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Major Requirements

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Bachelor of Arts Degrees and Requirements


Bachelor of Arts Degrees and Requirements

The fundamentals of Environmental Studies are offered through introductory courses on the ecological and political-economic aspects of environmental issues and through the core course, Ecology and Society. Upper- division courses have interdisciplinary curricula that draw on both natural and the social sciences. The program emphasizes the integration of ecological knowledge with an understanding of social institutions and policies in ways that support the conservation of biodiversity, sustainability, and careful management of other environmental systems.

Environmental problems are complex, and narrow approaches rarely provide adequate resources for active engagement. Students are encouraged to develop a broad perspective along with in-depth knowledge of specific areas of interest. With this background they may speak from the strength of a well-learned discipline and, at the same time draw on the social and ecological principles that affect the problems at hand. For this reason we encourage students to consider complimentary coursework in a related discipline. The program also offers three combined majors: Environmental Studies/Biology, Environmental Studies/Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Studies/Economics.

Environmental Studies Requirements (single or double major)

Prerequisites

For continuing students, all but one of the following Prerequisites must be completed prior to the fall ENVS 100/L core course. Transfer students must have all but two of the Prerequisites completed before enrolling in ENVS 100/L :

  • ENVS 23: The Physical and Chemical Environment
    Students who have already taken a college-level general chemistry course or who have received a score of 4 or higher on the AP Chemistry Exam are not required to take ENVS 23. Transfer students may satisfy this prerequisite by completing a college-level introductory chemistry course
  • ENVS 24: General Ecology
  • ENVS 25: Environmental Policy & Economics
    Transfer students may satisfy this prerequisite by completing an introductory political science or politics course (equivalent to Politics 20 or 70 at UCSC) and an introductory microeconomics or macroeconomics course (equivalent to Economics 1 or 2 at UCSC).
  • Statistics, AMS 7/L (or ECON 113 for ENVS/ECON students only)
  • Precalculus
    A course that prepares students for calculus, emphasizing algebra, graphs, functions, trigonometry, and conic sections. UCSC courses: Math 3 or AMS 3.
    This prerequisite may also be satisfied by a score of 31 or higher on the math placement exam or 3 or higher on the College Board AP calculus exam. Precalculus should be completed by the end of the freshman year: transfer students need to have precalculus completed before enrolling at UCSC.
  • Cultural Anthropology or Intro Sociology or Ethics
    ANTH 2; or SOCY 1 or 15; or PHIL 22, 24, 28 or 80C.
Nine upper division requirements:
  • ENVS 100/100L Ecology and Society (core course) Offered FALL only
  • Seven Environmental Studies upper division elective course
  • Senior comprehensive requirement
Download a study plan for the single or double major in Environmental Studies (PDF document).

Environmental Studies/Biology Combined Major

The combined major in Environmental Studies and Biology will provide students with the basic tools of biological science and sufficient understanding of resource conservation and concerns about environmental sustainability to apply those tools to environmental problems.

Introductory Requirements
  • ENVS 24 or BIOL 20C
  • ENVS 25
  • AMS 7/L
  • Math 3; or ENGR 3; or 31 (or higher) on the math placement exam; or 3 on the College Board AP Calculus Exam
  • ANTH 2; or SOCY 1 or 15; or PHIL 22, 24, 28 or 80G
  • BIOL 20A and 20B
  • CHEM 1A/M, 1C/N, 108A/L and 108B/M
  • PHYS 7A/L and 7B/M or 2 courses from: CMPS 12A, 12B, 60G or 60N, 80B and 80G (two courses from the same discipline)
Advanced Requirements
  • ENVS 100/L
  • BIOL 105
  • 3 upper division ENVS electives (one based in social science)
  • 3 upper division BIOL electives
  • Of the six elective courses, one must be a lab course.
Internships, independent studies and courses from other institutions, including EAP, do not count without an approved petition.

Senior comprehensive.

Download a study plan for the combined major in Environmental Studies and Biology (PDF).

Environmental Studies/Earth and Planetary Sciences Combined Major

The combined major in Environmental Studies and Earth and Planetary Sciences is intended to provide students with the basic tools of earth sciences and Environmental Studies needed to address environmental problems. Suggested plans of study include water policy/hydrology, restoration ecology, agroecology/soil physical processes and environmental policy/climate change, among others. Consult with faculty from both the Environmental Studies and Earth and Planetary Sciences Departments.

Introductory Requirements
  • ENVS 24 and 25
  • AMS 7/L
  • ANTH 2; or SOCY 1 or 15; or PHIL 22, 24, 28 or 80G
  • Math 11A-11B or 19A-19B
  • CHEM 1A/1M-1C/1N
  • PHYS 6A/L and B/M (or 5A/L and B/M)
  • EART 20/20L or 10/10L or 5/5L
Advanced Requirements
  • ENVS 100/L
  • EART 110A/L or 110B/M or 110C/N
  • 3 upper division ENVS electives (one based in social science)
  • 3 upper division EART electives (chosen from list in Earth Sci office)
Internships, independent studies and courses from other institutions, including EAP, do not count without an approved petition.

Senior comprehensive.

Download a study plan for the combined major in Environmental Studies and Earth and Planetary Sciences (PDF).

Environmental Studies/Economics Combined Major

The combined major in Environmental Studies and Economics is intended to provide students with the basic tools of economic analysis and an understanding of the principles of resource production, conservation and use in both ecological and economic terms.

Introductory Requirements

  • ENVS 23, 24 and 25
  • ANTH 2; or SOCY 1 or 15; or PHIL 22, 24, 28 or 80G
  • ECON 1, 2, 11A and 11B

Advanced Requirements

  • ENVS 100/L
  • ECON 100A and 113
  • 3 upper division ENVS electives, (one based in natural science)
  • 3 upper division ECON electives
Internships, independent studies and courses from other institutions, including EAP, do not count without an approved petition.

Senior comprehensive.

Download a study plan for the combined major in Environmental Studies and Economics (PDF).