The Environmental Studies Concentration grapples with one of our world’s greatest challenges — how to build sustainable, equitable futures where human settlements and natural systems both thrive.
Through rigorous coursework in ecology, urban planning, earth and ocean sciences, and environmental management and policy, you’ll build the foundation for careers in conservation, urban studies, public health, environmental law, sustainable energy, and many other fields that address environmental issues. You’ll also learn to ask bigger questions about climate justice, what sustainability means across cultures, and how societies can work together to protect our planet.
What is a concentration?
A concentration is different from a traditional major. Concentrations allow you to explore different subjects at a high-level or focus deeper on areas you’re passionate about while working within the liberal arts major.
Environmental Studies at Soka integrates scientific inquiry with social and cultural perspectives. You'll develop the interdisciplinary thinking that environmental careers require — connecting data analysis to policy, fieldwork to community engagement, research to real-world solutions.
In small, seminar-style classes, you might:
Collect biodiversity data at a local nature preserve
Create interactive maps of recent wildfires or neighborhood rebuilding plans
Analyze a government’s response to a specific natural disaster
Discuss the history of environmental movements across different countries
Environmental Studies focuses on the study of nature, the interactions between people and nature, and the efforts of people to protect nature. We offer a wide variety of courses that can prepare you for a broad range of careers both in the environmental field and also in the many other fields that are connected to environmental studies.
In your senior year, you’ll complete an independent research project on an environmental question you’re passionate about — anything from the causes of honeybee population decline to the role of community theater in environmental education. Capstones often help graduates define not only their academic interests, but also how they want to contribute to global sustainability after graduation.
“The beauty of this concentration is that it’s not all science, and it’s not all social studies … Whether you want to be a GIS tech or a lawyer, an activist or an urban planner, you will find your niche in the Environmental Studies Concentration.”
Graduates work in environmental law, urban planning, public health, geospatial technology, corporate sustainability, and scientific illustration, among many other fields. Many go on to graduate programs in urban planning, biology, environmental policy & management, public policy, and business.
“I am researching how urban design can encourage people to change to more sustainable modes of transportation. The Environmental Studies Concentration prepared me to reach where I am by helping me build hard skills, gain practical insights, and understand the fundamental interconnections between humans and the environment.”
Koichi's Role after Soka: Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Analytics at the National University of Singapore
“The environmental studies classes I took at SUA equipped me with strong quantitative and qualitative skills that have prepared me for graduate school and my future career.”
Michelle's Role after Soka: M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
“The Environmental Studies Concentration introduced me to the fundamental skills needed to jump start my career … I now manage a team of biologists, technicians, and supervisors who collect field data on endangered plant populations.”
Dominic's Role After Soka: M.Sc. in Environmental Management from the University of Stirling, working as a Botanical Monitoring Specialist at the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands
“The Environmental Studies Concentration has allowed me to find my niche in illustration and academia. I’ve worked on international conservation projects, illustrating for the Thutmose III Temple excavation in Egypt and creating educational materials for the National Wildlife Federation and Wildlife Works.”
Hannah's Role After Soka: M.F.A. in Illustration from the University of Granada, Ph.D. Candidate in Art Education at Concordia University
“Every day, I get to apply the analytical, research, writing, and communication skills I acquired at SUA. The software product I work on is used by professionals in transportation and natural resource management.”
Kyle's Role after Soka: M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Cartography from Cal State Long Beach, working as a Product Engineer at Esri
“The Environmental Studies Concentration allowed me to develop my own interests while rounding out my knowledge base, which has made me more versatile as a sustainability specialist.”
Chloe's Role after Soka: M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from EM Strasbourg Business School, working as the Sustainability Coordinator for the town of Windsor, California
"I really enjoyed the GIS classes because they were great opportunities to acquire technical skills and learn about the many applications that GIS software has across different industries."
Megan's Role after Soka: Geospatial Analyst at the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand
Graduates work in environmental law, urban planning, public health, geospatial technology, corporate sustainability, and scientific illustration, among many other fields. Many go on to graduate programs in urban planning, biology, environmental policy & management, public policy, and business.
“I am researching how urban design can encourage people to change to more sustainable modes of transportation. The Environmental Studies Concentration prepared me to reach where I am by helping me build hard skills, gain practical insights, and understand the fundamental interconnections between humans and the environment.”
Koichi's Role after Soka: Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Analytics at the National University of Singapore
“The environmental studies classes I took at SUA equipped me with strong quantitative and qualitative skills that have prepared me for graduate school and my future career.”
Michelle's Role after Soka: M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
“The Environmental Studies Concentration introduced me to the fundamental skills needed to jump start my career … I now manage a team of biologists, technicians, and supervisors who collect field data on endangered plant populations.”
Dominic's Role After Soka: M.Sc. in Environmental Management from the University of Stirling, working as a Botanical Monitoring Specialist at the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands
“The Environmental Studies Concentration has allowed me to find my niche in illustration and academia. I’ve worked on international conservation projects, illustrating for the Thutmose III Temple excavation in Egypt and creating educational materials for the National Wildlife Federation and Wildlife Works.”
Hannah's Role After Soka: M.F.A. in Illustration from the University of Granada, Ph.D. Candidate in Art Education at Concordia University
“Every day, I get to apply the analytical, research, writing, and communication skills I acquired at SUA. The software product I work on is used by professionals in transportation and natural resource management.”
Kyle's Role after Soka: M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Cartography from Cal State Long Beach, working as a Product Engineer at Esri
“The Environmental Studies Concentration allowed me to develop my own interests while rounding out my knowledge base, which has made me more versatile as a sustainability specialist.”
Chloe's Role after Soka: M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from EM Strasbourg Business School, working as the Sustainability Coordinator for the town of Windsor, California
"I really enjoyed the GIS classes because they were great opportunities to acquire technical skills and learn about the many applications that GIS software has across different industries."
Megan's Role after Soka: Geospatial Analyst at the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand
Environmental Studies is taught by a core team of five faculty whose research spans environmental planning, policy, physical geography, marine ecology, and biogeochemistry.
Learning by doing Environmental Studies students work across three dedicated facilities and venture regularly into Southern California’s diverse ecosystems for field research.
Learn composting, sustainable agriculture, and soil science through hands-on cultivation. The garden serves as a living laboratory and supports research in urban food systems.
Study sustainable aquaculture and aquatic ecosystems. Research water quality, marine organisms, and sustainable food production while developing skills for ocean science careers.
Investigate aquatic cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other macro-elements through microbial ecology research spanning wetlands, estuaries, and open ocean environments.
Learning by doing Environmental Studies students work across three dedicated facilities and venture regularly into Southern California’s diverse ecosystems for field research.
Learn composting, sustainable agriculture, and soil science through hands-on cultivation. The garden serves as a living laboratory and supports research in urban food systems.
Study sustainable aquaculture and aquatic ecosystems. Research water quality, marine organisms, and sustainable food production while developing skills for ocean science careers.
Investigate aquatic cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other macro-elements through microbial ecology research spanning wetlands, estuaries, and open ocean environments.
Environmental studies connects classroom learning to hands-on field methods and technical skills, opening doors to professional development on and off campus.
“Environmental Studies courses at Soka sparked my passion for GIS projects like mapping wildfires in California and deforestation in South America. This led to my internship as a Remote Sensing Assistant as part of NASA’s DEVELOP program.” — Anjan Rana Magar ’23
