Information and Policies
Introduction
The environmental studies major provides an interdisciplinary approach to learning how to move toward a more sustainable future for human and ecological systems. Courses in environmental studies provide training not only in the physical, biological, and social sciences, but also in writing, critical thinking, quantitative analysis, project and team management, and more. Most students extend their learning outside the classroom through the departmental internship program.
The major is available either without a concentration or in conjunction with one of three more specialized concentrations that provide depth in particular areas of expertise. See the Undergraduate Program page for a description of each of the concentrations offered.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.A. degree in environmental studies will be able to:
- Identify the societal (social, political, economic and ethical) agents and structures that contribute to environmental change. (social science competency)
- Describe the structure and functioning of major physical and ecological components of the earth’s systems. (natural science competency)
- Access and analyze a complex literature addressing specific topics in environmental studies, and evaluate the usefulness and limitations of individual sources of information. (analytic thinking)
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. (communication skills).
Academic Advising for the Program
Advising is one way to make the most of your university experience. Ask questions, seek advice, and make decisions that work best for you.
To receive advising for this major, contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu. Additional information for prospective transfer students can be found in the Transfer Information and Policy section.
Getting Started in the Major: Frosh
This is a course-intensive and/or sequential program, and students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first year at UC Santa Cruz. Math placement is required for one or more of the foundational courses for this major. For more information, please review the Math Placement website. Language placement is not required for the major.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
Students who apply for transfer admission to the major are required to have taken the equivalents of the following courses with a C grade (2.0) or better by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall.
One of the following:
ENVS 23 or a general chemistry course
Plus one of the following:
AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
AM 11B | Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
MATH 11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
MATH 19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
MATH 19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
GPA Requirement
To be considered for admission in the environmental studies majors, transfer students must pass the screening policy courses or its equivalents with a C grade (2.0) or better.
Recommended Courses
In addition, the following courses are recommended prior to transfer to ensure timely graduation.
One of these courses:
Plus one of these:
ENVS 25
or
A course in national or international politics and a course in macroeconomics or microeconomics
Plus both of these courses:
STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
General Education Courses (GEs)
Prospective students are also encouraged to complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or to complete all UC Santa Cruz general education requirements before matriculation.
Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students
Transfer students pursuing environmental studies majors are encouraged to transfer in the fall quarter.
Transfer students should complete as many lower-division requirements as possible before transferring. All remaining lower-division requirements should be completed in enroll in summer, fall, and winter of their first year in order to take ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L in winter or spring quarter of their first year. Transfer students can formally declare their major once qualification courses are successfully completed, following the declaration steps on the ENVS department website.
ENVS 25 and ENVS 23 are usually offered during Summer Session at UC Santa Cruz, and transfer students are encouraged to take these classes if they have not yet completed a substitute requirement or if they want a better understanding of the relevant material. If you are transferring, compare catalog descriptions, consult your current institution's advisor, and refer to the ASSIST website to determine equivalency.
Students who are proposed in a different major and have advanced standing when they come to UCSC require permission from the department to change into the major. Contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu to request permission.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
To qualify for the environmental studies major, students must complete the specific courses listed below, or their approved equivalents.
For transfer requirements see Transfer Admission Screening Requirements. Transfer students must have ENVS major listed on their application in order to pursue the major, unless approved by appeal. If a student has questions about the appeals process, they should contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu.
One of the following:
| Either this course | |
ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Plus one of the following:
Plus this course:
ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
Plus one of these statistics series:
| Either these courses | |
STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| or these courses | |
STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Determining Qualification
-
Students who complete all the qualification courses with a grade of P, or letter grade of C or better are qualified to declare the major.
-
Students who have received one grade of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in one of the qualification courses taken at UC Santa Cruz will only be qualified to declare the major after successfully completing the same or an equivalent course with a grade of P, or letter grade of C or better.
-
Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the qualification courses taken at UC Santa Cruz are not qualified to declare the major. See appeal process below.
-
Students with AP credit (score of 3 or higher) for any of the qualification course(s) are qualified to declare after successfully completing the remaining qualification courses.
Appeal Process
Students who are not qualified to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting an appeal to qualify for the major within 15 days of the denial of the declaration. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and college of the decision. If a student has questions about the appeals process, they should contact envsadvi@ucsc.edu.
