BA in Environmental Studies Online
Environmental Studies Online Degree
Engage with social justice issues, learn the theories of ecopsychology and economics, as they relate to earth-based change, and participate in contemplative exercises that interact with the sacred nature of our planet in Naropa’s online Environmental Studies program.
Program Overview
Naropa’s online degree in Environmental Studies offers specialized tracks in Contemplation, Theory, Action, and Justice. This degree integrates regenerative and restorative practices to address climate change. Your journey of service begins with exploration of contemplative teachings, sustainability, environmental philosophy, policy, leadership, indigenous wisdom, and your own lived experience. You will also delve into social justice, ecopsychology, and economics, related to earth-based change.
Contemplation
In the Environmental Studies Degree Online, you will learn embodied strategies for meeting climate grief and anxiety to face the challenges of an increasingly uncertain future. Experiential exercises in nature including place bonding and a day-long solo walk provide a container for exploring your interrelationship with all the other-than-human beings that create our planet. Spiritual ecology, pilgrimage, and the work of Joanna Macy contribute to your journey.
Theory
Through Naropa’s environmental studies online program, students engage in sustainable alternatives such as Deep Ecology, Ecopsychology, and Science for Sustainability to question the dominant cultural narrative and consider alternatives that provide life-sustaining pathways to planetary well-being.
Action
Taking effective action is an antidote to despair. It requires deepening our ability to imagine and implement ecological, economic, and political alternatives while simultaneously developing our own leadership style through practical immersion in nonviolent communication, group facilitation, project management, and community organizing.
Justice
Every aspect of our program is shaped by an unwavering commitment to justice. Oppression of people and the planet grows from the same root. By addressing issues of environmental justice, indigenous knowledge, and restorative practices, students gain a sense of their social location and ways to make an impact.
Quick Facts
- Online degree
- 39 credit hours (of the 120 credits required for a bachelor's degree)
- Transfer up to 90 semester credits
- 12 required classes
- Contemplative practice
- Internship course
- Capstone project
- Average age: 26
- Admissions open for 2025
Program Format
Naropa University’s undergraduate program is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Arts degree program. The online Environmental Studies degree consists of 39 credits, fully online, equipping students with knowledge and skills to tackle environmental problems. The curriculum integrates the complex and interconnected relationships of the natural environment, human culture, and personal experiences through interrelated strands: contemplative practice, sacred ecology, science for sustainability, and environmental history and justice.
Course Spotlight
The Science for Sustainability
In this course, students delve into sustainability through the lenses of ecology, climate science, and systems thinking, gaining a deep understanding of their interconnectedness with human and natural systems. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on activities, students learn the complexities of Earth’s living systems and the nuances of sustainability research. The course critically examines challenges shaped by different worldviews, encouraging students to think critically about diverse approaches to sustainability. By the end of the course, students will have developed the ability to identify and articulate key sustainability principles and methodologies. They will also design and execute a project that integrates these core concepts, equipping them to lead and advocate for sustainable initiatives.
Degree
Requirements
A Bachelor of Arts degree (120 credits) consists of a Core Curriculum (24 credits) and at least one major, as well as minors and/or elective courses of the student’s choosing. The Environmental Studies Online Major includes a total of 39 credit hours.
Online Environmental Studies Major Requirements
Required Courses: 15 credits
- ENV 370e: Environmental Philosophy and Ecopsychology [Theory] (3)
- ENV 411e: Science for Sustainability [Theory] (3)
- ENV 350e: Nature, the Sacred, and Contemplation [Contemplative] (3)
- ENV 401e: Environmental Leadership Skills [Action] (3)
- ENV 355e: Environmental Justice [Justice] (3)
Action: Choose 3 credits
- ENV 250e: Restorative Principles and Practices (3)
- ENV 341e: Contemporary Environmental Movements (3)
- ENV 490e: Special Topics: Activism
Contemplative: Choose 3 credits
- ENV 245e: Geography: Pilgrimage and Sacred Landscape (3)
- ENV 361e: Spiritual Ecology (3)
- ENV 490e: Special Topics: Contemplative
Justice: Choose 3 credits
- ENV 257e: Food Justice (3)
- ENV 363e: Indigenous Environmental Issues (3)
- ENV 490e: Special Topics: Justice
Theory: Choose 3 credits
- ENV 207e: History of the Environmental Movement (3)
- ENV 253e: Solidarity Economics (3)
- ENV 490e: Special Topics: Theory
Electives: choose 6 credits Choose 6 credits from the list above or below:
- PSYB 329e: Approaches to Healing (3)
- PSYB 354e: Transpersonal Psychology (3)
- REL 160e: Meditation Practicum I (3)
- TRA 133e: Yoga I: Foundations (3)
Capstone: 6 credits
- COL 450e: Internship (3)
- COR 440e: Capstone II (3)
Total: 39 credits
Why Choose Naropa?
Cutting-Edge Approaches
Inspired by the work of Joanna Macy and thought leaders in ecopsychology and deep ecology, our program offers insight into approaches of living systems thought, leadership models, the history of the environmental movement, and indigenous knowledge. Students have the opportunity to participate in an internship course and a capstone project to integrate their learning.
Contemplative Methodology
The online degree in environmental studies helps students deal with climate grief and worry about future challenges. Students will participate in nature-centered contemplative exercises that enhance their interconnection with the more than human world.
Outstanding Faculty
Naropa's environmental studies faculty have abundant knowledge, passion, and real-world experience. Our faculty consists of diverse scholars and practitioners who inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.
How this Program Prepares You
Internship and Senior Project
Contemplative and Theoretical Learning
The Environmental Studies online program is rooted in contemplative practices, offering a pathway to cultivate meaning making in a chaotic world and integrate the challenges facing our planet. The degree curriculum delves into history, philosophy, and economics to foster a comprehensive understanding of interconnections through diverse perspectives.
Sense of Justice
Our program is steadfastly dedicated to promoting justice in all its facets. By tackling topics related to environmental justice, indigenous knowledge, and restorative principles, students acquire an understanding of their social location and methods to effect change.
What You'll Learn
Contemplative Practices
Acquire physical and mental techniques to navigate climate-related challenges. Engage in nature-focused reflective exercises to deepen your connection with the environment.
Action-Oriented Skills
Participate in activities that develop both internal and external capabilities crucial for effective environmental stewardship.