In the fall 2026 semester, Texas A&M University’s College of Arts and Sciences will introduce new and revised undergraduate degree in environmental studies, designed to prepare students to address complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary study and systems-based approaches.
The new Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies (BS‑ESST) and the recently revised Bachelor of Science in Environmental Systems Science (BS‑ENSS) respond to growing demand for graduates who understand complex environmental issues in their scientific, social and policy contexts.
The coordinated design of these two degrees offers a distinctive undergraduate pathway that connects environmental systems science with solution‑focused, policy‑aware systems thinking.
Together, the degree program emphasizes the interconnected nature of environmental challenges, drawing attention to how ecological processes, human systems, environmental ethics and decision‑making structures interact across local, regional and global scales. BS-ENSS focuses on earth systems science, environmental change and policy, and environmental analytics while the BS-ESST trains students to examine and explain sustainability, policy and the interactions between natural and social systems.
Across the country, universities are rethinking environmental education, moving toward interdisciplinary, systems-based programs that reflect the complexity of real-world challenges. Texas A&M’s new degrees place the College of Arts and Sciences squarely within that national shift.
“Environmental challenges are rarely confined to a single discipline,” said Dr. Wendy Jepson, University Professor and Environmental Programs director. “These programs are designed to help students think broadly and analytically about environmental systems, sustainability and the societal contexts in which solutions are developed.”
Interdisciplinary Curriculum with Real‑World Relevance
Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences’ Environmental Programs, the BS‑ESST and BS‑ENSS bring together faculty expertise from across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The curriculum emphasizes:
- Environmental systems and Earth processes
- Sustainability and socio‑environmental systems
- Environmental data analysis
- Policy‑relevant and ethical environmental decision‑making
- Systems thinking and interdisciplinary problem‑solving
This approach supports a wide range of professional pathways, including careers in environmental science, sustainability, public service, industry, nonprofit organizations and graduate or professional study.
"Programs like this are more important than ever because environmental challenges, such as climate change, are becoming increasingly severe and are largely driven by human activities," said Trinity Jones, who will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in environmental geosciences and a minor in oceanography and ocean science and technology. "These programs equip students like me with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills needed to address complex environmental problems and create sustainable solutions."
Jones, a Houston native, says environmental justice classes changed her perspective. "It made me think about areas of Houston that I've driven through during my life—places where I noticed unusual smells or experienced irritation but never understood why," she said. "Connecting these experiences to what I was learning in class made these issues real and personal. It has helped me recognize how environmental inequalities affect communities in tangible ways."
After graduation, she plans to continue working as a student assistant in Environmental Programs until the end of the summer while searching for a full-time position in the environmental field in the Houston area.
Preparing Students for Environmental Work in Texas and Beyond
Rather than focusing on a single disciplinary track, the degree structure provides students with flexibility and breadth, reflecting the realities of contemporary environmental work. Graduates will be prepared to collaborate across sectors and disciplines, an increasingly important skill set in addressing environmental challenges.
“These degrees are designed with students’ futures in mind,” said Dr. John Patrick Casellas Connors, associate professor in the Department of Geography and assistant director of Environmental Programs. “They provide a strong foundation in environmental systems while also emphasizing the critical role of sustainability and policy in shaping real‑world outcomes.”
Building on Texas A&M’s Commitment to Environmental Education
The new degree programs build on Texas A&M University’s longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary environmental education and its broader land‑, sea‑ and space‑grant mission. Students will benefit from a strong community of faculty, research opportunities and experiential learning embedded across the university.
"Even issues that may not seem directly related to the environment can have significant environmental impacts," said Jones. "For example, something like excessive AI usage may not immediately appear environmental, but it still has implications for energy consumption and resource use. This perspective, which I am learning in Texas A&M's environmental programs, has helped me better understand how interconnected our systems are and how we can work toward more sustainable solutions."