Environmental Studies/Biology Combined Major B.A.

Information and Policies

Introduction

This course of study provides students with the basic tools of biological science and sufficient understanding of resource conservation, conservation biology, and concerns about environmental sustainability to apply these tools to environmental problems.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. degree in environmental studies/biology combined 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 (ENVS), 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:

All of the following courses:

BIOE 20C	Ecology and Evolution	5
BIOL 20A	Cell and Molecular Biology	5
CHEM 3A	General Chemistry	5
CHEM 3B	General Chemistry	3
CHEM 3C	General Chemistry	3

Plus one of the following:

AM 3	Precalculus for the Social Sciences	5
AM 11A	Mathematical Methods for Economists I	5
MATH 11A	Calculus with Applications	5
AM 11B	Mathematical Methods for Economists II	5

Recommended Courses

In addition, taking the following courses prior to transfer is recommended prior to ensure timely graduation.

The following course:

BIOE 20B

Development and Physiology

Plus one of the following options:

ENVS 25

A course in microeconomics or macroeconomics PLUS a course in national or international politics

Plus the following 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

GPA Requirement

To be considered for admission in the environmental studies majors, transfer students must pass the preceding courses or their equivalents of the preceding courses with a C (2.0) or better in the required courses.

General Education Courses

Prospective students are encouraged to prioritize required and recommended major preparation, and may additionally complete courses that articulate to UC Santa Cruz general education requirements as time allows.

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students pursuing any of the environmental studies majors are encouraged to transfer in the fall quarter. Transfer students should complete as many lower-division courses as possible before transferring. All remaining lower-division requirements should be completed in summer, fall, and winter of their first year in order to start upper-division courses in winter or spring of the 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 general chemistry are usually offered during Summer Session at UC Santa Cruz, and transfer students are encouraged to take these courses if they have not completed a substitute requirement or 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 UC Santa Cruz 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/biology combined 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.

Students must take all of these courses for a letter grade.

All of the following courses

BIOL 20A	Cell and Molecular Biology	5
BIOE 20C	Ecology and Evolution	5
ENVS 25	Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice	5
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:

	Either 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

Determining qualification

Students who complete all the qualification courses with a letter grade of C or better are eligible to declare a major.
Students who have received one grade of 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 letter grade of C or better.
Students with two or more grades of C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the qualification courses taken at UC Santa Cruz are not eligible to declare.
Students with non-letter grades in any of the qualification courses for the environmental studies/biology combined B.A. major will not be eligible to declare until a grade of C or better has been assigned.

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 a Major

Petition to declare your major as soon as you have met qualification requirements and/or reach your declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.

To declare the ENVS/BIO major, students should visit the department website and follow declaration steps.

Letter Grade Policy

All requirements for the environmental studies/biology combined major must be taken for a letter grade.

Course Substitution Policy

Students pursuing the environmental studies/biology combined major cannot substitute courses to count toward their ENVS upper-division electives. Any substitutions for ecology and evolutionary biology (BIOE) upper-division courses must be approved by the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.

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 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.
Environmental studies/biology combined majors cannot petition their courses
taken abroad for ENVS upper-division course substitution. Any substitutions for BIOE upper division courses must be approved by the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.
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 major's upper-division requirements.

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 major's upper-division requirements and must also receive senior comprehensive honors (see above).

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements

Lower-Division Courses

Chemistry and mathematics courses may require placement examinations. See the course descriptions for prerequisite information.

