Environmental Sciences
Associate in Science
Program Details
The Environmental Sciences Associate in Science Degree program emphasizes the development of skills in natural history and ecology. Specified coursework trains students to identify, describe, and analyze natural environments in terms of native species and ecological processes. The programÕs many field-oriented lecture and laboratory courses investigate a variety of natural settings including chaparral, woodland, estuary, coastal ocean, island, desert, and mountain environments. Accompanying lecture courses provide the theoretical foundation to support comprehensive field studies. The Environmental Sciences Associate in Science Degree is designed to provide students with a breadth and depth of both conceptual and field-oriented knowledge. This degree requires a total of 22-26 units in the major in addition to other graduation requirements.
Environmental Sciences Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2025-2026.
Featured Careers
Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 49,990
- High salary: 160,710
- Average salary: 97450
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Master's degree, Doctoral degree
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 53,310
- High salary: 199,260
- Average salary: 101390
Climate Change Policy Analysts
Master's degree, Doctoral degree
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 50,130
- High salary: 134,830
- Average salary: 80060
All Careers in Environmental Sciences (19)
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Stable | 101,390 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Rising | 99,240 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 97,450 |
| Geographers | Bachelor's degree, Doctoral degree | Stable | 97,200 |
| Hydrologists | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Stable | 92,060 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral degree, Post-doctoral training | Stable | 87,710 |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | Master's degree, Doctoral degree | Rising | 80,060 |
| Environmental Restoration Planners | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 80,060 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | Bachelor's degree, High school diploma/GED | Rising | 80,060 |
| Industrial Ecologists | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Rising | 80,060 |
| Coroners | Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree | Stable | 78,420 |
| Customs Brokers | High school diploma/GED, Certificate after high school | Stable | 78,420 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree | Stable | 78,420 |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | Bachelor's degree, Some college | Stable | 78,420 |
| Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree | Stable | 78,420 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | Bachelor's degree | Stable | 78,420 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Declining | 64,580 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | High school diploma/GED, Associate's degree | Declining | 54,310 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree | Rising | 49,490 |
Program Pathways Mapper incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.
- Assess the causes, and predict the consequences, of human population growth and industrialization, as they relate to human quality of life and global habitability, in order to inform decision makers and the public and/or design individual and collective remedies for positive change.
- Distinguish, classify, and assess species and ecological processes within a diversity of natural systems in order to increase personal and societal appreciation of the beauty, elegance, and value of the natural world.
- Employ ecological and evolutionary theory to analyze and interpret the structure and operations of a diversity of natural systems in order to design scientific studies, complete research reports, and/or inform decision makers and the public.