Environmental planning guides how land, water and natural resources are used and protected. Environmental planners prepare environmental impact assessments, plan for open space and watersheds, help communities adapt to climate change and make sure development follows laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Environmental planning grows out of geography, planning and environmental science. Degrees come under several names: environmental planning, geography and environmental planning, and environmental policy and planning. This guide covers what you study, programs to consider, online options, credentials and careers. For city-focused planning degrees and AICP rules, see our urban planning degrees guide.
Environmental Planning vs. Urban Planning
- Urban planning centers on cities: zoning, housing, transportation and community development.
- Environmental planning centers on natural systems: conservation, water, hazards, climate adaptation and environmental review.
- The fields overlap. Many planners do both, and BLS counts both under urban and regional planners. Environmental planning degrees usually add more ecology, natural resources and environmental law.
What You Study
- Environmental impact assessment: preparing and reviewing NEPA documents and environmental impact statements.
- Land use planning and law: comprehensive plans, land use regulation and environmental law.
- GIS and spatial analysis: mapping habitats, hazards and land suitability. See our GIS and geography degrees guide.
- Natural resources: conservation, water resources, ecology and public lands management.
- Climate and hazards: climate adaptation, resilience and hazard mitigation. See our climatology degrees guide.
- Studios and capstones: real projects for communities, agencies or tribes.
Environmental Planning Degree Programs
Details come from official school pages, checked in October 2026. The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) does not list any program literally named environmental planning; only Western Washington’s bachelor’s below is PAB-accredited.
| School | Program | Credits | Department | PAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah State UniversityLogan, UT | B.S. Environmental Planning; M.S. Environmental Planning | M.S.: 41 | Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning | No |
| Rutgers University–New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ | B.S. Environmental Planning | 120 | Landscape Architecture | No |
| Towson UniversityTowson, MD | B.S. and M.A. Geography and Environmental Planning | M.A.: 36 | Geography and Environmental Planning | No |
| Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA | B.A. Urban Planning and Sustainable Development; M.A. Urban Planning and Environmental Sustainability | M.A.: 45 | Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy | B.A.: Yes |
| UC DavisDavis, CA | B.S. Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning | 105+ major units | Environmental Science and Policy | No |
| University of IowaIowa City, IA | B.A. Environmental Policy and Planning | 55+ major hours | Earth, Environment, and Sustainability | No |
| Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA | B.A. Environmental Studies, Geography and Planning | Not stated | Geography, Environment, and Planning | No |
Utah State University
Utah State offers two degrees literally named environmental planning. The B.S. in Environmental Planning covers environmental planning, natural resources, economic development and environmental policy. The M.S. in Environmental Planning is 41 credits over two years, with a two-semester bioregional analysis studio and a thesis or paper option. It requires the GRE and a 3.0 GPA, and the department says it funds its graduate students through research assistantships (department page). USU also offers an environmental planning certificate and minor.
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Rutgers’ B.S. in Environmental Planning is offered by the Department of Landscape Architecture in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Core courses include Fundamentals of Environmental Planning, Environmental Geomatics, an Environmental Planning Studio, ecology and site engineering, and students complete an 18-credit minor.
Towson University
Towson’s Department of Geography and Environmental Planning offers a B.S. in Geography and Environmental Planning with courses in geospatial technologies, comprehensive planning, land use planning, environmental impact analysis and planning for urban climate change, plus an internship. The 36-unit M.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning offers thesis and non-thesis options and does not require the GRE (admission). An accelerated B.S./M.A. is available.
Western Washington University
WWU’s B.A. in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development is PAB-accredited and heavy on environmental planning: courses include Environmental Impact Assessment, Land Use Law, Cities and Nature and Environmental Dispute Resolution, with specializations in hazards planning, climate action and tribal planning. The 45-credit M.A. in Urban Planning and Environmental Sustainability ends with a thesis or field project and does not require the GRE.
UC Davis
UC Davis’ B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning includes environmental impact assessment, environmental law and policy courses, with emphases in city and regional planning, conservation management, water management, climate change policy, and energy and transportation planning.
University of Iowa
Iowa’s B.A. in Environmental Policy and Planning is offered by the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, the successor to its geography department. It requires a GIS foundations course, and the planning coursework includes Planning Livable Cities and Environmental Impact Analysis.
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Planning offers a B.A. in Environmental Studies, Geography and Planning with an urban, transportation and environmental planning focus area, Intro to Urban and Environmental Planning, GIS and a planning practice capstone. The department recently restructured the major, so confirm current requirements.
