Considering an environmental science career? Online courses are a flexible way to study for a bachelor degree or postgraduate qualification, with different specialisations available.
Environmental scientists study the interactions between people and the physical environment, rather than the animals inhabiting it. Degrees in this field are available online at both bachelor's and master's levels.
Students gain practical experience through field trips, lab classes, and work placements. A combination of online and applied learning will have you prepared for roles in government agencies, businesses, ecotourism, conservation, sustainability, and more.
Study Environmental Science Online
Online courses in environmental science provide an essential balance between distance study and hands-on scientific learning.
- Distance education universities allow you to complete the academic components away from campus.
- They also organise field work and other practical activities such as work placements.
You should be prepared to attend occasional classes on campus. Residential schools (multi-day on-campus sessions) are compulsory for units where physical attendance is essential for learning. Residential sessions may be required for core subjects and/or optional ones that you particularly want to take.
Example Subjects Offered
Subjects you might take across a 3-year bachelor program include:
- analysis of spatial data, biodiversity, cell biology, climate change science
- conservation biology, ecology, ecosystem carbon accounting
- environmental geochemistry, environmental regulation and policy
- essential chemistry, forensic and environmental analysis
- management of aquatic environments, marine and aquatic ecology
- microbiology, resource sustainability, understanding landscape.
In the 1st and 2nd years of the degree, you'll learn the basic building blocks of science in the form of introductory Earth science, biology, chemistry, geography and physics.
~ UOW
Environmental Careers
Environmental science is a diverse and evolving field. Graduates can potentially access many different lines of work, including in government agencies (such as the Environment Department) and for businesses. Environmental officers have roles in:
- ecotourism; parks and reserves management
- impact assessment and monitoring
- education and compliance; environmental protection
- sustainable forestry; fisheries and aquaculture management
- land and water care programs.
Good online courses prepare you for these jobs by exposing you to many aspects of environmental stewardship.
Bachelor Degrees
Studying environmental science online offers both a university degree and a highly-rated course experience.
- The best distance education programs achieve student satisfaction percentages into the high 80s.
- The programs also give considerable choice with respect to majors and units.
Here are online bachelor degrees where you can major in environmental science.
Murdoch BEnvSc
Murdoch University in Perth allows Bachelor of Science students to major in environmental science. By completing a 4th year, you can graduate with a Bachelor of Environmental Science degree. Students are encouraged to select units from other another discipline in order to come away with a double science major or combined degree.
SCU Bachelor of Environmental Science
Southern Cross University offers an external Bachelor of Environmental Science degree that takes advantage of the university’s location. Field trips explore the Lismore region’s wetlands and estuaries, forests, coastal and inland national parks, and urban and rural developments. Students can major in coastal management, environmental resource management, fisheries and aquaculture management, or waste management and resource recovery. Online study may involve podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.
UNE Bachelor of Environmental Science
The University of New England has a highly rated online course in environmental science. It runs for 3 years (or 4 if you do a Bachelor of Science honours year). The course has many units, allowing you to design a program to suit your career goals. Available specialisations include conservation ecology, envirobusiness, natural resource management, and remediation and restoration. If travelling to Armidale for residential schools or field trips is difficult, you can mainly choose fully online units.
Masters Programs
Studying environmental science online at the postgraduate level is an opportunity to build expertise.
- Specialist study is beneficial for environmental science graduates who took a generalist approach to their first degree.
- You can also study management if you career is moving towards administrative and decision-making roles.
- Postgraduate study is also a way to break into the field. You can construct a broad program that exposes you to many different aspects of environmental study and management.
You don't have to commit to a full 12-unit masters degree straight away. You can start with a graduate certificate (4 units) or graduate diploma (8 units).
