BA in Sustainability and Environmental Policy

Sustainability and Environmental Policy

On Campus

Renewable clean energy, pesticide regulation, green space cultivation and other sustainable initiatives protect our planet’s ecosystems, maintain its natural resources and enhance the quality of human life around the world. In the BA in Sustainability and Environmental Policy, you’ll connect the complex subjects of sustainability, economics, environmental science and environmental law and policy as you explore the scientific, social and cultural aspects of our most prevalent environmental issues.

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Advocate for the environment

Through an interdisciplinary lens, you’ll learn to perform statistical analysis, conduct environmental sustainability research and develop ethical solutions that enable humanity to better coexist with the natural world. The program culminates in a transdisciplinary capstone project in which you’ll explore an environmental topic you find most meaningful.

Experiential learning is emphasized throughout this program and offered in regional, national and international settings. These opportunities include study abroad, faculty-led international courses and field research in environmental biology, chemistry or engineering related to sustainability and environmental policy. Others are made available through university partnerships and special programs and include participation in an environmental policy fellowship in Washington, D.C., to work with nonprofits or governmental agencies. These experiences can also be completed as part of your capstone project.

Whether you see yourself making the biggest impact in a lab, out in the field or somewhere in between, the expertise you gain from this major unlocks a range of rewarding career paths. Possibilities include working as a sustainability consultant or environmental policy analyst for a federal agency, or as a sustainability manager for a city, nonprofit or corporation. Complementary programs such as minors in History and Philosophy of Science, Global Public Health and Applied Statistics & Data Science can enhance your academic experience and help guide your specific career path.

Program Statistics

93% Focused

93% of the world’s 250 largest companies are now reporting on sustainability (United Nations, 2021).

97% Affected

97% of companies have already felt the negative impacts of climate change (Deloitte, 2022).

88% Optimistic

88% of executives agreed that with immediate action, we can limit the worst impacts of climate change (Deloitte, 2022).

Earth Day Sustainable Fashion Show

Each year as a part of an Eco-Fashion Design course, students learn to create zero-waste fashion from household materials to design their outfits. Their final products are showcased at the Sustainable Fashion Show on Earth Day, which is fully organized and managed by students.

A line of eco-friendly made dresses — Students modeled dresses fashioned from materials including silk flowers, stenciled coffee filters, handmade tissue paper flowers, shopping bags, newspaper, papier mâché and recycled plastic and fabrics.

A close up of a dress sketch — Of the 150 billion garments produced every year, a third are sold, another third are discounted, and the last third ends up in a landfill.

An eco-friendly dress made of an anatomy textbook pages — 60 percent of new clothes are tossed within a year of purchase.

An eco-friendly dress made of playing cards — This unconventional sewing course does not require the operation of a sewing machine or use of textiles to design garments.

An eco-friendly dress made of recycled materials — Students learn sewing basics, including reading patterns, layout and cutting, taking body measurements, conducting fittings and hand-stitching seams.

An eco-friendly dress made of gift bags — Each student designs and constructs one item of clothing and one accessory item using 100 percent sustainable materials.

A close up of a dress bust made of anatomy textbook pages — Finished projects are showcased at the Sustainable Fashion Show on Earth Day, which is fully organized and managed by students.

Dresses composed of recycled materials made by students.

Field Research and Experiential Learning

Environment and sustainability programs at Quinnipiac emphasize the value of experiential learning. Within their courses of study, students will have multiple opportunities to partake in volunteer-based projects and faculty-led research experiences internationally or right here in Connecticut.

The Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship (QUIP-RS) provides vital funding for undergraduate students of any major to collaborate with faculty members and conduct research on their areas of interest.

Donate to the QUIP-RS scholarship fund

Learn more about the Albert Schweitzer Institute pollinator gardens

Students work with their professor in the pollinator garden. — Professor Sarah Lawson has helped establish a pollinator garden on Mount Carmel Campus to invigorate native pollinator biodiversity.