All of the following courses:

BIOL 20A	Cell and Molecular Biology	5
BIOE 20B	Development and Physiology	5
BIOE 20C	Ecology and Evolution	5
ENVS 25	Environmental Politics, Economics and Justice	5

Plus one of the following courses:

ANTH 2	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	5
PHIL 22	Introduction to Ethical Theory	5
PHIL 24	Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues	5
PHIL 28	Environmental Ethics	5
BME 80G /PHIL 80G	Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society	5
SOCY 1	Introduction to Sociology	5
SOCY 10	Issues and Problems in American Society	5
SOCY 15	World Society	5

Plus one of the following courses:

AM 3	Precalculus for the Social Sciences	5
AM 6	Precalculus for Statistics	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 both of the following:

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 chemistry series:

	Either these courses
CHEM 3A	General Chemistry	5
CHEM 3B	General Chemistry	3
CHEM 3BL	General Chemistry Lab	2
CHEM 3C	General Chemistry	3
CHEM 3CL	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

Note: This requirement may also be satisfied with prior completion of CHEM 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1N, or equivalent.

Previous to July 1, 2023, the General Chemistry series, offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was listed in the General Catalog as CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and CHEM 1C, with associated laboratories CHEM 1M and CHEM 1N. As of academic year 2023-24, this series was replaced with two distinct series: CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B and CHEM 3C, with labs CHEM 3BL and CHEM 3CL; or CHEM 4A and CHEM 4B with labs CHEM 4AL and CHEM 4BL. Descriptions of these two series are given here.

Plus one of the following physics options:

	Either this course
PHYS 1A	Physics for Everyone	5
	or this course
PHYS 1B	Physics for Everyone	5
	or these courses
PHYS 6A	Introductory Physics I	5
PHYS 6L	Introductory Physics I Laboratory	1
	or these courses
PHYS 7A	Elementary Physics I	5
PHYS 7L	Elementary Physics Laboratory	1

Upper-Division Courses

Students are required to complete nine upper-division courses, plus the senior comprehensive requirement.

All of the following courses:

ENVS 100	Ecology and Society	3
ENVS 100L	Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory	5
BIOL 105	Genetics	5
BIOE 109	Evolution	5

Electives

Students take six 5-credit or more upper-division electives as follows. A single course may not satisfy more than one requirement.

Three electives from environmental studies (ENVS 101-179). At least one of these courses must be from the ENVS electives based in the social sciences list below.
One course from the lab-based elective list below
Two courses from BIOE 107-188 and/or BIOL 100-140

Lecture/lab combinations count as one course. Associated labs are required only when required by the lecture for the three ENVS and two EEB/MCD requirements. Labs must be taken for the one lab-based elective.

ENVS 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

Lab-based elective options:

If course has a lab offered, the lab must be taken to count for this requirement. Combined lecture/lab classes count as one course.

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 120	Marine Botany	5
BIOE 120L	Marine Botany Laboratory	2
BIOE 122	Invertebrate Zoology	5
BIOE 122L	Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory	2
BIOE 124	Mammalogy	5
BIOE 124L	Mammalogy Laboratory	2
BIOE 127	Ichthyology	5
BIOE 127L	Ichthyology Laboratory	2
BIOE 128L	Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course	7
BIOE 129	Biology of Marine Mammals	5
BIOE 129L	Biology of Marine Mammals Laboratory	2
BIOE 131	Animal Physiology	5
BIOE 131L	Animal Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE 133	Exercise Physiology	5
BIOE 133L	Exercise Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE 134	Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy	5
BIOE 134L	Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory	2
BIOE 135	Plant Physiology	5
BIOE 135L	Plant Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE 137	Molecular Ecology	5
BIOE 137L	Molecular Ecology Laboratory	2
BIOE 141L	Behavioral Ecology Field Course	7
BIOE 142L	Animal Behavior in the Wild (A Virtual Field Course)	5
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 151B /ENVS 109B	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE 155	Freshwater Ecology	5
BIOE 155L	Freshwater Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE 158L	Field Methods in Marine Ecology	5
BIOE 159D	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE 161	Kelp Forest Ecology	5
BIOE 161L	Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE 163	Ecology of Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses	5
BIOE 163L	Ecology of Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses Laboratory	2
BIOL 100	Biochemistry	5
BIOL 100L	Biochemistry Laboratory	5
BIOL 109L	Yeast Molecular Genetics Laboratory	5
BIOL 115	Eukaryotic Molecular Biology	5
BIOL 115L	Eukaryotic Molecular Biology Laboratory	5
BIOL 120	Developmental Biology	5
BIOL 120L	Development Laboratory	5
BIOL 121L	Environmental Phage Biology Laboratory	5
BIOL 186R	Undergraduate Research in MCD Biology	5
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 108	General Entomology	5
ENVS 108L	General Entomology Laboratory	3
ENVS 130A	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture	5
ENVS 130L	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory	2
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 167	Freshwater and Wetland Ecology	5
ENVS 167L	Freshwater and Wetland Ecology Lab	2

