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 four 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.
Academic Advising for the Program
Advising is one way to make the most of your university experience. The advising system at UC Santa Cruz is amazing, and we encourage you to use it often. 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.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.A. degree in environmental studies will:
- 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).
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
To qualify to declare the environmental studies major, students must complete the specific courses listed below, or their approved equivalents.
One of the following:
| ENVS23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
Plus one of the following:
Plus all of the following:
| STAT7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Determining qualification
-
Students who complete all the qualification courses with a grade of P, or letter grade of C or better are eligible to declare a 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 eligible to declare 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 eligible to declare.
-
Students with AP credit for any of the qualification course(s) are eligible to declare after successfully completing the remaining qualification courses.
-
Students must attend an Environmental Studies Department declaration workshop when requesting to declare the major.
Appeal Process
Students who are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting an appeal to qualify for the major here 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 a Major
Students wishing to declare within the Environmental Studies Department should visit the Environmental Studies Department website and follow the steps listed there. Degree requirement sheets may be downloaded from the Environmental Studies Undergraduate Program Requirements page.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
To be considered for admission in the Environmental Studies majors, transfer students must pass equivalents of the following courses with a C (2.0) or better in these required courses:
One of the following:
ENVS 23 or a general chemistry course (defined in ASSIST)
Plus one of the following:
Plus one of the following:
| AM3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM11A
/ECON 11A
| Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| AM11B
/ECON 11B
| Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
| MATH3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
Plus one of the following options:
Either this course:
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Or these courses:
ECON 2 and a course in national or international politics (defined in ASSIST)
Or these courses:
ECON 1 and a course in national or international politics (defined in ASSIST)
Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student
Transfer students pursuing environmental studies majors are encouraged to transfer in the fall quarter.
Transfer students should enroll in STAT 7 & STAT 7L during the summer or fall quarter in order to take ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L in winter or spring quarter of their first year. Transfer students who have completed the screening requirements listed above can formally declare their major once STAT 7 and STAT 7L are completed. Transfer students can formally declare their major once qualification courses are successfully completed, following the steps in How to Declare a Major given above.
ENVS 25 and CHEM 1A 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 adviser, and refer to the ASSIST website to determine equivalency. Prospective transfer students should review the transfer information.
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.
Letter Grade Policy
This program does not have a letter grade policy, except that the comprehensive 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: You may enroll into this list of courses without petition to substitute for up to two ENVS electives.
-
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.
Note: Environmental studies majors with a concentration in agroecology and sustainable food systems and combined ENVS majors are not allowed any substitutions.
Study Abroad
Environmental studies students are encouraged to study abroad and participate in other off-campus programs. If students are interested in planning to study abroad please note the following policies:
- Students planning to study abroad 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. Combined eEnvironmental studies majors cannot petition for substitution. 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. Only applicable to a senior thesis, senior internship, or individual work in a senior seminar. Honors must be awarded by the student’s faculty sponsor, and a second faculty member (chosen by the student’s faculty adviser) 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).
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 courses
| ENVS23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses
Plus the following course
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Plus one of the following options:
Take one of the following courses:
| AM3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM11A
/ECON 11A
| Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| AM11B
/ECON 11B
| Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
| MATH3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
Or take a placement exam:
Take the Math Placement Exam (MPE) with a score of 300 or higher or take the AP Calculus exam with a score of 3 or higher
Plus all of the following
| STAT7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one introductory course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or ethics
Choose one of the following:
| ANTH2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Environmental studies core course offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters
Electives
A total of seven upper-division electives (environmental studies courses numbered ENVS 101-ENVS 179) must be completed. One course must be from the list below of upper-division courses based on natural sciences, and one course must be from the list below of upper-division courses based on the social sciences.
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available here. 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 here.
Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.
