.00: 6
3.50 – 3.74: 5
3.25 – 3.49: <5
3.00 – 3.24: <5
2.75 – 2.99: <5
2.50 – 2.74: <5
2.49 and below: <5