Other Options
Cal Poly Humboldt’s Environmental Science and Management B.S. offers an Environmental Planning and Policy concentration with a community-client capstone. Chico State’s geography department offers a Certificate in Land Use and Environmental Planning.
Online Environmental Planning Options
| School | Program | Credits | PAB | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Master of Urban and Environmental Planning (online) | 47 | Campus degree accredited; confirm online | Required Environmental Planning course; no GRE listed |
| University of Connecticut | Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Environmental Planning and Management | 12 | No | 100% online, asynchronous; credits transfer to UConn’s online master’s |
| Johns Hopkins University | Master’s in Environmental Planning and Management | Not stated | No | Online, part-time; private university |
UConn’s certificate credits transfer into its 30-credit online Master of Energy and Environmental Management, which has a sustainable environmental planning concentration. For online geography and GIS degrees, see our online geography degree guide.
Credentials for Environmental Planners
- AICP: the American Institute of Certified Planners credential applies to environmental planners too. Requirements are in our urban planning guide.
- Certified Environmental Professional (CEP): awarded by the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals to senior practitioners. It requires a bachelor’s degree plus 9 years of environmental experience, with a master’s counting for 1 year.
- AICP Certified Environmental Planner: this APA specialty credential no longer accepts applications, though existing holders keep it.
Environmental Planning Careers and Salary
Environmental planners work for local and regional planning agencies, state environmental and natural resource departments, federal land agencies, environmental consulting firms, utilities and land trusts. Relevant BLS occupations include:
| Occupation | Median Pay (May 2025) | Job Growth (2025–35) | Typical Entry Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban and regional planners | $89,320 | 4% | Master’s |
| Environmental scientists and specialists | $82,220 | 6% | Bachelor’s |
| Conservation scientists and foresters | $73,920 | 4% | Bachelor’s |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. BLS does not track environmental planners separately. Environmental scientists and specialists, a common bachelor’s-level path, number about 93,400 jobs. See more options in our geography degree jobs guide.
Bottom Line
Choose based on the job you want. For environmental review and conservation work, a bachelor’s such as Rutgers’ or Utah State’s environmental planning degree, Towson’s geography and environmental planning degree or UC Davis’ environmental policy and planning degree can lead straight to environmental specialist roles. For planner jobs that typically require a master’s, look at Utah State’s M.S., Towson’s M.A. or a PAB-accredited planning master’s such as ASU’s, which is also online. Strong GIS skills help in every path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an environmental planning degree?
It is a planning or geography degree focused on natural resources, conservation, environmental review, water and climate adaptation. Programs combine planning methods, environmental science, environmental law and GIS.
What is the difference between environmental planning and urban planning?
Urban planning focuses on cities, housing, transportation and zoning. Environmental planning focuses on natural systems, environmental impact review, conservation and hazards. Many planners work in both areas.
Which schools offer a degree named environmental planning?
Utah State University offers a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Planning, and Rutgers offers a B.S. in Environmental Planning. Towson offers B.S. and M.A. degrees in Geography and Environmental Planning.
Can you study environmental planning online?
Yes. ASU offers its Master of Urban and Environmental Planning online, UConn offers an online graduate certificate in sustainable environmental planning and management, and Johns Hopkins offers an online master’s in environmental planning and management.
How much do environmental planners make?
BLS does not track environmental planners separately. Urban and regional planners earned a median of $89,320 in May 2025, and environmental scientists and specialists earned $82,220.
Official Sources
We checked these official sources in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with each school before you apply.
- PAB accredited programs list
- Utah State B.S. Environmental Planning
- Utah State M.S. Environmental Planning
- Utah State LAEP M.S. Environmental Planning
- Utah State environmental planning certificate
- Rutgers B.S. Environmental Planning
- Towson B.S. Geography and Environmental Planning (catalog)
- Towson M.A. Geography and Environmental Planning (catalog)
- Towson M.A. admission
- WWU B.A. Urban Planning and Sustainable Development
- WWU M.A. Urban Planning and Environmental Sustainability
- UC Davis B.S. Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (catalog)
- University of Iowa B.A. Environmental Policy and Planning (catalog)
- Sonoma State B.A. Environmental Studies, Geography and Planning
- Cal Poly Humboldt Environmental Science and Management
- Chico State Land Use and Environmental Planning certificate
- ASU Online Master of Urban and Environmental Planning
- UConn online Sustainable Environmental Planning and Management certificate
- UConn MEEM sustainable environmental planning
- Johns Hopkins Environmental Planning and Management
- ABCEP Certified Environmental Professional
- APA Advanced Specialty Certification
- BLS: Urban and regional planners
- BLS: Environmental scientists and specialists
- BLS: Conservation scientists and foresters