Credential type: course assessment · verified on the issuer's site September 20, 2026 issuer page
Retired exam
DSST retired ENVHUM. Environmental Science is the named replacement path.
No direct replacement is named in the reviewed official sources.
Environment and Humanity was a DSST exam covering ecosystems, population, land use, water, energy, pollution, and policy. This exam is now retired. The DSST program has replaced it with the Environmental Science exam. All candidates seeking credit for this subject area must now register for and complete the Environmental Science exam instead of this retired version to fulfill their academic requirements and demonstrate proficiency in these environmental topics.
This exam was intended for students seeking college credit for introductory environmental studies. Candidates should now focus on the Environmental Science exam, which serves the same academic purpose for students and military personnel seeking to validate their knowledge.
Focus your study efforts entirely on the Environmental Science exam. Much of the core content regarding ecosystems, pollution, and policy remains relevant. Review the official DSST exam guide for Environmental Science to align your study plan with current objectives. Use practice tests to identify gaps in your knowledge of energy and water resources, ensuring you are prepared for the 100 questions on the active exam. This approach ensures you are ready for the testing environment.
This domain covers the biological and physical interactions within ecosystems, focusing on how organisms and their environments function together to maintain balance and support life cycles within various habitats across the globe for all living species.
This domain examines the factors influencing human and animal population growth, distribution, and the resulting pressures on natural resources, including birth rates, death rates, and the impact of migration on local environments and global sustainability.
This domain addresses how land is utilized for agriculture, urban development, and conservation, including the environmental consequences of these choices and the long-term sustainability of various land management practices used by society to support human needs.
This domain covers the availability, quality, and management of water resources, including drinking water, wastewater, and watershed protection, while analyzing the importance of maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems for human survival and the health of the planet.
This domain focuses on energy sources, including both renewable and non-renewable options, and the environmental impacts of energy consumption, exploring how different power generation methods affect the climate and global resource availability for future generations of humans.
This domain addresses the types, sources, and effects of air, water, and land pollution, along with methods for mitigation and cleanup, emphasizing the importance of reducing toxic waste to protect public health and the natural environment.
This domain covers the legislative and regulatory frameworks, such as the Clean Water Act, that govern environmental protection and management, ensuring that human activities remain within legal boundaries to preserve natural ecosystems and protect public resources.
The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. This format is used for the current Environmental Science exam, which replaced the retired version to ensure consistent testing standards for all candidates seeking to earn college credit for their knowledge.
The passing score for the exam is 400. This standard applies to the current DSST testing requirements and must be met to earn college credit for the subject, ensuring that all candidates demonstrate a sufficient level of academic understanding.
The exam duration is 120 minutes. This time limit is provided for the computer-based testing session, allowing candidates sufficient time to answer all questions accurately and provide their best possible responses during the allotted time for the exam.
The exam price is $85 for civilians. It is free for eligible military personnel via DANTES, providing an accessible path for service members to earn college credit while maintaining the established standards for all test takers.
Verified 2026-09-14
This page was built by aggregating official DSST exam documentation and verified facts regarding the retirement of the exam and its successor, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and current for prospective test takers and students.