Environmental Science Program

Leading change in environmental science

The undergraduate Environmental Science degree at University of Idaho is a university-wide, interdisciplinary program that brings together faculty and courses from across the university. You’ll have opportunities to explore environmental issues through the lenses of science, policy and society — equipping you as a well-rounded leader and advocate for the environment.

University of Idaho is located in one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country. You could study in forests, rivers, mountains and rangelands — right in your back yard. Fieldwork, lab research and community engagement allow you to apply what you learn to Idaho's  environmental challenges.

As an environmental science student, you’ll examine local and global environmental concerns, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, water and energy sustainability, land-use conflicts and natural resource management. You can focus your studies in the biological, physical, or social sciences, while gaining a broad understanding of how environmental systems interact with human values, economics and politics. Your hands on courses will prepare you for a career in conservation, policy-making, environmental education, or scientific research.

You’ll benefit from the university’s deep commitment to the stewardship of natural resources and the communities that depend on them. Through close collaboration with faculty, opportunities to work with local and regional stakeholders and access to Idaho’s incredible natural laboratory, you’ll graduate ready to make a lasting impact.

Whether your goals involve shaping environmental policy, managing ecosystems, or educating future generations, the environmental science program at UIdaho will help you build the knowledge, experience and perspective to succeed.

Graduate environmental science degrees

Pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. degree that allows you to address environmental challenges and explore issues that intersect disciplines at University of Idaho. Master's students have the option of pursuing a campus-based thesis program or a non-thesis option that can be completed on campus or fully online. The online master’s program is ranked one of OnlineU's 2025 Best Online Master's Degrees in Environmental Science.

Academic Programs

Undergraduate degrees:

• B.S. in environmental science, sustainability sciences option
• B.S. in environmental science, integrated sciences option
• B.S. in environmental science, ecological restoration option
• B.S. in environmental science, culture and communication option
• B.S. in environmental science, policy, planning and management option

Graduate degrees:

• Ph.D. in environmental science
• M.S. in environmental science