Agnes Scott College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in Decatur, Georgia, has expanded its longstanding environmental and sustainability studies minor into a new bachelor’s degree program.
“The creation of this major reflects both student demand and the growing importance of sustainability and environmental justice across every field,” said Rachel Bowser, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Agnes Scott students are engaging with these issues and working directly with communities to solve them.”
Set to launch in the upcoming Fall 2026 semester, the new major aims to prepare students for roles with environmental organizations, public health agencies, government, and nonprofit sectors as well as for graduate studies in fields related to sustainability, policy, and environmental science. Drawing from foundations in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, the interdisciplinary program allows students to focus their studies on one of two concentrations: climate, ecology, and health or environmental justice, advocacy, and communication. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning and includes opportunities to participate in research, internships, and community-based projects.
“Our students and faculty are already finding ways to work on climate, on pollution, on health, on housing and displacement, on food and water, on justice. With this major, we are creating a clear, rigorous pathway for students who want to turn their passion for sustainability into meaningful careers,” said Jennifer Kovacs, the Charles Loridans Associate Professor of Biology. “It connects theory to practice in a way that reflects how this work actually happens in the world. This major equips our students to do serious, interdisciplinary, justice‑oriented work on climate and environment, and to carry Agnes Scott’s values into the world in very concrete ways.”