How to Declare this Major
Petition to declare your major as soon as you have met qualification requirements and/or reach your declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.
Students wishing to declare within the Environmental Studies Department should visit the Environmental Studies Department website and follow the declaration steps.
Letter Grade Policy
This program does not have a letter grade policy, except that the comprehensive (senior exit) requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
Course Substitution Policy
Single environmental studies students can petition up to two upper-division courses to count toward the single environmental studies major requirements. These two substitutions courses may be the following:
-
Pre-approved substitution courses: See the department website for a list of classes that can be taken without petition, as a substitution for an ENVS elective.
-
By petition: You may petition to substitute courses taken outside of ENVS and/or UC Santa Cruz such as: other institutions, other departments, courses not listed on the pre-approved substitution list, other programs including Educational Abroad Program (EAP), Wildlands Studies, or the Sierra Institute. Please review the petitioning process here.
Study Abroad
Students in environmental studies are encouraged to participate in Study Abroad programs and other off-campus programs. Students who are interested in these programs shall note the following policies:
- Students who are planning to take part in Study Abroad programs must be declared in their major prior to studying abroad.
- Students must have their courses they plan to take abroad reviewed and approved by Environmental Studies Advising.
- Single environmental studies majors may petition to substitute up to two courses taken abroad to count toward the environmental studies upper-division electives. Please review the petitioning process here prior to your EAP program.
- For more information on EAP, please visit the UC Education Abroad Program website.
Honors
Departmental Honors. Students must have a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) in all courses used to satisfy the environmental studies upper-division requirements. To be considered for departmental honors, students are limited to no more than one grade of P in those upper-division courses.
Senior Comprehensive Honors. Honors must be nominated by the student’s faculty sponsor, and a second faculty member must concur.
Highest Departmental Honors. Students must have a 3.75 grade point average (GPA) in in all courses used to satisfy the environmental studies upper-division requirements and must also receive senior comprehensive honors (see above). To be considered for highest departmental honors, students are limited to no more than one grade of P in those upper-division courses.
Major Without a Concentration
Course Requirements
Continuing students must complete all lower-division course requirements before taking ENVS 100 and ENVS 100L.
Lower-Division Courses
One of the following options:
| Either this course | |
ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
Plus the following course:
ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses:
AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
AM 11B | Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
MATH 16A | Mathematics for Life and Environmental Sciences | 5 |
May also be satisfied with a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus exam or a score of 300 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam.
Plus one of these statistics series:
| Either these courses | |
STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| or these courses | |
STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one of the following:
ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
ENVS 100 and ENVS 100L are offered twice yearly, during the winter and spring quarters.
Electives
Students take seven, 5-credit or more upper-division electives from ENVS 101-179. Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture. Among those seven courses:
- At least one course must be from the list below of courses based in the natural sciences
- At least one course must be from the list below of courses based in the social sciences
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available in the courses section of the catalog. A list of which upper-division courses offered in the current year by the Environmental Studies Department are based in the natural sciences and which in the social sciences is available on the department website.
Environmental studies electives based in natural sciences:
Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture.
ENVS 104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 2 |
ENVS 104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
ENVS 106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
ENVS 107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 108 | General Entomology | 5 |
ENVS 108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
BIOE 151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
BIOE 151C | Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
BIOE 151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
ENVS 120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
ENVS 122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
BIOE 125 | Ecosystems of California | 5 |
ENVS 130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
ENVS 131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
ENVS 135 | Sustainable Aquaculture | 5 |
ENVS 160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 161A | Soils as Living Systems | 5 |
ENVS 162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
ENVS 164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
ENVS 167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
ENVS 168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
ENVS 169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 170 | Agriculture and Climate Change | 5 |
Environmental studies electives based in the social sciences:
ENVS 110 | Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems | 5 |
ENVS 130B
/LGST 130B
| Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 140
/LGST 140E
| National Environmental Policy | 5 |
ENVS 141 | Ecological Economics | 5 |
ENVS 143 | The Future of Sustainable Development | 5 |
ENVS 144
/POLI 179
| Global Climate Change Politics | 5 |
ENVS 145 | Green Cities | 5 |
ENVS 147 | Global Environmental Justice | 5 |
ENVS 149
/LGST 149
| Environmental Law and Policy | 5 |
ENVS 150
/LGST 150A
| Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
ENVS 151
/LGST 151A
| Environmental Assessment | 5 |
ENVS 152
/POLI 170
| International Environmental Politics | 5 |
ENVS 154 | Amazonian Cultures and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
ENVS 165
/LGST 165A
| Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
ENVS 172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
ENVS 173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
ENVS 174 | Gender and the Environment | 5 |
ENVS 176 | Vulnerability, Complex Systems, and Disasters | 5 |
ENVS 178 | Race and the Environment | 5 |
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. A primary goal of the environmental studies major is to train students who are able to critically analyze interdisciplinary environmental problems, justify their position on an issue, and communicate that position to a range of audiences verbally and in writing.
