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Major Qualification Courses and Appeal Process

We are so glad you are interested in declaring a major in the department of Environmental Studies! Please carefully read the policies and requirements below. 

CLASSES REQUIRED TO DECLARE

Environmental Studies Major (with or without a concentration)

Students may petition to declare the Environmental Studies major once they have completed all of the following qualification courses with grades of C or better:

  • ENVS 23 (or CHEM 3B)
  • ENVS 24 (or BIOE 20C)
  • ENVS 25
  • STAT 7 and STAT 7L, taken concurrently

Students receiving a non-passing grade in one of these courses may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better. Students who receive two non-passing grades in the these courses are not eligible to declare the major. Appeal process below.

Agroecology Major

Students may petition to declare the Agroecology major once they have completed the following qualification courses with grades of C or better:

  • ENVS 80F
  • ENVS 23 (or CHEM 3B)
  • ENVS 24 (or BIOE 20C)
  • ENVS 25
  • STAT 7 and STAT 7L, taken concurrently

Students receiving a non-passing grade in one of these courses may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better. Students who receive two non-passing grades in the these courses are not eligible to declare the major. Appeal process below.

Environmental Studies/Biology Combined Major

Students may petition to declare the Environmental Studies/Biology combined major once they have completed the following qualification courses with grades of C or better:

  • CHEM 3B
  • BIOE 20C
  • ENVS 25
  • BIOL 20A
  • STAT 7 and STAT 7L, taken concurrently 

Students receiving a non-passing grade in one of these courses may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better. Students who receive two non-passing grades in the these courses are not eligible to declare the major. Appeal process below.

NOTE: All classes for the ENVS/BIO combined major must be taken for a letter grade. 

Environmental Studies/Earth Sciences Combined Major

Students may petition to declare the Environmental Studies/Earth Sciences combined major once they have completed the following qualification courses with grades of C or better:

  • CHEM 3B
  • ENVS 24 (or BIOE 20C)
  • ENVS 25
  • STAT 7 and STAT 7L, taken concurrently 

Students receiving a non-passing grade in one of these courses may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better. Students who receive two non-passing grades in the these courses are not eligible to declare the major. Appeal process below. 

Environmental Studies/Economics Combined Major

Students may petition to declare the Environmental Studies major once they have completed the following qualification courses with grades of C or better:

  • ENVS 23 (or CHEM 3B)
  • ENVS 24 (or BIOE 20C)
  • ENVS 25
  • ECON 1
  • ECON 11A (or AM 11A)
  • STAT 7 and STAT 7L, taken concurrently

Students receiving a non-passing grade in one of these courses may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better. Students who receive two non-passing grades in the these courses are not eligible to declare the major. Appeal process below.

NON-PASSING GRADES IN QUALIFICATION COURSES

Students receiving a non-passing grade (NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F) in one of the courses required for admission to the major may only declare once they have passed the same or equivalent course with a grade of C or better.

Students who receive two or more non-passing grades in the qualifying courses are not eligible to declare the major. For purposes of qualification, retaking a course will not erase a failure. Students are eligible to appeal -- see appeal process below.

APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR ENVS MAJORS

Students who are not eligible to declare the major due to more than one non-passing grade in major qualification courses may appeal this decision by submitting an appeal. In the appeal form, students will be asked to provide:

  1. A reason for the appeal, explaining the circumstances around the non-passing grades and what has changed since then. Students are encouraged to be specific in how they plan to be successful moving forward.
  2. An unofficial transcript of their college courses, including grades.

Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department advisor will email the student and their college advisors, to notify them of the department's decision. To discuss the appeal process or ask questions, feel free to email envsadvi@ucsc.edu or schedule an appointment with the ENVS advisor.