A list of all courses offered by the Environmental Studies Department is available in the courses section of the catalog.

Students wishing to pursue an advanced degree in the pure or applied sciences are strongly encouraged to complete the organic chemistry series as well.

These upper-division elective courses should be selected in pursuit of a coherent plan of study, chosen in consultation with faculty sponsors from both the Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies Departments. None of the three environmental studies upper-division courses can be an environmental studies internship, individual study, or substitution course.

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement for the environmental studies/biology combined major is satisfied by completing:

The DC requirement in environmental studies/biology combined is satisfied by completing

ENVS 100	Ecology and Society	3
ENVS 100L	Ecology and Society Writing Laboratory	5

Plus one of the following:

Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.

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
BIOE 108	Marine Ecology	5
BIOE 114	Herpetology	5
BIOE 114L	Field Methods in Herpetological Research	2
BIOE 117	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants	5
BIOE 120	Marine Botany	5
BIOE 120L	Marine Botany Laboratory	2
BIOE 122	Invertebrate Zoology	5
BIOE 122L	Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory	2
BIOE 127	Ichthyology	5
BIOE 127L	Ichthyology Laboratory	2
BIOE 128L	Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course	7
BIOE 129	Biology of Marine Mammals	5
BIOE 129L	Biology of Marine Mammals Laboratory	2
BIOE 137	Molecular Ecology	5
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 151B /ENVS 109B	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE 153C	Disciplinary Communication for Biologists	5
BIOE 158L	Field Methods in Marine Ecology	5
BIOE 159A	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory	5
BIOE 161L	Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE 171	Disciplinary Communication for Biologists	5
BIOE 172	Population Genetics	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, as well as all other major requirements for ENVS/BIO, 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.

ENVS 183B is taken after successfully completing ENVS 183A, and ENVS 195B is taken after successfully completing ENVS 195A.

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/biology combined B.A. major. Plan One is for incoming frosh and Plan Two is for incoming transfer students.

Plan One for Incoming Frosh

	Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
Entering				College 1A
				Summer Edge (optional)

1st (frosh)	MATH 3 or AM 3	CHEM 3A	CHEM 3B/CHEM 3L
	College 1	ENVS 25	SOCY/ANTH/PHIL course
		WRIT 1/WRIT 1E (if needed)
2nd (soph)	BIOE 20C	ENVS 100 & ENVS 100L*	BIOE 20B
	STAT 7 & STAT 7L	BIOL 20A	CHEM 3C
	WRIT 2**
3rd (junior)	BIOL 105	BIOE 109	Upper-division BIOE
	Upper-division ENVS	PHYS 1	Upper-division ENVS

4th (senior)	Upper-division BIOE	Upper-division BIOE	Comprehensive requirement
	Upper-division ENVS (social sciences)

*This course is also offered in the spring term.

** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

This plan does not explicitly show the required lab course among the ENVS or BIOE electives.

Students completing this major will have satisfied the SI, PE-E, 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
		BIOL 105	BIOE 109

4th (senior)	Upper-division ENVS (social sciences)	Upper-division ENVS	Upper-division BIOE
	Upper-division BIOE	Upper-division BIOE	Comprehensive requirement
		PHYS 1

*This course is also offered in the spring term.

This plan does not include the required lab based course. Students must complete the lab-based requirement with the courses listed in the course requirements.

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.