Courses based on natural sciences
| ENVS104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 5 |
| ENVS104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
| ENVS107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS108 | General Entomology | 5 |
| ENVS108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOE151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151C
/ENVS 109C
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
| BIOE151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
| ENVS120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
| ENVS121 | Landscape Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| BIOE125
/ENVS 125
| Ecosystems of California | 5 |
| ENVS129 | Integrated Pest Management | 5 |
| ENVS129L | Integrated Pest Management Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
| ENVS131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
| ENVS138 | Field Ethnobotany | 5 |
| ENVS160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS161A | Soils and Plant Nutrition | 5 |
| ENVS161L | Soils and Plant Nutrition Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
| ENVS167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
| ENVS169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS170 | Agriculture and Climate Change | 5 |
Courses based on the social sciences
| ENVS110 | Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems | 5 |
| ENVS130B | Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS140 | National Environmental Policy | 5 |
| ENVS141 | Ecological Economics | 5 |
| ENVS143 | Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment | 5 |
| ENVS144
/POLI 179
| Global Climate Change Politics | 5 |
| ENVS145 | Green Cities | 5 |
| ENVS146 | Water Quality: Policy, Regulation, and Management | 5 |
| ENVS147 | Environmental Inequality/Environmental Justice | 5 |
| ENVS149
/LGST 149
| Environmental Law and Policy | 5 |
| ENVS150 | Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
| ENVS151 | Environmental Assessment | 5 |
| ENVS152
/POLI 170
| International Environmental Politics | 5 |
| ENVS153
/POLI 162
| Globalization and the Environment: Trade Complements and Conflicts | 5 |
| ENVS154 | Amazonian Cultures and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
| ENVS165 | Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
| ENVS172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
| ENVS173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
| ENVS176 | Vulnerability, Complex Systems, and Disasters | 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
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Plus one of the following
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| ENVS183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
| ENVS190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
| ENVS195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
| ENVS196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
ENVS 183B and ENVS 195B are usually taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A and ENVS 195A respectively.
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.
ENVS 190 is offered in the spring and summer.
Planners
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
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or AM3
|
SOC/ANTH/ethics
course |
ENVS 23 or
CHEM 1A |
| |
ENVS 25 |
|
| |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
ENVS 24 or BIOE 20C |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
Upper-division ENVS |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
Upper-division ENVS
(social science) |
Upper-division ENVS
(natural science) |
Upper-division ENVS
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS
|
| |
|
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
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.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 3rd (junior) |
STAT 7 & 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.
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.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or AM3
|
SOC/ANTH/ethics
course |
ENVS 23 or
CHEM 1A |
| |
ENVS 25 |
|
| |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
ENVS 24 or BIOE 20C |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
Upper-division ENVS |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
Upper-division ENVS
(social science) |
Upper-division ENVS
(natural science) |
Upper-division ENVS
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS |
Upper-division ENVS
|
| |
|
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
Agroecology and Sustainable Food 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
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| ENVS23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses
Plus the following
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Plus one of the following
One of the following
| AM3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM11A
/ECON 11A
| Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| AM11B
/ECON 11B
| Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
| MATH3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
Or take a placement exam
Take the Math Placement Exam (MPE) with a score of 300 or higher or take the AP Calculus exam with a score of 3 or higher
Plus all of the following
| STAT7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one introductory course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or ethics
Students choose one of the following introductory courses in sociology. cultural anthropology, or ethics:
| ANTH2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
All of the following
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Environmental studies core course, offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters
Plus all of the following
| ENVS130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130B | Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
Plus one of the following
| ENVS130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
| ENVS133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
Plus one of the following
Lecture/lab combinations count as a single course.
| CMMU149 | Political Economy of Food and Agriculture | 5 |
| CMMU186 | Food and Agriculture Social Movements | 5 |
| ENVS108 | General Entomology | 5 |
| ENVS129 | Integrated Pest Management | 5 |
| ENVS131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS143 | Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment | 5 |
| ENVS161A | Soils and Plant Nutrition | 5 |
| ENVS161L | Soils and Plant Nutrition Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS165 | Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
| ENVS166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
| ENVS168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
| ENVS169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS170 | Agriculture and Climate Change | 5 |
Internship recommended
In addition to coursework, it is strongly recommended that students complete at least one internship related to agroecology, sustainable agriculture, or sustainable food systems (either upper- or lower-division internship).
Electives
Three upper-division environmental studies courses numbered ENVS 101-ENVS 179.
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
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Plus one of the following
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| ENVS183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
| ENVS190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
| ENVS195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
| ENVS196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
ENVS 183B and ENVS 195B are usually taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A and ENVS 195A respectively.
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 options require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment. The topic must be related to agroecology and sustainable food systems.
Planners
The following are two sample academic plans for students pursuing the Environmental Studies B.A. major with a concentration in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.
Plan One for Incoming Frosh
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or AM 3
|
ENVS 25
|
ENVS 23 or CHEM 1A |
| |
SOC/ANTH/ethics course
|
|
| |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L*
|
ENVS 130C or ENVS 133
|
ENVS 24 or BIOE 20C
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
ENVS 130A & ENVS 130L
|
ENVS 130B |
ENVS upper-division |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
ENVS upper-division |
ENVS upper-division |
| |
|
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed and/or placed into MATH 3 or AM 3.