The DC requirement in environmental studies is satisfied by completing
Plus one of the following:
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
ENVS 183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
ENVS 190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
ENVS 195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
ENVS 196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
Comprehensive Requirement
The senior comprehensive may be satisfied by completing one of the options listed below. All courses used to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
Before enrolling in the senior thesis or senior internship option, students must formally apply to work with a particular faculty mentor very early in their thesis or project preparation. The senior thesis and senior internship option require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment.
Students with advanced skills in one of the graduate focal areas may also take a graduate seminar by invitation from the instructor.
| Either this course | |
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| or these courses | |
ENVS 183A | Senior Internship | 5 |
ENVS 183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
| or this course | |
ENVS 190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
| or these courses | |
ENVS 195A | Senior Research | 5 |
ENVS 195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
| or this course | |
ENVS 196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
ENVS 190 is offered in the spring and summer.
Planners
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
The following are two sample academic plans for students pursuing the environmental studies B.A. major without a concentration. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
Students completing this major will have satisfied the SI, IN, PE-E, IS, and PR-E general education requirements. In addition, they will need to fulfill all remaining university, college, and general education requirements.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
Entering |
|
|
|
KRSG 1T |
|
|
|
Summer Edge (optional) |
|
|
|
|
3rd (junior) |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
Upper-division ENVS |
|
|
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS
(social science) |
|
|
|
|
|
4th (senior) |
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS |
Comprehensive
requirement |
|
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS
(natural science) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed all required lower-division courses—including UCSC or community college general education requirements—with the exception of STAT 7 and STAT 7L, which is only offered at UC Santa Cruz.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
A transfer student who has completed the requirements for the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) before matriculating at UC Santa Cruz, with at most two course requirements left to complete, is allowed to satisfy IGETC in lieu of the UCSC general education requirements.
Geographic Information Systems Concentration
Course Requirements
Continuing students must complete all lower-division courses before taking ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L.
Lower-Division Courses
One of the following courses:
| Either this course | |
ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
Plus the following course:
ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses:
AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
AM 11B | Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
MATH 16A | Mathematics for Life and Environmental Sciences | 5 |
May also be satisfied with a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus exam or a score of 300 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam.
Plus one of the following statistics series:
| Either these courses | |
STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| or these courses | |
STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
All of the following
ENVS 100 and 100L are offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters.
Plus all of the following:
ENVS 115A | Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Applications | 5 |
ENVS 115L | Exercises in Geographic Information Systems | 2 |
ENVS 115B | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 5 |
ENVS 115C | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | 5 |
Electives
Students take four, 5-credit or more upper-division electives from ENVS 101-179. Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture. Among those seven courses:
- At least one course must be from the list below of courses based in the natural sciences
- At least one course must be from the list below of courses based in the social sciences
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available in the courses section of the catalog. A list of which upper-division courses offered in the current year by the Environmental Studies Department are based in the natural sciences and which in the social sciences is available on the department website.
In addition to coursework, it is strongly recommended that students complete at least one internship related to GIS applications environmental problem-solving (either upper- or lower-division).
Environmental studies electives based on natural sciences:
Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture.
