BA Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University

Programme overview

Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) is an interdisciplinary program with the goal of understanding, predicting, and responding to natural and human-induced environmental change. Addressing environmental issues such as global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, or local and regional air and water pollution requires perspectives from a diverse set of scientific disciplines including atmospheric physics and chemistry, oceanography, glaciology, hydrology, geophysics, ecology, and biogeochemistry. This program is structured around the view that the environmental system is comprised of a complex set of chemical, physical, and biological interactions, made even more complicated by the various activities of human society.

Faculty: Harvard College: Engineering & Applied Sciences | Department: Environmental Science and Engineering | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cambridge, MA, United States

What you will study

Students interested in environmental science and engineering study the fundamental processes and technologies underlying environmental systems, including natural and polluted waters and soils, the atmosphere, climate, and energy. Students learn to apply these principles to mitigate human impact on the environment by providing technical solutions and advancing innovations in environmental measurement, modeling, and control. Gateway courses include LPSA or LS1A (fall) ESE 6: Intro to Environmental Science and Engineering (required), Fall PHYSCI 11: Foundations and Frontiers of Modern Chemistry, Spring GENED 1137: The Challenge of Human-Induced Climate Change: Transitioning to a Post-Fossil Fuel Future,.

Official programme page

Application information

USD 62,226 a year (2026-27). Harvard College undergraduate tuition for 2026-27, one rate for all students; excludes fees ($6,216), housing, food and health insurance. Source

Entry term is fall. Applicants choose Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision; admitted students reply by May 1.

First-year applications through the Common Application: Restrictive Early Action closes November 1 with notification by mid-December; Regular Decision closes January 1 with notification by the end of March. The application fee is $95 (fee waiver available) and can be paid online via the Common Application. Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with exceptions only where the tests are not accessible.

Apply through the official page: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

Explore more study programmes

Engineering