COURSE CURRICULUM

The Environmental Studies degree requires a total of 48 credits, with at least 24 credits at the upper-division level. The program begins with foundational lower-division courses such as Introduction to Environmental Studies and Introduction to Environmental Science. Students must also choose between Physical Geology and Physical Geography, both including lab components. To build a broader understanding of environmental issues in social and economic contexts, students select two supporting courses from options like General Economics, Ethnic and Race Studies, Global Studies, Contemporary Global Issues, or Public Policy.Quantitative skills are emphasized, with a choice among Statistical Methods, Essential Statistics, or social science research methods like Quantitative Methods or Ethnographic Methods for the capstone. For upper-division courses, students select two advanced Environmental Earth Sciences classes, deepening their scientific knowledge of environmental systems.The program encourages interdisciplinary learning by requiring students to pick two courses from a list focusing on environmental themes in business, economics, literature, law, and religion. This includes courses such as Fundamentals of Sustainable Business, Environmental Economics, Literature of Climate Change, Environmental Literature, Environmental Law and Policy, and Religion-related classes that explore food and ecological ethics.Additionally, students choose two courses centered on leadership, communication, public relations, ethics, politics, community development, immigration, history, and public health. This broad range of options supports the development of skills needed for advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement.Finally, students complete a capstone course, the Environmental Science Capstone, which integrates their learning through research or practical projects. The program’s design promotes a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues by combining science with social, ethical, and cultural perspectives, preparing students to address complex challenges in a holistic and informed manner.