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Foci in Environmental Studies

Students do not formally declare a focus within the major, but it is important to outline a solid study plan early in one’s academic career that will help to make the most of the collegiate experience.

If you are interested in a particular aspect of environmental studies which is not reflected in the models below, you may outline a set of seven coherent upper division Environmental Studies courses on your study plan which reflect your interests, and then meet with a faculty adviser to discuss and get approval for your plan. An individual focus in an area in which insufficient Environmental Studies courses exist (such as toxic waste management, alternative energy, or environmental design) will not be approved.

Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture

Agroecology is an interdisciplinary field that links ecology, economics, policy, and society to study, sustain, and develop sustainable agricultural systems that maintain agricultural production and contribute to socially beneficial, environmentally sound, and economically robust food systems. Students in the students in the Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture focus will gain an understanding of how ecological concepts (including soil and water processes, microbial ecology, plant physiology, competition, population growth, predator-prey interactions, mutualisms, and ecosystem services) can be applied to the development of sustainable agricultural systems. Students will also gain an understanding of social and economic aspects of agriculture (including traditional agriculture, agricultural policy and development, history, sustainable farm management, markets, food justice, and local food system experiences). In order to integrate this ecological, social, and economic knowledge, students will also have access to hands-on experiences, and obtain skills in research, fieldwork, production, and communication in order to achieve multiple sustainability goals in complex, social-ecological food systems.

Agroecologists thus work in a number of capacities: as researchers, developing agricultural techniques that will provide new models of sustainable practices; as educators, promoting the ideas of sustainable agriculture; and as a resource for policy analysts, providing information that, through government and economic policies, will encourage the conversion to ecologically-sound and socially-beneficial food production systems.

It is strongly recommended that students in the Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture focus take the following two core classes:

130A/L Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
130B Principles of Sustainable Agriculture

Students are encouraged to acquire a deeper understanding in one or two sub-areas by taking a series of up to three related courses among ENVS course electives and complementary courses in other departments.*

Suggested courses may include:

108/L General Entomology
129/L Integrated Pest Management
131/L Insect Ecology
133 Agroecology Practicum
138/L Field Ethnobotany
143 Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment
161A/L Soils and Plant Nutrition
162/L Plant Physiological Ecology
163/L Plant Disease Ecology
166 Agroecosytem Analysis and Watershed Management
168 Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment
169 Climate Change Ecology
191F Community and Agroecology

*See course list of Pre-Approved Upper Division Substitutions for ENVS Single Majors for courses that relate to agroecology and sustainable food systems.

In addition to the suggested coursework, it is strongly recommended that students complete at least one internship related to agroecology, sustainable agriculture, or sustainable food systems (either upper or lower division internship).

Conservation Science & Natural History

Conservation science is an interdisciplinary field that links ecology, society and policy towards the goals of protecting, restoring, and stewarding native biological diversity, the ecological systems they comprise, and the ecosystem services that flow from them to society. Natural history is the systematic observation of plants, animals, and other organisms in their environment. It undergirds conservation science and practice by providing first-hand knowledge of and connection to the dynamics of natural systems experiencing environmental changes. Students in Conservation Science and Natural History will gain an understanding of how ecology (of individual organisms, populations and communities; of interactions among organisms, water and nutrient cycles, and soils, climate, and atmosphere; and of particular habitats) can be applied to the effective stewardship of nature. Students can also gain knowledge of conservation management and policy tools (field methods, GIS, restoration, environmental assessment, science writing, economics, law and policy) and the social dimensions of conservation (environmental justice, political ecology, sustainable development) to enhance their preparation as leaders in this field. Hands-on experience is particularly critical for developing natural history and conservation science skills, and is strongly encouraged through lab and field course offerings, internships, and research opportunities in campus labs and partner organizations.

Conservation biologists work in a number of capacities: as researchers refining knowledge and tools for the academic, non-profit, and government sectors; as educators and communicators building the base for conservation and stewardship; and as practitioners working actively to manage and restore land, water and wildlife in settings ranging from urban parks and traditional use areas to remote land- and seascapes.

