Department of Earth and Environmental Science

Environmental Studies Major/Minor

This 15 cu major is based on 8 required course units and 7 course units within a concentration.  The student’s concentration is chosen with the help of major advisors and is selected to complement and broaden the student’s background.  Students with double majors in another Natural Science will be directed toward concentrations that stress coursework in policy and application.  Students with backgrounds in the Arts and Social Sciences will be directed toward concentrations that stress coursework in the Natural Sciences. 

Environmental Studies Content Objectives

Upon graduation, Environmental Studies graduates understand how humans and ecosystems interact with the dynamic Earth. They understand the basic physical and chemical processes and are knowledgeable about the atmosphere and climate change, the rock cycle, natural hazards, and the earth’s hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles.  Environmental Studies graduates also have knowledge and basic skills in environmental economics, environmental health, sustainability, renewable resources, and environmental management.  In addition, they have an in-depth understanding of the human-environment interconnection, knowledge of international and domestic environmental issues, and are well-versed in environmental policies and how these policies are set and changed.

Skill Set Objectives

Graduates are able to contribute to society and effectively work on challenging problems that face humanity (e.g., climate change, renewable resources).  They are able to critically analyze scientific literature, interpret scientific data, understand the scientific process, and conduct a basic research project. Graduates can also develop basic models of geographic, environmental or geologic systems. Graduates can collect and manage a complex data set. They can also manipulate environmental data with computer software. They know which basic statistical and graphical tests should be used and how to perform them to interpret the results, and apply the results to solve a question. Graduates are able to communicate complex information in written and oral form, and make a clear and compelling presentation in front of both technical and non-technical audiences.  They also have the skills and knowledge to achieve admission to graduate school, professional degree programs, or gain employment.

Major Requirements - Minimum 15 credits for Major / 35 credits total

Core Courses- 8 ENVS courses required for the major:

1) ENVS 200: Intro to Environmental Earth Science
2) ENVS 204: Global Climate Change or GEOL 100: Intro to Geology or 109: Intro to Geology  
3) Data Analysis and Statistics; 1 course from the following, or a suitable replacement
4) Economics and Policy; 1 course from the following, or a suitable replacement
5) ENVS 301: Environmental Case Studies or ENVS 400 Environmental Studies Seminar
6) Geographical or Environmental Modeling; 1 course unit.
7) ENVS 399 Environmental Research Seminar (1 cu).
8) ENVS 499/498 a and b: Senior Thesis (0.5 cu each):  

Concentration Courses - 7 approved classes are required to fulfil a Concentration requirement, as outlined on each Concentration page.

Areas of Concentration

The four main concentrations are thematic and students take a combination of courses in required and elective topics. The Individualized Environmental Science Concentration is an individualized major that requires 7 approved advanced courses that are focused in one major in the College. Courses must be approved by Major advisor if not listed under Pre-approved classes.  Courses taken as part of the core requirement cannot be counted for the concentration.

Environmental Policy and Application
Global Environmental Systems
Environmental History and Regional Studies
Sustainability and Environmental Management
Individualized Environmental Studies

If you are interested in completing both the ENVS and Architecture undergraduate degrees, please see the following course schedule: ARCH-ENVS Degree Program

ENVS Minor Requirements

This 6 cu Minor is based on 4 required courses and 2 additional upper division courses within Earth and Environmental Science.  These electives are chosen with the help of major advisors and are selected to complement and broaden the student’s background. The Minor consists of two parts:

PART 1: ENVS COURSES (4 CREDIT UNITS REQUIRED):

Required Core Courses (4 CUs). 

1) ENVS 200: Intro to Environmental Earth Science

2) ENVS 204: Global Climate Change or GEOL 100/109: Intro to Geology

3) Data Analysis and Statistics; 1 course from the following, or a suitable replacement

ANTH 454: Quantitative Analysis of Anthropological Data
BIOL 446: Statistics for Biologists
ECON 103: Economic Statistics
ESE 302: Statistics with Engineering Applications
GEOL 458: (cross-listed with GEOL658)
Geostatistics
HSOC/SOCI 111: The Health of Populations
STAT 101: Intro to Business Stat
STAT 111: Intro Statistics

4) Economics and Policy; 1 course from the following, or a suitable replacement

ECON 001: Intro Economics: Micro
ECON 030: Public Policy Analysis
ECON 50: International Economics
ENVS 271: (cross-listed with STSC 271) Law, Environment, Technology
ENVS 476: (cross-listed with CPLN676) Intro to Environmental Planning and Policy
ENVS 412: (cross-listed with ENVS 612) Economics and the Environment
URBS 440/CPLN540: Intro. to City Planning: Past, Present, Future

PART II: AREA OF CONCENTRATION (2 CREDIT UNITS REQUIRED)

2 upper division courses in Earth and Environmental Science.  Courses must be approved by Minor advisor.  Courses taken as part of the core requirement cannot be counted for the concentration.

Planner for the Environmental Studies Minor