Environmental Science Degree - Bachelor of Science
Study the Environmental Science major in the Bachelor of Science and become an environmental problem solver, with an in-depth understanding of the science that supports healthy water, air, soils and ecosystems.
The Environmental Science major will immerse you in the science of environmental problem solving. Our courses are designed to give you a well-rounded degree, and cover environmental science concepts, scientific data interpretation and communication, and environmental management and policy. There's an emphasis on essential ‘hands-on’ skills, with multiple field trips and practical lab sessions each year.
As an environmental science student, you explore the ‘total environment’ and become familiar with the scientific principles to investigate, understand and manage ecosystems - and where and how humans fit in. This understanding is essential to protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment, and is an excellent foundation for many rewarding careers.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Science.
The Environmental Science major covers the structure and functions of ecosystems and the role of humans as a key driver of environmental condition and change at global, regional, and local scales. You’ll develop a sound understanding of environmental science, as well as practical field and laboratory skills, combined with data analysis.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.*
*Depending on your chosen combination of majors and minors it may take you longer than three years to complete your degree.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Science students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Choose one of:
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices
- SCIE504 Science and Society
And choose one natural sciences course
- ASTR500 Introductory Astronomy
- BIOL500 Foundations of Life
- BMED500 Introduction to Biomedical Science
- CHEM500 Chemistry in Our World
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM502 Biological and Solution Chemistry
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- EASC500 Our Dynamic Earth
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
- FOOD502 Food Science
- FOOD503 Food Technology
- GESC500 Mapping Our Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MASC501 Marine Science Techniques
- MELS501 Histology and Cytology^
- MICR501 Microbial Life
- PHYS501 Physics for Scientists and Engineers
- SOSC585 Climate Action
And one mathematical and computer sciences course
- COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques*
- COMP503 Object Oriented Programming*
- MATH502 Algebra and Discrete Mathematics
- MATH504 Introductory Mathematics for Science
- MATH505 Algebra and Calculus I
- STAT500 Applied Statistics
- STAT502 Introductory Probability and Statistics
^Not offered in 2025
*Only available to students in the Analytics and Mathematical Modelling and Computation majors
And one course from either the natural sciences or mathematical and computer science courses above.
Complete the following course:
- SCIE606 Vision Mātauranga: Science Practice in Aotearoa
And one of:
- CHEM604 Instrumental Analysis
- SCIE600 Scientific Inquiry
In Year 3, you complete a project in an area related to your major. This project gives you an important competitive edge for your career, and is good preparation for postgraduate study.
Courses you complete for this project:
- SCIE707 Science Capstone Project A
- SCIE708 Science Capstone Project B
Environmental science major courses
If you're majoring in environmental science, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight environmental science-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
Year 2 courses
- ENVS604 Environmental Assessment and Monitoring
- ENVS605 Environmental Cycles and Flows
- ENVS606 Environmental Pressures, Threats and Risks
Year 3 courses
- ENVS705 Advanced Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS706 Environmental Problem Solving and Decision Making
- ENVS707 Environmental Science Policy and Practice
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-science/environmental-science-major
Students who started at AUT before 2023
If you started your studies at AUT before 2023, the courses you need to study to complete the requirements for your programme are a little different. Find out more about what courses you should take.
- Conservation organisations like the Department of Conservation
- Environmental consultant
- Government research and monitoring agencies
- Local councils: Environmental, public health, and waste management and monitoring services
- Science teacher*
- Scientific laboratory analyst
*After completing an additional year of teacher education
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Science
- Analytics
- Biological Science
- Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Food Science
- Marine Science
- Mathematical Modelling and Computation
Postgraduate study options
- Pathway to rewarding environmental careers
- Incorporates the UN Sustainability Development Goals
- Hands-on learning in the natural environment
- Flexibility: tailor your degree with a second major, minor or electives of your choice
- Complete an industry-related project in your final year
- Motivated
- Adaptable and creative
- Practical and disciplined
- Interested in the natural environment
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.