Students are encouraged to acquire a deeper understanding in one or two sub-areas by taking a series of at least three related courses among ENVS course electives and complementary courses in other departments*:

Suggested courses may include:

15 Natural History of UCSC Campus
104/L Intro to Field Methods
107ABC Natural History Field Quarter
108/L General Entomology
109ABCD Supercourse: Ecology and Conservation in Practice
106 Natural History of Birds
115 Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Applications
120 Conservation Biology
122 Tropical Ecology and Conservation
123 Animal Ecology and Conservation
131 Insect Ecology
138 Field Ethnobotany
157 Writing in the Natural Sciences
160 Restoration Ecology
167/L Freshwater and Wetland Ecology
168 Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment
169 Climate Change Ecology
179 Environmental Interpretation

*See course list of Pre-Approved Upper Division Substitutions for ENVS Single Majors for courses that relate to conservation science and natural history.

In addition to the suggested coursework, it is strongly recommended that students complete at least one internship related to research, practice, or education in conservation, restoration, or natural history (either upper or lower division internship).

Environmental Policy & Political Economy

Environmental policy focuses on the design and evaluation of laws, regulations, and related institutions that shape the constraints and incentives faced by individuals and organizations. Drawing on concepts from politics, economics, and related fields, environmental policy specialists analyze the processes through which public decisions are made and the response of businesses and households to policy choices.

Political economy stresses the importance of culture, history, and power relations in shaping the beliefs, values, and social practices that mediate interactions between people and nature. This area of inquiry stresses the socio-cultural factors behind current political and economic systems, as well as modes of behavior and action that lie outside formal governments and markets.

Examples include topics in: Conservation & Public Policy, California Agriculture & Resource Policy, Environment & Development, Energy and Climate Policy, Water Policy, Transportation Planning and Policy, Politics & Power, Environmental Justice.

The following core courses are recommended for students interested primarily in Environmental Policy:

141 Ecological Economics
140 National Environmental Policy
149 Environmental Law and Policy

The following core courses are recommended for students interested primarily in Political Economy:

110 Institutions, the Environment, and Economic Systems
143 Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment
147 Environmental Inequality/Environmental Justice
158 Political Ecology and Social Change

Other suggested ENVS courses* on environmental policy & political economy include:

140 National Environmental Policy
141 Ecological Economics
142 Energy Politics and Policy
146 Water Quality: Policy, Regulation, and Management
149 Environmental Law and Policy
150 Coastal and Marine Policy
151 Environmental Assessment
154 Amazonian Cultures and Conservation
165 Freshwater Issues and Policy
172 Science, Policy, and the Environment
175 Biotechnology: Social and Environmental Dimensions

*See course list of Pre-Approved Upper Division Substitutions for ENVS Single Majors for courses that relate to environmental policy & political economy.

In addition to the suggested coursework, it is strongly recommended that students complete at least one internship related to research, practice, or education in environmental policy & political economy (either upper or lower division internship).

Environmental Education & Sustainability
Environmental education and sustainability (EE&S) is an interdisciplinary field that focuses preparing students to become environmental educators with an emphasis on teaching in the context of the environment, social justice and sustainability. EE&S integrates course work in natural history, ecology, political economy and policy, agroecology and food systems and emphasizes the development of teaching methodologies. Students are expected to enhance their theoretical understanding of teaching pedagogy, style, and approach within an environmental context as well as develop a stronger portfolio of teaching related skills and knowledge.

Environmental educators work in a number of capacities, including: primary and secondary teachers who emphasize ecology and the environment; outdoor educators at regional and national organizations focusing on ecology, conservation and landscapes; and interpretive educators at state and national parks.

The following courses are recommended for students interested primarily in Environmental Education & Sustainability:

177 Teaching Environmental Education
179 Environmental Interpretation

Students are expected to acquire a deeper understanding of one or two related sub-fields by taking a series of additional courses in ENVS course electives and complementary courses in other departments.*

Suggested courses may include:

107 Natural History Field Quarter
109ABCD Supercourse: Ecology and Conservation in Practice
120 Conservation Biology
140 National Environmental Policy
143 Sustainable Development: Economy, Policy, and Environment
149 Environmental Law and Policy
151 Environmental Assessment
157 Writing in Natural Sciences
158 Political Ecology and Social Change
159 Nature Literature
160 Restoration Ecology

*See course list of Pre-Approved Upper Division Substitutions for ENVS Single Majors for courses that relate to environmental education and sustainability.

In addition to the suggested coursework, it is strongly recommended that students are encouraged to acquire teaching experience through seminars, local and regional school and teaching-related internships (either upper or lower division internships) and practica where they develop specific skills in teaching and environmental education.