ENVS 104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 2 |
ENVS 104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
ENVS 106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
ENVS 107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 108 | General Entomology | 5 |
ENVS 108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
BIOE 151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
BIOE 151C | Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
BIOE 151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
ENVS 120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
ENVS 122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
BIOE 125 | Ecosystems of California | 5 |
ENVS 130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
ENVS 131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
ENVS 135 | Sustainable Aquaculture | 5 |
ENVS 160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 161A | Soils as Living Systems | 5 |
ENVS 162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
ENVS 164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
ENVS 167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
ENVS 168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
ENVS 169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 170 | Agriculture and Climate Change | 5 |
Environmental studies electives based on the social sciences:
ENVS 110 | Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems | 5 |
ENVS 130B
/LGST 130B
| Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 140
/LGST 140E
| National Environmental Policy | 5 |
ENVS 141 | Ecological Economics | 5 |
ENVS 143 | The Future of Sustainable Development | 5 |
ENVS 144
/POLI 179
| Global Climate Change Politics | 5 |
ENVS 145 | Green Cities | 5 |
ENVS 147 | Global Environmental Justice | 5 |
ENVS 149
/LGST 149
| Environmental Law and Policy | 5 |
ENVS 150
/LGST 150A
| Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
ENVS 151
/LGST 151A
| Environmental Assessment | 5 |
ENVS 152
/POLI 170
| International Environmental Politics | 5 |
ENVS 154 | Amazonian Cultures and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
ENVS 165
/LGST 165A
| Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
ENVS 172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
ENVS 173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
ENVS 174 | Gender and the Environment | 5 |
ENVS 176 | Vulnerability, Complex Systems, and Disasters | 5 |
ENVS 178 | Race and the Environment | 5 |
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. A primary goal of the environmental studies major is to train students who are able to critically analyze interdisciplinary environmental problems, justify their position on an issue, and communicate that position to a range of audiences verbally and in writing.
The DC requirement in environmental studies is satisfied by completing
Plus one of the following:
Comprehensive Requirement
The senior comprehensive may be satisfied by completing one of the options listed below. All courses used to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement must be taken for a letter grade. The topic engaged in the senior comprehensive courses must be relevant to the field of Geographic Information Systems. The relevance of the topic will be reviewed by the instructor of the senior comprehensive course.
Before enrolling in the senior thesis or senior internship option, students must formally apply to work with a particular faculty mentor very early in their thesis or project preparation. The senior thesis and senior internship options require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment.
| Either these courses | |
ENVS 183A | Senior Internship | 5 |
ENVS 183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
| or these courses | |
ENVS 195A | Senior Research | 5 |
ENVS 195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
| or this course | |
ENVS 196G | Senior Seminar in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 5 |
Planners
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
The following are two sample academic plans for students pursuing the environmental studies B.A. major with a concentration in geographic information systems. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
This planner assumes that a student has placed into MATH 3 or AM 3.
Students completing this major will have satisfied SI, IN, PE-E, IS, and PR-E general education requirements. In addition, they will need to fulfill all remaining university, college, and general education requirements.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed all required lower division courses—including UCSC or community college General Education requirements—with the exception of STAT 7 & STAT 7L, which is only offered at UC Santa Cruz.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
A transfer student who has completed the requirements for the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) before matriculating at UC Santa Cruz, with at most two course requirements left to complete, is allowed to satisfy IGETC in lieu of the UCSC general education requirements.
Global Environmental Justice Concentration
Course Requirements
Continuing students must complete all lower-division courses before taking ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L.
Lower-Division Courses
One of the following:
| Either this course | |
ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
Plus the following course:
ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses:
The math requirement may be satisfied by taking one of the classes below, or by testing out via AP score or ALEKS math placement.
AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
AM 11B | Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
MATH 16A | Mathematics for Life and Environmental Sciences | 5 |
May also be satisfied with a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus exam or a score of 300 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam.
Plus one of these statistics series:
| Either these courses | |
STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| or these courses | |
STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
Both of the following courses:
ENVS 100 and 100L are offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters.
