
Environmental Studies
Why choose environmental studies at North Central College?
The environment is one of the most talked about issues that faces humanities future. With hot button issues like climate change, energy consumption and waste management, environmental experts are more sought after than ever. Environmental studies students have diverse interests and learn how to be skilled scholars, researchers and stewards of the environment.
At North Central College, you’ll be situated in a complex landscape of urban, suburban, agricultural, prairie, wetland and woodland habitats. You’ll also choose between three tracks: Science and the Environment, Society and the Environment or Sustainability. In this hands-on program, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of career choices in biology/ecology, urban planning, sustainability, education or law.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
- Addressing concerns of population, consumption, energy, biodiversity and climate change
- Investigating the scientific and humanitarian aspects of environmental issues
- Promoting environmental management practices like a sustainable lifestyle
then a degree in ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES might be for you.
Why study environmental studies at North Central College?
In the Classroom
Coursework topics:
- American Culture and The Environment
- Animal Biology
- Botany
- Cultural Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Diversity, evolution and ecology
- Economics and Social Issues
- Environmental Cost Analysis
- Environmental Ethics
- Environmental Policy
- Field Biology
- Geographic Information Systems
- Infectious Disease
- International Environmental Issues
- Sustainability in a Changing World
Beyond the Classroom
As an Environmental Studies major, you can:
- Apply for internships and jobs through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development.
- Use the campus as your laboratory, studying our green initiatives, such as geothermal heating systems, solar panel arrays and a restored prairie.
- Make connections to local resources. North Central interacts with two national laboratories, Argonne and Fermi, that are both within 15 miles of campus. Students can work in the forests, prairies and wetlands managed by the DuPage County Forest Preserve. We also have relationships with local environmental nonprofit groups, government agencies and businesses.
- Make connections to the world. Through our award-winning Center for Global Education, students have many opportunities to study environmental issues around the world. Recent North Central students have taken classes and conducted independent research on environmental issues in Costa Rica, Australia, Africa and China.
- Apply what you learn. The program requires an experiential component; students can conduct independent research, and participate in environmental advocacy and internships that will help prepare them for careers in the environment and sustainability. Opportunities also exist to work in the College’s Office of Sustainability
Environmental Science Education, B.S.
Environmental Studies/Science gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural sciences, as well as social sciences, humanities and business. This interdisciplinary approach offers a valuable major to students seeing to understand the full complexity of environmental issues. Our goal is to prepare students to be environmental leaders in their chosen field by cultivating an awareness of local to global issues, an appreciation of cultural and historical factors, as well as new technological developments.
The B.S. environmental science-education major prepares a student for employment as a secondary school educator. It allows students more breadth to their college degree where they pair their environmental science studies with requirements from the education discipline. This degree track is tailored to be compatible and must be completed with a secondary education, B.A. major.
Core Courses
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BIOL 195 - Investigating Biology
BIOL 195 - Investigating Biology
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BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
-
BIOL 241 - Advanced Biostatistics
BIOL 241 - Advanced Biostatistics
-
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I
CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
-
ENVI 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
ENVI 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
-
ENVI 141 - Introduction to Earth Science
ENVI 141 - Introduction to Earth Science
-
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
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ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
-
PHYS 131 - Physics I (Non-Calculus)
PHYS 131 - Physics I (Non-Calculus)
-
PHYS 132 - Physics II (Non-Calculus)
PHYS 132 - Physics II (Non-Calculus)
Electives
Two of the Following:
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ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
-
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
-
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Note:
Advanced Electives
Eight credit hours in either Biology, Chemistry or Environmental Studies with at least four credit hours of coursework needing to have a lab component:
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BIOL 320 - Plant Growth and Function
BIOL 320 - Plant Growth and Function
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
-
CHEM 301 - Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 301 - Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
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CHEM 401 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 401 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
-
CHEM 485 - Chemical Research and Scientific Writing
CHEM 485 - Chemical Research and Scientific Writing
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ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
-
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
-
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
-
ENVI 360 - Intermediate Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 360 - Intermediate Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
Completion of the
Environmental Studies, Science and the Environment Track, B.A.
