Environmental Studies B.A. Degree
The B.A. in Environmental Studies is specifically designed for students wishing to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities aimed at bettering our communities and the world. This major will prepare students for a broad range of careers in research, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, law and policy, journalism, and more. Core courses and electives are meant to prepare students for these pursuits with a rigorous well-rounded program that includes diverse opportunities for experiential field work.
Total units = 51-56 depending on laboratory course work. Plus General Education requirements and electives totaling 124 semester units, including the Language requirement.
Required Courses
Math Core
(6 – 7 units)
| MTH 1 | Precalculus With Trigonometry | 4 |
| | or | |
| MTH 5A | Calculus I | 4 |
| MTH 38 | Elements of Probability and Statistics | 3 |
Elective Courses
(18-20 units)
Choose any 6 courses from the lists below, or choose from a specific list for an emphasis of study
Communication Electives
Law and Political Science Electives
| POL 101 | Research Methods | 3 |
| POL 103 | Legal Reasoning | 3 |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| POL 120 | Legislative Process | 3 |
| POL 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| POL 130 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POL 131 | International Relations | 3 |
| POL 132 | Political and Economic Development | 3 |
| POL 147 | Women and Development | 3 |
Science and Quantitative Analysis Electives
| BIO 111 | Ecology | 4 |
| | and | |
| BIO 111L | Ecology Laboratory | 0 |
| | | |
| BIO 153 | The Sociobiology of Food | 3 |
| BIO 168 | Field Methods in Geosciences and Oceanography | 0-3 |
| BIO 169 | Introduction to Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| BIO 198 | Biological Research | 0-3 |
| | | |
| CHE 1A | General Chemistry | 4 |
| | and | |
| CHE 1AL | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| | | |
| CHE 120 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis | 3 |
| | and | |
| CHE 120L | Instrumental Methods of Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| | | |
| CHE 199 | Research in Chemistry | 1-3 |
| GIS 120 | Intermediate GIS | 3 |
| GIS 125 | Geographic Information Systems And Problem Solving | 3 |
| GIS 150 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GIS 185 | Global Issues | 3 |
| NUR 12T | Nutrition and Health | 2 |
| PHS 1 | Scientific Concepts | 3 |
Natural Science, Social Science, and Humanities Core
(26 – 29 units, depending on courses/ laboratory work)
| BIO 1 | Biological Dynamics | 4 |
| BIO 1L | Biological Dynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| | or | |
| BIO 3 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 3L | General Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| | or | |
| BIO 5 | Life Sciences with Lab | 3 |
| | or | |
| BIO 67 | Environmental Science | 3 |
| | | |
| BIO 167 | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science | 3 |
| BIO 167L | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science Lab | 1 |
| BIO 197 | Research Readings | 1,1 |
| GIS 110 | Fundamentals of GIS | 3 |
| PHI 168C | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| POL 127 | Politics of the Global Environment | 3 |
| POL 159 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
| | | |
| SOC 185 | Global Studies | 3 |
| | or | |
| SOC 187 | Environmental Studies | 3 |
| | | |
| BIO 195 | Senior Seminar in Biology | 3 |
Law and Political Science Emphasis
Choose 6 courses (minimum 18 units) from this list to create major emphasis
| POL 101 | Research Methods | 3 |
| POL 103 | Legal Reasoning | 3 |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| POL 120 | Legislative Process | 3 |
| POL 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| POL 130 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POL 131 | International Relations | 3 |
| POL 132 | Political and Economic Development | 3 |
| POL 147 | Women and Development | 3 |
Communication Emphasis
Choose 6 courses (minimum 18 units) from this list to create major emphasis
Science and Quantitative Analysis Emphasis
Choose 6 courses (minimum 18 units) from this list to create major emphasis
| BIO 111 | Ecology | 4 |
| | and | |
| BIO 111L | Ecology Laboratory | 0 |
| | | |
| BIO 153 | The Sociobiology of Food | 3 |
| BIO 168 | Field Methods in Geosciences and Oceanography | 0-3 |
| BIO 169 | Introduction to Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| BIO 198 | Biological Research | 0-3 |
| | | |
| CHE 1A | General Chemistry | 4 |
| | and | |
| CHE 1AL | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| | | |
| CHE 120 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis | 3 |
| | and | |
| CHE 120L | Instrumental Methods of Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| | | |
| CHE 199 | Research in Chemistry | 1-3 |
| GIS 120 | Intermediate GIS | 3 |
| GIS 125 | Geographic Information Systems And Problem Solving | 3 |
| GIS 150 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GIS 185 | Global Issues | 3 |
| NUR 12T | Nutrition and Health | 2 |
| PHS 1 | Scientific Concepts | 3 |
Global Women in STEM Program Shared Course Work
Students in the Environmental Studies major may also participate in the Global Women and STEM Undergraduate Research Training (GWSTEM) Program by taking courses that are included in both programs. This would specifically include the following courses:
| BIO 167 | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science | 3 |
| BIO 167L | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science Lab | 1 |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| POL 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| BIO 194 | Data Analysis and Leadership Training | 3 |