Plus four of the following environmental justice electives:
ENVS 130B
/LGST 130B
| Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 140
/LGST 140E
| National Environmental Policy | 5 |
ENVS 143 | The Future of Sustainable Development | 5 |
ENVS 144
/POLI 179
| Global Climate Change Politics | 5 |
ENVS 147 | Global Environmental Justice | 5 |
ENVS 152
/POLI 170
| International Environmental Politics | 5 |
ENVS 154 | Amazonian Cultures and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
ENVS 172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
ENVS 173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
ENVS 174 | Gender and the Environment | 5 |
ENVS 176 | Vulnerability, Complex Systems, and Disasters | 5 |
ENVS 178 | Race and the Environment | 5 |
JRLC 135 | Apprenticeship in Community Engaged Research | 5 |
SOCY 185 | Environmental Inequality | 5 |
Plus three additional upper-division electives:
Students take three, 5-credit or more upper-division electives from ENVS 101-179. Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture. Among those four courses, at least one course must be from the list below of courses based in the natural sciences.
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available in the courses section of the catalog. A list of which upper-division courses offered in the current year by the Environmental Studies Department are based in the natural sciences and which in the social sciences is available on the department website.
Natural sciences
Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture.
ENVS 104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 2 |
ENVS 104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
ENVS 106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
ENVS 107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 108 | General Entomology | 5 |
ENVS 108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
BIOE 125 | Ecosystems of California | 5 |
BIOE 151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
BIOE 151C | Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
BIOE 151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
ENVS 120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
ENVS 122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
ENVS 130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
ENVS 131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
ENVS 135 | Sustainable Aquaculture | 5 |
ENVS 160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 161A | Soils as Living Systems | 5 |
ENVS 162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
ENVS 164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
ENVS 167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
ENVS 168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
ENVS 169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 170 | Agriculture and Climate Change | 5 |
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. A primary goal of the environmental studies major is to train students who are able to critically analyze interdisciplinary environmental problems, justify their position on an issue, and communicate that position to a range of audiences verbally and in writing.
The DC requirement in environmental studies is satisfied by completing
Plus one of the following:
Comprehensive Requirement
The senior comprehensive may be satisfied by completing one of the options listed below. All courses used to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement must be taken for a letter grade. The topic engaged in the senior comprehensive courses must be relevant to the field of global environmental justice.
Before enrolling in the senior thesis or senior internship option, students must formally apply to work with a particular faculty mentor very early in their thesis or project preparation. The senior thesis and senior internship options require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment.
Planners
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
The following are two sample academic plans for students pursuing the environmental studies B.A. major with a concentration in global environmental justice. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
Students completing this major will have satisfied SI, IN, PE-E, IS, IN, and PR-E general education requirements. In addition, they will need to fulfill all remaining university, college, and general education requirements.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed all required lower division courses—including UCSC or community college general education requirements—with the exception of STAT 7 & STAT 7L, which is only offered at UC Santa Cruz.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
A transfer student who has completed the requirements for the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) before matriculating at UC Santa Cruz, with at most two course requirements left to complete, is allowed to satisfy IGETC in lieu of the UCSC general education requirements.
Conservation Science and Policy Concentration
Course Requirements
Continuing students are required to complete all six lower-division courses before taking ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L. See the course descriptions for more specific information.
Lower-Division Courses
One of the following courses:
| Either this course | |
ENVS 23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 3A | General Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 3B | General Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 3BL | General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| or these courses | |
CHEM 4A | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4AL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
CHEM 4B | Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity | 5 |
CHEM 4BL | Advanced General Chemistry Lab | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
Plus the following course:
ENVS 25 | Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses:
AM 3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
AM 11A | Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
AM 11B | Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
MATH 3 | Precalculus | 5 |
MATH 11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
MATH 16A | Mathematics for Life and Environmental Sciences | 5 |
May also be satisfied with a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus exam or a score of 300 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement Exam.
Plus one of these statistics series:
| Either these courses | |
STAT 7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
STAT 7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| or these courses | |
STAT 17 | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics | 5 |
STAT 17L | Statistical Methods for Business and Economics Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one of the following courses:
ANTH 2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
BME 80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
PHIL 22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
PHIL 24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
PHIL 28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
SOCY 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
SOCY 10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
SOCY 15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
Both of the following:
ENVS 100 and 100L are offered twice yearly, during the winter and spring quarters.
Plus one of the following:
Plus one of the following:
ENVS 140
/LGST 140E
| National Environmental Policy | 5 |
ENVS 150
/LGST 150A
| Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
Plus two of the following CSP electives:
No duplicate courses from lists above.
Lecture/lab combinations count as a single course.
