BA (Hons.) - Environmental & Sustainability Studies

Environmental and sustainability issues shape decisions across society—how we use water, how we build our cities, how tourism grows, how communities adapt to climate change, and how livelihoods change in ecologically fragile regions. The BA (Hons.) Environmental & Sustainability Studies programme provides students with strong conceptual foundations and applied skills grounded in environmental humanities, social sciences, public policy, communication, development studies and sustainability practice.

Students learn through investigations of real issues that connect environmental change with everyday life. They engage with questions of how communities manage water and other resources, examine patterns of resource use and waste practices, analyse the social and ecological dimensions of urban and rural environments, or explore how development and displacement shape people’s lives. The programme blends conceptual learning with hands-on, community-centred inquiry, enabling students to engage directly with the environmental challenges that different regions and societies experience.

Transdisciplinary Learning

The programme bridges environmental studies with sociology, development studies, economics, anthropology, political science, ethics and sustainability practice, allowing students to understand environmental issues from multiple perspectives. They engage with themes such as climate change, water governance, sustainable tourism, disaster management and mitigation, livelihoods and agriculture, migration and displacement, environmental justice, environmental communication, and ESG governance, including sustainability reporting and responsible decision-making. Faculty research on Himalayan development, climate adaptation, sustainability behaviour, environmental law and community development further enriches classroom learning by bringing contemporary insights and real-world relevance into the academic space.

Experiential Pedagogy

Students learn through field-based tasks, interviews, immersion visits, environmental audits, communication campaigns and policy-writing exercises that connect classroom concepts to real-world practice. Those who wish to explore organisational sustainability develop additional applied skills by examining how sustainability reports are structured, assessing campus sustainability indicators, and studying the ways in which local businesses integrate environmental and social responsibility into their everyday operations.

Global Exposure

The curriculum reflects global sustainability trends while focusing deeply on Indian and Himalayan contexts. Students engage with global sustainability debates, SDGs, climate action, adaptation planning, just transitions, nature-based solutions, and evolving ESG standards for global and Indian organisations.

Faculty and Academic Culture

Faculty bring expertise from environmental studies, sociology, development studies, public policy, economics and law. The programme fosters critical thinking, social awareness, strong writing, and the ability to understand environmental issues holistically.

• Human-centred, practice-oriented learning connecting environment, society, culture and development.
• Strong focus on Himalayan ecosystems, livelihoods, migration and climate vulnerability.
• Multidisciplinary exposure from social sciences, law, management, design and health sciences.
• Training in writing, qualitative research, communication, policy analysis and basic data interpretation.
• Applied projects on environmental audits, sustainability behaviour, resource use, and community dynamics.
• Curriculum aligned with emerging needs in environmental and development roles across sectors.

Key developments shaping opportunities for graduates include:

• Growth of sustainability roles across government, non-profits, tourism, CSR, development agencies and research organisations.
• Rising demand for environmental communication, community engagement and behavioural change professionals.
• Increasing emphasis on socially responsible business, environmental management, climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.
• Need for experts who understand development-induced displacement, migration dynamics, cultural landscapes and social dimensions of environmental change.
• Expanding opportunities in sustainable tourism, environmental education, livelihood programmes, public health–environment intersections and rural development.
• Graduates will be able to navigate sustainability problems that are social, cultural, political and ethical – not only technical.

Possible roles include:

• Environmental Consultant (social & policy side)
• Climate & Disaster Risk Associate
• Environmental Education & Communication Specialist
• Community Sustainability Associate (water, forests, livelihoods, waste, health)
• Policy Analyst (environment, migration, governance)
• Community Engagement Specialist
• Social Impact & Sustainability Reporting Associate
• Research Associate in sustainability and development

Click here for detailed Fee Structure.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Electives (Choose any to complete 7 Credits): Sustainable Development

• Migration, Development & Displacement
• Himalayan Society, Culture & Environment
• Environmental Communication & Media
• Biodiversity & Conservation
• Urban Environment & Sustainability
• Sustainability & the Circular Economy
• Environment, Health & Well-being

Semester 5

Electives (Choose any to complete 4 Credits):

• Sustainable Tourism & Pilgrimage
• Disaster Risk Reduction in Mountain Regions
• Community-based Natural Resource Management
• Environmental Law & Justice
• Climate Justice & Equity
• Environmental Humanities & Literature
• Sustainable Energy & Society
• Energy & Environment
• Environmental Ethics

Semester 6

Electives (Choose any to complete 4 Credits):

• Gender, Environment & Care Work
• Participation, Governance & Environmental Movements
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Climate Finance & Green Transitions
• Corporate Environmental Responsibility
• Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
• Environmental Ethics & Philosophy

Semester 7

Semester 8

• Minimum 50% in 10th & 12th.
• Students new to the subject will receive foundational support in Semester 1 and 2.

Personal Interview / SAT / International Baccalaureate (IB) / Cambridge International Education (CIE) / CUET