Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences and Studies
Lugano, Switzerland
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
CHF 52,750 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* annual tuition fee for international students per year | Swiss/EU/EEA: CHF 27,550 per year | US citizens / permanent residents and Canadian citizens: $48,500 per year
Introduction
Analyze and Think Critically about Environmental Issues
Local and global societies face an array of environmental problems, from biodiversity loss to climate change to various types of pollution. To tackle these problems, future leaders need to understand the science behind the issues as well as the societal context in which they occur.
The Environmental Sciences and Studies (ESS) major provides students with the knowledge and skills to become these future leaders through two major options. The general Environmental Studies major exposes students to environmental issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, while the Environmental Studies major with an emphasis in science allows students to focus primarily on the natural and physical science aspects of today’s environmental problems. Both major curricula integrate Franklin’s Academic Travel program, offer opportunities to pursue independent research, incorporate real-world experience, and encourage majors to study abroad. In particular, Franklin’s affiliation with the School for Field Studies (SFS ) allows ESS students to study at one of the SFS sites during a summer or semester and receive major credit. Both major programs prepare students for careers in government, non-profit conservation, and consulting, as well as for graduate degree programs.
Admissions
Curriculum
The Environmental Sciences and Studies major gives students an interdisciplinary background and enables them to think critically about, analyze, and understand today's environmental issues. In this major, students receive a broad overview of environmental issues that includes environmental science, the social sciences, and the humanities. Students take a core set of fundamental courses and then tailor a set of broad upper-level electives that reflect the students' specific interests.
Environmental Science
Foundation Courses (23 credits)
- BIO 101: Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology
- BIO 101L: Laboratory to Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology
- BIO 102: Introduction to Biology: Cell and Animal Biology
- BIO 102L: Laboratory to Introduction to Biology: Cell and Animal Biology
- CHEM 101: General Chemistry I
- CHEM 101L: Laboratory to General Chemistry I
- CHEM 102: General Chemistry II
- CHEM 102L: Laboratory to General Chemistry II
- GEO 101: Introduction to Physical Geography
- PHYS 101: Physics for the Health Sciences
- PHYS 101L: Laboratory to Physics for the Health Sciences
Quantitative Skills (9 credits)
- MAT 200: Calculus
- MAT 201: Introduction to Statistics
One of the following:
- ENV 250 Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science
- BUS 306 Quantitative Methods and Dynamic Forecasting
- MAT 3XX Any 300-level mathematics course
Upper-level Science Courses (15 credits)
- BIO 301: Conservation Biology
- BIO 310: Ecology
- ENV 200: Understanding Environmental Issues
Two of the following:
- CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 201L Laboratory to Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 202L Laboratory to Organic Chemistry II
- ENV 210 Natural Disasters, Catastrophes, and the Environment
- ENV 240 Environment and Health
- ENV 372 Sustainability Science
Practical Field Studies and Skills (9 credits)
Three of the following:
- BIO 210T: Alpine Ecosystems
- ENV 230T: Freshwater Conservation
- ENV 231T: Introduction to Coastal Ecosystems
- ENV 280T: Managing the New Zealand Environment
- ENV 282T: Tourism and the Environment: Iceland
- ENV 373T: Sustainability Science (Iceland)
- ENV 399: Research in Environmental Studies
- ENV 498: Internship in Environmental Studies
- ENV 499: Senior Research Project in Environmental Studies
Capstone Course (3 credits)
- ENV 497: Senior Capstone
Gallery
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Franklin University Switzerland offers merit scholarships to admitted students based on academic achievements in high school and/or transferable undergraduate work. All undergraduate applicants are considered for merit awards as part of the admissions process, which are awarded at the point of admission with priority given to students applying by the December 1 deadline. Additional need-based scholarships may be awarded on top of merit scholarships, depending on a student’s need. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to four years or eight semesters.
Undergraduate Special Awards
Our competitive scholarship programs offer the most promising students the financial support they need to pursue their studies. These scholarship opportunities are awarded during the enrollment process for incoming students.
At FUS, we are committed to ensuring that talented students are able to access the best educational opportunities so that they can reach their full potential and make a positive impact at Franklin and beyond their studies. We offer generous scholarships and awards to make sure the most promising and motivated young minds are able to achieve their goals and make a positive impact on society.
The scholarship opportunities listed below are cumulative with other types of financial aid, and would be renewed annually to student recipients provided GPA requirements and other applicable conditions per scholarship type are maintained.
- SUNY-FUS 2 + 2 Jacques Villaret International Education Award for SUNY Community College Students
- Franklin Honors Program Award
- The Ambassador Wilfried Geens Award
- The Brian Stanford Award in Creative Practices
- The Ann Gardiner Award in Sustainability
- Life-Long Learning Scholarship