ENVS 110 | Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems | 5 |
ENVS 115A | Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Applications | 5 |
ENVS 115L | Exercises in Geographic Information Systems | 2 |
ENVS 115B | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 5 |
ENVS 120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
ENVS 122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
ENVS 140
/LGST 140E
| National Environmental Policy | 5 |
ENVS 141 | Ecological Economics | 5 |
ENVS 149
/LGST 149
| Environmental Law and Policy | 5 |
ENVS 150
/LGST 150A
| Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
ENVS 151
/LGST 151A
| Environmental Assessment | 5 |
ENVS 160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 165
/LGST 165A
| Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
ENVS 167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
BIOE 125 | Ecosystems of California | 5 |
Field course
One of the following options:
Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. If a lecture has a lab offered (required or optional), the lab must be taken to count for this requirement.
One of the following field courses:
ENVS 104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 2 |
ENVS 104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
ENVS 106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
ENVS 106M | Natural History of Birds Laboratory | 2 |
ENVS 107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
ENVS 108 | General Entomology | 5 |
ENVS 108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
ENVS 167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
ENVS 167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
BIOE 151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
BIOE 151C | Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
BIOE 151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
BIOE 112 | Ornithology | 5 |
BIOE 112L | Ornithology Field Studies | 2 |
BIOE 114 | Herpetology | 5 |
BIOE 114L | Field Methods in Herpetological Research | 2 |
BIOE 117 | Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants | 5 |
BIOE 117L | Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants Laboratory | 2 |
BIOE 124 | Mammalogy | 5 |
BIOE 124L | Mammalogy Laboratory | 2 |
BIOE 128L | Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course | 7 |
BIOE 141L | Behavioral Ecology Field Course | 7 |
BIOE 145 | Plant Ecology | 5 |
BIOE 145L | Field Methods in Plant Ecology | 5 |
BIOE 150 | Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
BIOE 150L | Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
BIOE 161 | Kelp Forest Ecology | 5 |
BIOE 161L | Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
EART 189A | Geographic Information Systems with Applications in Earth Sciences | 5 |
Or the CEC field course
Or the California Ecology and Conservation (CEC) field course through the University of California Natural Reserve System (XENV 188).
Electives
Students take two, 5-credit or more upper-division electives from ENVS 101-179. Lecture/Lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture.
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available in the courses section of the catalog.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. A primary goal of the environmental studies major is to train students who are able to critically analyze interdisciplinary environmental problems, justify their position on an issue, and communicate that position to a range of audiences verbally and in writing.
The DC requirement in environmental studies is satisfied by completing
Plus one of the following:
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
ENVS 183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
ENVS 190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
ENVS 195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
ENVS 196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
Comprehensive Requirement
The senior comprehensive may be satisfied by completing one of the options listed below. All courses used to satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement must be taken for a letter grade. The topic engaged in senior comprehensive courses must be relevant to the field of conservation science and policy. The relevance of the topic will be reviewed by the instructor of the senior comprehensive course.
Before enrolling in the senior thesis or senior internship option, students must formally apply to work with a particular faculty mentor very early in their thesis or project preparation. These courses require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment.
| Either this course | |
BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| or these courses | |
ENVS 183A | Senior Internship | 5 |
ENVS 183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
| or this course | |
ENVS 190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
| or these courses | |
ENVS 195A | Senior Research | 5 |
ENVS 195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
| or this course | |
ENVS 196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
Planners
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
The following are two sample academic plans for students pursuing the environmental studies B.A. major with a concentration in conservation science and policy. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
Students completing this major will have satisfied SI, SR, IN, PE-E, IS, and PR-E general education requirements. In addition, they will need to fulfill all remaining university, college, and general education requirements.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed all required lower division courses—including UCSC or community college General Education requirements—with the exception of STAT 7 & STAT 7L, which is only offered at UC Santa Cruz.
Students interested in taking the senior thesis or senior internship as their comprehensive requirement must take ENVS 195A (thesis) or ENVS 183A (internship) in the quarter before completing ENVS 195B (thesis) or ENVS 183B (internship). Both the senior thesis and senior internship are two consecutive quarter commitments.
A transfer student who has completed the requirements for the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) before matriculating at UC Santa Cruz, with at most two course requirements left to complete, is allowed to satisfy IGETC in lieu of the UCSC general education requirements.