Grasshopper under examination by students and their professor. — Riya Miller ’23, MS ’24, is taking advantage of the new garden for an 8-week research project. She designed her project to study the social hierarchy of the small carpenter bee.

Flower in the pollinator garden. — The garden contains eight themed beds hosting 200 varieties of native plants. Plants were chosen to bloom in succession for year-round growth.

Students plant greenery in a pollinator garden — The research explores the role of nutrition in shaping the native bee community, the impacts of floral resource availability on foraging habits, and the effects of nutritional availability on pollinator physiology.

Invigorating the biodiversity of native pollinators

People discuss research in the Quinnipiac pollinator garden

Pollinator garden blooms on Mount Carmel Campus

June 28, 2022

A pollinator garden is now in bloom on the Mount Carmel Campus, with hopes it will invigorate the biodiversity of native pollinators at Quinnipiac.

Read the full article on Quinnipiac Today

Supporting environmental and sustainability initiatives

University's new rain garden to benefit wildlife for miles around

April 12, 2021

More than two dozen members of the university community came together this weekend to support environmental and sustainability initiatives at Quinnipiac that will have positive impacts for the region.

Read the full article on Quinnipiac Today

Career Paths

Our BA in Sustainability and Environmental Policy positions you for a growing number of specialized and in-demand opportunities. Graduates gain valuable skills suited for a wide array of potential careers, including:

Environmental Law
Environmental Policy
Environmental Sociology
Urban Planning

Many of our graduates also choose to continue their education in post-secondary programs. Students have gone on to earn advanced degrees in data analytics, business administration, law and education.

Career-Building Resources

An arts and sciences student speaks with a career adviser in the school advising commons

Design your career path

With an abundance of career-focused information and resources, the career advisers within the College of Arts & Sciences support students as they expand their professional networks and attract the attention of prestigious employers.

Learn more about career development

Enhance the value of your undergraduate degree

Become a decision-maker in the field

We've partnered with the School of Business to design a dual-degree program that opens doors to new careers for individuals with an interest in making decisions related to environmental science, policy, sustainability, and stewardship. These programs make it easy to earn both your undergraduate and graduate studies in just five years, saving you time while preparing you to immediately make an impact as a manager and a leader in the environmental industry.

Dual-Degree BA or BS/MBA (4+1)

Serve as a voice of truth

We've partnered with the School of Communications to design a dual-degree program that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to cover, write and report on environmental policies, trends and issues. By earning both an undergraduate and graduate degree in just five years, you'll save time while expanding your skill set and increasing your value to prospective employers.

Communications Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1)

Recognized for Sustainability

Bronze Level

Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)

Featured School

The Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2024 Edition

LEED Gold Building

The Recreation and Wellness Center is recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council

Sunrise over the Rocky Top Student Center

Our Approach to Sustainability

We envision a Quinnipiac that is a model for sustainability in southern New England, building its practices and leveraging its campuses to promote a healthy regional ecosystem, and to engage in practices that equip current and future students, faculty and staff to embody sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives, equipping them to thrive in a world increasingly influenced and affected by environmental disruption.

Download our Sustainability Plan

Two people talk at world summit day at the ASI table.

Albert Schweitzer Institute

The Albert Schweitzer Institute conducts programs that link education, ethics and voluntarism for the sake of creating a more peaceful and sustainable world. A dynamic presence at Quinnipiac, the institute has drawn notable humanitarians both to campus and to its board, and gives students of all majors opportunities to make a positive impact on local and global communities.

Learn how to get involved with ASI

STEM-Designated Program

The Department of Homeland Security has determined that this program meets the requirements for STEM designation.

STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) graduates are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be over 1.12 million jobs in STEM occupations in the next 10 years. The Department of Defense also estimates that more than 80% of jobs will require STEM skills over the next decade.

In addition, STEM-designated programs allow certain international graduates to remain and work in the United States for an additional 24 months after graduation on top of the standard Optional Practical Training period (up to 12 months) in order to receive additional training through their work experience.

Learn more about STEM

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Contact Admissions

Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.

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BA Sustainability and Environmental Policy

Advocate for the environment