Students completing this major will have satisfied SI, 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.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (junior) |
STAT 7 & 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
ENVS 130C or ENVS 133 |
| |
|
ENVS upper-division |
| |
|
|
2nd (senior)
|
ENVS 130A & ENVS 130L
|
ENVS 130B |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
|
| ENVS upper-division |
ENVS upper-division |
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*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
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
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| ENVS23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses
Plus the following
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Plus one of the following
One of the following
| AM3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM11A
/ECON 11A
| Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| AM11B
/ECON 11B
| Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
| MATH3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
Or take a placement exam
Take the Math Placement Exam (MPE) with a score of 300 or higher or take the AP Calculus exam with a score of 3 or higher
Plus all of the following
| STAT7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one introductory course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or ethics
Students choose one of the following introductory courses in sociology. cultural anthropology, or ethics:
| ANTH2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
All of the following
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Environmental studies core course, offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters
Plus all of the following
| ENVS115A | Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Applications | 5 |
| ENVS115L | Exercises in Geographic Information Systems | 2 |
| ENVS115B | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 5 |
| ENVS115C | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | 5 |
Electives
Four upper-division electives (environmental studies courses numbered ENVS 101-ENVS 179).
One course must be from the list below of upper division courses based on natural sciences, and one course must be from the list below of upper division courses based on the social sciences.
Lecture and lab combinations count as a single course.
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available here. 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 here.
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).
Courses based on natural sciences
| ENVS104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 5 |
| ENVS104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
| ENVS107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS108 | General Entomology | 5 |
| ENVS108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOE151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151C
/ENVS 109C
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
| BIOE151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
| ENVS120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
| ENVS121 | Landscape Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| BIOE125
/ENVS 125
| Ecosystems of California | 5 |
| ENVS129 | Integrated Pest Management | 5 |
| ENVS129L | Integrated Pest Management Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
| ENVS131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
| ENVS138 | Field Ethnobotany | 5 |
| ENVS160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS161A | Soils and Plant Nutrition | 5 |
| ENVS161L | Soils and Plant Nutrition Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
| ENVS167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
| ENVS169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS170 | Agriculture and Climate Change | 5 |
Courses based on the social sciences
| ENVS110 | Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems | 5 |
| ENVS130B | Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS140 | National Environmental Policy | 5 |
| ENVS141 | Ecological Economics | 5 |
| ENVS143 | Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment | 5 |
| ENVS144
/POLI 179
| Global Climate Change Politics | 5 |
| ENVS145 | Green Cities | 5 |
| ENVS146 | Water Quality: Policy, Regulation, and Management | 5 |
| ENVS147 | Environmental Inequality/Environmental Justice | 5 |
| ENVS149
/LGST 149
| Environmental Law and Policy | 5 |
| ENVS150 | Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
| ENVS151 | Environmental Assessment | 5 |
| ENVS152
/POLI 170
| International Environmental Politics | 5 |
| ENVS153
/POLI 162
| Globalization and the Environment: Trade Complements and Conflicts | 5 |
| ENVS154 | Amazonian Cultures and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
| ENVS165 | Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
| ENVS172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
| ENVS173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
| ENVS176 | Vulnerability, Complex Systems, and Disasters | 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
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Plus one of the following
ENVS 183B and ENVS 195B are usually taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A and ENVS 195A respectively.
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 options require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment. The topic must be related to geographic information systems.
ENVS 196 must be a topic related to geographic information systems
Planners
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
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or AM 3
|
ENVS 25
|
ENVS 23 or CHEM 1A |
| |
SOC/ANTH/ethics course
|
|
| |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
ENVS 24 or BIOE 20C |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L*
|
ENVS upper-division
|
STAT 7 & STAT 7L
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
ENVS 115A & ENVS 115L |
ENVS 115B |
ENVS 115C |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
ENVS upper-division
(social science) |
ENVS upper-division
(natural science) |
ENVS upper-division |
| |
|
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed and/or 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.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (junior) |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
ENVSupper-division |
| |
ENVS upper-division
(social science) |
ENVS upper-division
(natural science) |
| |
|
|
2nd (senior)
|
ENVS 115A & ENVS 115L |
ENVS 115B |
ENVS 115C |
|
|
ENVS upper-division |
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*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.