Environmental Studies gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural and social sciences, humanities and business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Environmental Studies Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
-
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
-
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
-
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
-
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*Note: Experiential Component tied to ENVI 375/475
All students must complete an Experiential Component in order to gain hands-on experience in some aspect of Environmental Studies outside of the classroom, such as an independent research project, an activism project or an internship. A professor from the Environmental Studies faculty will serve as the faculty mentor for each project. See the Environmental Studies program coordinator for the proposal and project approval process.
Students enroll in
Electives
Twenty-four credit hours to include at least twelve at the 300-level from the following:
Science and Environment
Sixteen credits from the following, at least four of which are at the 300-level or above:
-
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
-
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
-
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
-
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
-
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
Sustainability or Society and the Environment Electives
Eight credit hours from the following:
-
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
-
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
-
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
-
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
-
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
-
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
-
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
-
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
-
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
-
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
-
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
-
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
-
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
-
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
-
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Environmental Studies, Society and the Environment Track, B.A.
Environmental Studies gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural and social sciences, humanities and business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Environmental Studies Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
-
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
-
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
-
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
-
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*Note: Experiential Component tied to ENVI 375/475
All students must complete an Experiential Component in order to gain hands-on experience in some aspect of Environmental Studies outside of the classroom, such as an independent research project, an activism project or an internship. A professor from the Environmental Studies faculty will serve as the faculty mentor for each project. See the Environmental Studies program coordinator for the proposal and project approval process.
Students enroll in
Electives
Twenty-four credit hours to include at least twelve at the 300-level from the following:
Society and the Environment
Sixteen credit hours from the following, at least four of which are at the 300-level or above:
-
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
-
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
-
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
-
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
-
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
-
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
-
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
Science and the Environment or Sustainability
Eight credits from the following:
-
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
-
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
-
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
-
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
-
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
-
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
-
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
-
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
-
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
-
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
-
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
-
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Environmental Studies, Sustainability Track, B.A.
Environmental Studies gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural and social sciences, humanities and business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Environmental Studies Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
-
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
-
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
-
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
-
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*Experiential Component tied to ENVI 375/475
All students must complete an Experiential Component in order to gain hands-on experience in some aspect of Environmental Studies outside of the classroom, such as an independent research project, an activism project or an internship. A professor from the Environmental Studies faculty will serve as the faculty mentor for each project. See the Environmental Studies program coordinator for the proposal and project approval process.
Students enroll in
Electives
Twenty-four credit hours to include at least twelve at the 300-level from the following:
Sustainability
Sixteen credits from the following, at least four of which are at the 300-level or above:
-
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
-
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
-
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
-
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
-
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
-
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
-
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
Science and the Environment or Society and Environment
Eight credit hours from the following:
-
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
-
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
-
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
-
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
-
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
-
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
-
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
-
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
-
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
-
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
-
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
-
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Environmental Studies Minor
An Environmental Studies Minor provides a basic interdisciplinary understanding of national and global environmental issues. Students study a core of four environmental courses that combine the disciplinary perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, sciences and business and take two upper-level courses in any other environmental studies course of their choice. Students who choose an Environmental Studies Minor typically use it as a complement to a minor in a related academic discipline, such as political science, history, biology, chemistry or business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
A minimum of 24 credit hours, including:
Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
-
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
-
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
-
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
Electives
Two Environmental Studies courses, with at least one at the 300-level.
Environmental Studies Internships and Jobs
A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.
Internships
Recent graduates in environmental studies interned at:
- Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
- Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Naperville
- U.S. Park Service, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks
- The Shedd Aquarium, Chicago
- Willowbrook Wildlife Center, Glen Ellyn, IL
Careers
Recent graduates in environmental studies served as:
- Biologist/ecologist
- Urban and regional planner
- Sustainability coordinator
- Teacher/environmental educator
- Environmental lawyer
- Engineering
Invest in your future
Choosing the right college is a big decision. Don’t make it alone. North Central’s admission and financial aid team is here to help you design a financial aid solution that works best for you and your family.
Merit scholarships, grants, loans, campus employment - these are just some of the resources available to you. Over 95 percent of students and 100 percent of all eligible students receive aid. Let our team partner with you in finding the best value for your education.
Learn more about financial aid and costs for North Central College
Apply to North Central College
The first step to becoming a North Central Environmental Studies student is reading the application instructions specific to you. Find out everything you need to know about applying by selecting the group you belong to below.