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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

• BACHELOR OF ARTS
• MINOR
• CAREER POSSIBILITIES
• FACULTY
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Environmental Studies program can help students use the resources of the entire University to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of such increasingly serious issues as pollution, wildlife and wilderness preservation, land use, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, energy conservation, and a generally healthful relationship between nature and society. The program offers both a major and a minor and also assists students in constructing special majors and identifying programs and individual courses in various departments that concern themselves with environmental questions.

The major is designed to help students understand environmental issues in their political, social, and scientific context. Because dealing with environmental issues requires an interdisciplinary approach, we emphasize the development of strong writing, research, and quantitative skills and a broad liberal arts perspective. Advisors will help the student majoring in Environmental Studies to select a minor from another department.

Environmental Studies students find work primarily in research, analysis, and enforcement activities in state, federal, and local governments. Others work for nonprofit organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society, and Sierra Club. Some work as consultants to private firms, and some graduates become teachers in primary schools, secondary schools and universities. A few have created their own careers in such areas as organic farming, managing cooperatives, and social action.

Environmental Studies students often go on to professional and graduate schools in such fields as law, ecology, engineering, journalism, economics, public health, political science, public administration, special education, environmental policy, and human ecology.

Special Features

• Sacramento, as the state capital, offers excellent opportunities for study and employment. One of several ways to incorporate these opportunities into a student's academic program is through Environmental Studies internship experiences.
  
• The faculty also carries on a field study program to introduce students to as many features as possible of the extraordinarily varied Northern California region.
  
• Core faculty in the Environmental Studies department includes two biologists, political scientists, and an environmental manager.
  

Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Units required for Major: 47-48 plus a required minor
Minimum total units required for BA: 120
Minimum GPA: "C-" is required in all courses required for the Environmental Studies major.

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

Note: Students are also required to maintain a portfolio containing samples of their work. See your advisor for more details about the portfolio.

A. Required Lower Division Courses (21 units)

(5)	BIO 1	Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology
(5)	BIO 2	Cells, Molecules and Genes (BIO 1, CHEM 1A)
(5)	CHEM 1A	General Chemistry I (High school algebra [two years] and high school chemistry; or equivalent)
(3)	ECON 1A	Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis
(3)	GEOL 10	Physical Geology
B. Required Upper Division Courses (26-27 units)
(3)	BIO 160	General Ecology (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2; STAT 1)
(3)	ENVS 111	Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10, ENVS 110 or equivalent recommended)
(3)	ENVS 112	International Environmental Problems (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109 M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109 M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)
(3)	ENVS 120	Quantitative Methods For Environmentalists (Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions (Math 9 or 11). For Environmental Studies majors ENVS 111 or instructor permission.)
(2-3) Select one of the following:
	ENVS 121	Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission)
	ENVS 175	Aquatic Pollution Assessment (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission)
(3)	Select one of the following:
	ENVS 128	Environment and the Law (ENVS 110, ENVS 111 or instructor permission)
	ENVS 171	Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission)
(3)	ENVS 190 A, B, or C	Senior Thesis (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109 M/W
(3) Select one of the following:
	ENVS 130	Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A)
	GEOG 109	Geographic Information Systems
	GEOG 111	Elements of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)
	GEOG 113	Climate (Knowledge of general world distribution of climatic elements as given in an introductory physical geography course)
	GEOG 115	Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1)
(3) Select one of the following:
	ECON 110	Cost Benefit Analysis (ECON 1B)
	ECON 123	Resource Economics (ECON 1B)
	ECON 162	Energy Economics (ECON 1B)

C. Required Minor

The Environmental Studies Major requires a minor in another discipline.

Requirements - Minor

Units required for Minor: 23-26, including courses from Environmental Studies and related departments. A minimum of 14 upper division units is required.

Specific course requirements are:

(3)	BIO 10	Basic Biological Concepts
(3)	ECON 1A	Introduction To Macroeconomic Analysis
(3)	ENVS 10	Environmental Science
(3)	ENVS 111	Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10, ENVS 110 or equivalent recommended)
(3) Select one of the following:
	ENVS 112	International Environmental Problems (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109 M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109 M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)
	ENVS 128	Environment and the Law (ENVS 110, ENVS 111 or instructor permission)
	ENVS 171	Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission
(3-5) Select one of the following:
	BIO 1	Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology
	BIO 2	Cells, Molecules and Genes (BIO 1, CHEM 1A)
	BIO 102	Natural History of Plants (college biology course or instructor permission)
	BIO 157	General Entomology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)
	BIO 160	General Ecology (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2; STAT 1)
	BIO 162	Ichthyology: The Study of Fishes (BIO 1 and BIO 2)
	BIO 165	Vertebrate Natural History (BIO 1 and BIO 2)
	BIO 166	Ornithology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)
(2-3) Select one of the following:
	CHEM 106	Chemical Concepts (GEOL 8 or BIO 7, ENGL 20 or an equivalent second semester composition course)
	ENVS 120	Quantitative Methods for Environmentalist (Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions (Math 9 or 11). For Environmental Studies majors ENVS 111 or instructor permission.)
	ENVS 121	Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission)
	ENVS 130	Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A)
	ENVS 175	Aquatic Pollution Assessment (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission)
	GEOG 109	Geographic Information Systems
	GEOG 111	Elements of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)
	GEOG 113	Climate (Knowledge of general world distribution of climatic elements as given in an introductory physical geography course.)
	GEOG 115	Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1)
	GEOL 10	Physical Geology
(3) Select one of the following:
	ECON 110	Cost Benefit Analysis (ECON 1B)
	ECON 123	Resource Economics (ECON 1B)
	ECON 162	Energy Economics (ECON 1B)
	ENVS 122	Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA
	ENVS 195	Environmental Studies Internship
	ENVS 199	Special Problems

Note: A minimum grade of "C-" is required in all courses required for the Environmental Studies minor.

Career Possibilities

Environmental Analyst · Pollution Analyst · Pollution Measurement Technician · Environmental Planner · Naturalist · Environmental Consultant · Energy Conservation Specialist · Environmental Journalist · Environmental Health Specialist · Lobbyist · Environmental Education · Environmental Economist · Recycling Coordinator · Hazardous Materials Specialist · Legislative Researcher · Water Quality Technician · Park Interpretative Specialist · Transportation Planner · Waste Management Specialist · Levee Management Specialist · Conservation Analyst · Environmental Investigator · Environmental Interpreter · Environmental Resource Planner · Park Ranger · Permitting Officer · Ranger · Habitat Assessment Specialist · Environmental Compliance Officer · Legislative Aide · Air Pollution Specialist · Energy Manager · Game Warden · Wildlife Manager · Hazardous Waste Specialist · Pollution Prevention Specialist · Compliance Program Manager · Community Education Officer · Environmental Health and Safety Officer · Mosquito Control Technician · Public Works Program Manager · Water Conservation Manager · Environmental Impact and Review Assessment · Environmental Scientist · Environmental Policy Analyst

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