Build scientific expertise: Understand the science behind climate change, ecosystems, pollution, and biodiversity, to develop the knowledge needed to solve complex environmental challenges.

Learn the tools that drive sustainability: Develop practical skills in the technologies increasingly shaping environmental decision-making: GIS, remote sensing, environmental modelling, field investigation, laboratory techniques, and environmental data science.

Turn science into real-world impact: Apply scientific evidence to conservation, climate adaptation, natural resource management, environmental assessment, and sustainability planning through fieldwork, internships, and applied research.

Complement your primary discipline: Whether you study Science, Engineering, Computing, Business, or the Humanities, ESS gives you the environmental science expertise needed to contribute meaningfully to sustainability challenges across multiple sectors.

Public Sector & Environmental Policy: Help Singapore prepare for climate change
Use environmental science to improve flood resilience, coastal protection, water security, and climate adaptation.

Conservation & Biodiversity Management: Protect ecosystems and biodiversity
Design conservation strategies, restore ecosystems, monitor wildlife, and safeguard natural environments using field science and geospatial technologies.

Conservation & Biodiversity Management: Build more sustainable cities
Work with environmental scientists, planners, and engineers to improve urban resilience, environmental quality, and sustainable development.

Finance & ESG: Shape the future of sustainable finance
Use environmental data, carbon accounting, climate risk assessment, and ESG analytics to support the growing green and climate finance sector.

Environmental Consulting & Geospatial Analytics: Use data to solve environmental problems
Apply GIS, remote sensing, environmental modelling, and data science to understand changing landscapes and support evidence-based decision-making.

Corporate Sustainability: Drive sustainability across industries
Help organisations reduce environmental impact, measure sustainability performance, and support the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

View all Geography courses

Cohort 2025 onwards

Core Essentials (16 units required)

• GE2103 – Our Planet: An Earth Systems Science Perspective
• GE2209 – Environmental Change in Socioecological Systems (proposed new course)
• GE3210 – Natural Resources: The Politics and Practice of Sustainability
• ENV3101– Environmental Challenges in Asia† OR ENV3206 – Evaluating Environmental Sustainability† (EITHER one only)

Core Electives (Minimum 8 units and maximum 16 units)

• CM1102 – Chemistry: The Central Science†
• CM3261 – Environmental Chemistry† ENV3101 – Environmental Challenges in Asia†# OR ENV3206 – Evaluating Environmental Sustainability†# (EITHER one only)
• ESE2000 – Chemistry for an Environmentally Sustainable Future†
• GE2208 – Too Hot to Handle: Understanding our Weather & Climate
• GE3207 – Environmental Pollution GE3255 – Aquatic, Riparian and Coastal Systems
• GE3256 – Earth Surface Processes, Landforms, and Ecosystems
• GE4211 – Advanced Hydrology and Water Resources Management
• GE4224 – Conservation Biogeography GE4227 – Climate Change: Processes, Impact and Responses
• LSM2251 – Ecology and Environment†
• LSM2252 – Biodiversity†
• LSM3254 – Ecology of Aquatic Environments†
• LSM3255 – Ecology of Terrestrial Environments†
• LSM3275 – Coral Reef Ecology†
• LSM4258 – Urban Ecology†

Methods and Practices (Minimum 8 units and maximum 16 units)

• GE2215 – Introduction to GIS
• GE2234 – Geospatial Data Collection and Digital Mapping
• GE3212 – Environmental Modelling
• GE3216 – Applications for GIS and Remote Sensing
• GE3259 – Applied Environmental Data Science (proposed new name for course)
• GE3550C – Environmental Science for Sustainability Internship (proposed new course)
• GE4214 – Remote Sensing of the Environment
• GE4220 – Field Investigation in Physical Geography
• ENV3104 – Socio-Ecological Assessment of Environmental Impacts†
• LSM3257 – Applied Data Analysis in Ecology and Evolution†

Related Electives (Maximum 8 units)

• GES1004 – The Biophysical Environment of Singapore
• GE2205 – Nature and Society
• GE3254 – Energy Futures: Environment and Sustainability
• GE4207 – Coastal Management
• GE4219 – Development and Environment in Southeast Asia
• GE4232 – Global Political Ecology
• GE4234 – Environmental Change in Tropics
• GE4235 – Urban Climates
• GE4239 – Coastal Dynamics
• GEN2007 – Resilience in Restoration
• HS2920 – Transition to Clean and Just Energy
• HS2929 – Facts or Feelings: What Drives Environmental Decisions
• HSI2004 – Cell Based Proteins for a Sustainable Future†
• CM3254 – Sustainable Polymers and Biomass†
• CM4269 – Sustainable & Green Chemistry†
• CM4282 – Energy Resources†
• ESE4406 – Energy Systems and Climate Change Mitigation†
• LSM3272 – Global Change and Wildlife Conservation†
• LSM4202 – Sustainable Urban Food Production for Food Security†
• LSM4262 – Tropical Conservation Biology†
• LSM4268 – Environmental Bioacoustics†
• LSM4270 – Intertidal Ecology†

† Received host department or faculty approval.
# If not used as a Core Essential course.

Note 1: Students are required to read at least 12 Units at Level 3000 or above in order to complete the ESS 2nd Major. This requirement can be fulfilled by Level 3000 or above courses from any of the baskets (Core Essentials, Core Electives, Methods and Practices, Related Electives).

Note 2: All students must adhere to the existing double counting limit between primary and secondary major requirements.

Note 3: Students may not declare the ESS Second Major concurrently with the following programmes: Minor in Environmental Sustainability, Minor in Geosciences.

While students in either minor are precluded from declaring the ESS Second Major at the same time, they may upgrade to the ESS Second Major at any point. Conversely, students who are unable to complete the full 40 units of the ESS Second Major may downgrade to either of the above minors if they meet the minor requirements.