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
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| ENVS23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses
Plus the following
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Plus one of the following
One of the following
| AM3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM11A
/ECON 11A
| Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| AM11B
/ECON 11B
| Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
| MATH3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
Or take a placement exam
Take the Math Placement Exam (MPE) with a score of 300 or higher or take the AP Calculus exam with a score of 3 or higher
Plus all of the following
| STAT7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one introductory course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or ethics
Students choose one of the following introductory courses in sociology. cultural anthropology, or ethics:
| ANTH2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
All of the following
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Environmental studies core course, offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters
Plus one of the following
| ENVS147 | Environmental Inequality/Environmental Justice | 5 |
| ENVS172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
Plus one of the following
| ENVS158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
| ENVS173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
Plus two of the following
(Not duplicating any courses taken from the above lists)
| ENVS130B | Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS140 | National Environmental Policy | 5 |
| ENVS143 | Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment | 5 |
| ENVS147 | Environmental Inequality/Environmental Justice | 5 |
| ENVS154 | Amazonian Cultures and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS158 | Political Ecology and Social Change | 5 |
| ENVS172 | Environmental Risks and Public Policy | 5 |
| ENVS173 | An Introduction to World Environmental History | 5 |
| ENVS176 | Vulnerability, Complex Systems, and Disasters | 5 |
| CLTE135 | Apprenticeship in Community Engaged Research | 5 |
| SOCY185 | Environmental Inequality | 5 |
No duplicate courses from lists above
Electives
Three upper-division electives (environmental studies courses numbered ENVS 101-ENVS 179).
One course must be from the list below of upper division courses based on natural sciences.
Lecture and lab combinations count as a single course.
A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available here. 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 here.
Courses based on natural sciences
| ENVS104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 5 |
| ENVS104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS106A | Natural History of Birds | 5 |
| ENVS107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS108 | General Entomology | 5 |
| ENVS108L | General Entomology Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOE151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151C
/ENVS 109C
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
| BIOE151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
| ENVS120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
| ENVS121 | Landscape Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| BIOE125
/ENVS 125
| Ecosystems of California | 5 |
| ENVS129 | Integrated Pest Management | 5 |
| ENVS129L | Integrated Pest Management Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130A | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 5 |
| ENVS130L | Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS130C | Field Experiences in Agroecology and Sustainable Food | 5 |
| ENVS131 | Insect Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS133 | Agroecology Practicum | 5 |
| ENVS138 | Field Ethnobotany | 5 |
| ENVS160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS161A | Soils and Plant Nutrition | 5 |
| ENVS161L | Soils and Plant Nutrition Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS162 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS162L | Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS163 | Plant Disease Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS163L | Plant Disease Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS164 | Projects and Practices in Soil Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS166 | Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management | 5 |
| ENVS167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS167L | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab | 2 |
| ENVS168 | Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment | 5 |
| ENVS169 | Climate Change Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS170 | 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
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Plus one of the following
ENVS 183B and ENVS 195B are usually taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A and ENVS 195A respectively.
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 options require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment. The topic must be related to global environmental justice.
ENVS 196 must be a topic related to global environmental justice
Planners
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
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or AM 3
|
ENVS 25
|
ENVS 23 or CHEM 1A |
| |
SOC/ANTH/ethics course
|
|
| |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
ENVS 24 or BIOE 20C |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L*
|
ENVS 147 or ENVS 172 |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
ENVS 158 or ENVS 173 |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
ENVS upper-division
(natural science) |
ENVS upper-division
|
ENVS upper-division |
| |
|
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed and/or placed into MATH 3 or AM 3.
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.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (junior) |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
| |
ENVS 147 or ENVS 172 |
|
| |
|
|
2nd (senior)
|
ENVS 158 or ENVS 173 |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
ENVS upper-division |
|
ENVS upper-division
(natural science) |
ENVS upper-division |
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*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.
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. Five of the lower-division courses are preset and are listed below. See the course descriptions for more specific information.
