COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program that examines the relationships between humans and the natural environment through the lenses of natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The program provides students with a strong foundation in ecological and environmental principles, including policy, planning, law, economics, pollution control, and natural resource management. Students learn to analyze environmental issues from multiple perspectives, preparing them for diverse career pathways in government, non-governmental organizations, education, advocacy, and environmental management, as well as for graduate study in fields such as public administration, environmental law, and natural sciences.The degree requires a total of 120 units, with 45 to 52 units dedicated to major coursework. Lower-division requirements (13 units) include foundational courses such as Environmental Studies Orientation, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Environment and Society, and courses in physical geography, geology, or health and society. Upper-division courses (17 units) focus on Environmental Systems, Nature-Society Relations, and experiential learning through senior seminars, fieldwork, internships, laboratory work, study abroad, and service learning. Students gain hands-on experience applying interdisciplinary knowledge to real-world environmental challenges.Students select one of two concentrations: Environmental Sustainability or Environmental Systems. The Environmental Sustainability concentration (15 units) emphasizes sustainable development, environmental policy, ethics, water and ecosystem management, environmental communication, and community engagement. The Environmental Systems concentration (22 units) focuses on the scientific and technical aspects of environmental studies, including biology, chemistry, physics, climatology, GIS, hydrology, geomorphology, environmental health, and resource management. Both concentrations incorporate applied and research-based learning to prepare students for careers in environmental planning, policy, conservation, or management.