Lower-Division Courses
One of the following
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| ENVS23 | The Physical and Chemical Environment | 5 |
Plus one of the following courses
Plus the following
| ENVS25 | Environmental Policy and Economics | 5 |
Plus one of the following
One of the following
| AM3 | Precalculus for the Social Sciences | 5 |
| AM11A
/ECON 11A
| Mathematical Methods for Economists I | 5 |
| AM11B
/ECON 11B
| Mathematical Methods for Economists II | 5 |
| MATH3 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH11A | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH11B | Calculus with Applications | 5 |
| MATH19A | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH19B | Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH23A | Vector Calculus | 5 |
Or take a placement exam
Take the Math Placement Exam (MPE) with a score of 300 or higher or take the AP Calculus exam with a score of 3 or higher
Plus all of the following
| STAT7 | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences | 5 |
| STAT7L | Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory | 2 |
Plus one introductory course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or ethics
Students choose one of the following introductory courses in sociology. cultural anthropology, or ethics:
| ANTH2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 5 |
| BME80G
/PHIL 80G
| Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society | 5 |
| PHIL22 | Introduction to Ethical Theory | 5 |
| PHIL24 | Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues | 5 |
| PHIL28 | Environmental Ethics | 5 |
| SOCY1 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| SOCY10 | Issues and Problems in American Society | 5 |
| SOCY15 | World Society | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Students are required to complete the following upper-division courses:
All of the following
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Environmental studies core course, offered twice yearly during the winter and spring quarters
Plus one of the following
Plus one of the following
| ENVS140 | National Environmental Policy | 5 |
| ENVS150 | Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
Plus two of the following
(Not duplicating any courses taken from lists above)
Lecture/lab combinations count as a single course.
| ENVS110 | Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems | 5 |
| ENVS115A | Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Applications | 5 |
| ENVS115L | Exercises in Geographic Information Systems | 2 |
| ENVS120 | Conservation Biology | 5 |
| ENVS121 | Landscape Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS122 | Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS123 | Animal Ecology and Conservation | 5 |
| ENVS140 | National Environmental Policy | 5 |
| ENVS141 | Ecological Economics | 5 |
| ENVS146 | Water Quality: Policy, Regulation, and Management | 5 |
| ENVS149
/LGST 149
| Environmental Law and Policy | 5 |
| ENVS150 | Coastal and Marine Policy | 5 |
| ENVS151 | Environmental Assessment | 5 |
| ENVS160 | Restoration Ecology | 5 |
| ENVS165 | Sustainable Water Systems | 5 |
| ENVS167 | Freshwater and Wetland Ecology | 5 |
Field course
One of the following options:
One of the following field courses
| ENVS104A | Introduction to Environmental Field Methods | 5 |
| ENVS104L | Field Methods Laboratory | 2 |
| ENVS107A | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107B | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| ENVS107C | Natural History Field Quarter | 5 |
| BIOE114L | Field Methods in Herpetological Research | 2 |
| BIOE128L | Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course | 5 |
| BIOE141L | Behavioral Ecology Field Course | 5 |
| BIOE145L | Field Methods in Plant Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE150L | Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151C
/ENVS 109C
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
| BIOE151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
| BIOE161L | Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
The ENVS 104A/ENVS 104L lecture/lab combination counts as a single course.
Or UCNRS field course
Or a UCNRS California Ecology and Conservation Field Course
Electives
Two upper-division electives (environmental studies courses numbered ENVS 101 - ENVS 179).
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
| ENVS100 | Ecology and Society | 3 |
| ENVS100L | Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory | 5 |
Plus one of the following
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| ENVS183B | Senior Internship | 5 |
| ENVS190 | Capstone Course: Environmental Problem Solving | 5 |
| ENVS195B | Senior Thesis Group | 5 |
| ENVS196 | Senior Seminar | 5 |
ENVS 183B and ENVS 195B are usually taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A and ENVS 195A respectively.
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. These courses require careful planning, additional independent research, and at least a two-quarter commitment. The topic must be related to conservation science and policy.
ENVS 196 must be a topic related to conservation science and policy
Planners
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
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 3 or AM 3
|
ENVS 25
|
ENVS 23 or CHEM 1A |
| |
SOC/ANTH/ethics course
|
|
| |
|
|
| 2nd (soph) |
ENVS 24 or BIOE 20C |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L*
|
ENVS 140 or ENVS 150 |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 3rd (junior) |
ENVS 120 or ENVS 160 |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| 4th (senior) |
ENVS upper-division
|
ENVS upper-division
(field course) |
ENVS upper-division |
| |
|
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*This course is also offered in the spring term.
This planner assumes that a student has completed and/or 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.
Plan Two for Incoming Transfer Students
|
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (junior) |
STAT 7 & STAT 7L |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L* |
ENVS 140 or ENVS 150 |
| |
|
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective)
|
| |
|
|
2nd (senior)
|
ENVS 120 or ENVS 160 |
ENVS upper-division
(concentration elective) |
ENVS upper-division |
|
ENVS upper-division
(field course) |
ENVS upper-division |
Comprehensive
requirement |
| |
|
|
*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.
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.