ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies
- BACHELOR OF ARTS
- BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
- MINOR
- CAREER POSSIBILITIES
- FACULTY
- CONTACT
- COMPLETE COURSE LISTING
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.
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: 66-69
Minimum total units required for BA: 120
Minimum GPA: "C-" is required in all courses required for the Environmental
Studies B.S. and B.A. majors.
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 (24 units) |
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(5) |
Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology |
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(5) |
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(5) |
General Chemistry I (High school chemistry and college algebra; sufficient performance on the college algebra diagnostic test, or equivalent) |
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(3) |
Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis |
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(3) |
Environmental Science OR |
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The Joy of Garbage OR |
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Contemporary Environmental Issues |
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(3) |
Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena OR |
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Physical Geology |
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B. Required Upper Division Courses (42-45 units) |
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(3) |
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(3) |
Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10, ENVS 110 or equivalent recommended) |
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(3) |
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) |
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(3) |
Quantitative Methods For Environmentalists (Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions (Math 9 or 11). For Environmental Studies majors ENVS 111 or instructor permission.) |
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(2) |
Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission) |
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(3) |
Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA |
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(3) |
Environment and the Law (ENVS 110, ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
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(3) |
Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
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(3) |
Senior Thesis (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a "C-" in ENGL 109 M/W) |
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(3-6) |
Environmentally Related Work Experience OR |
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Environmental Studies Internship OR |
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Special Problems OR |
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Special Problems: Individual Study |
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| (6) Select two of the following: | ||
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Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 1A, CHEM 6A or instructor permission) |
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Sustainability in the Tropics |
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Agroecology |
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Restoration Ecology |
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Wetlands Ecology |
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Ethnoecology (Instructor permission) |
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| (6) Select two of the following: | ||
Cost Benefit Analysis (ECON 1B) |
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Resource Economics (ECON 1B) |
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Energy Economics (ECON 1B) |
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Social Justice in Interdisciplinary Perspective (Sophomore standing or instructor permission) |
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American Environmental History |
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Urban Geography |
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Urban and Regional Planning (GEOG 147, or instructor permission) |
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Transportation Geography (GEOG 141 or GEOG 147 or instructor permission) |
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California's Water Resources |
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California State and Local Government |
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Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings OR |
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Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education |
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Environmental Sociology |
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Requirements - Bachelor of Science Degree
Units required for Major: 66-69
Minimum total units required for BA: 120
Minimum GPA: "C-" is required in all courses required for the Environmental
Studies B.S. and B.A. majors.
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 (24 units) |
||
(5) |
Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology |
|
(5) |
||
(5) |
General Chemistry I (High school chemistry and college algebra; sufficient performance on the college algebra diagnostic test, or equivalent) |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis |
|
(3) |
Environmental Science OR |
|
|
The Joy of Garbage OR |
|
|
Contemporary Environmental Issues |
|
(3) |
Physical Geology OR |
|
|
Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena |
|
B. Required Upper Division Courses (42-45 units) |
||
(3) |
||
(3) |
Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10, ENVS 110 or equivalent recommended) |
|
(3) |
International Environmental Problems (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or "C" or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or "C-" grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite) |
|
(3) |
Quantitative Methods For Environmentalists (Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions (Math 9 or 11). For Environmental Studies majors ENVS 111 or instructor permission.) |
|
(2) |
Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Senior Thesis (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a "C-" in ENGL 109M/W) |
|
(3-6) |
Environmentally Related Work Experience (Completion of all lower division coursework for major, junior, senior, or graduate level status; minimum 2.5 GPA; consent of the Department of Environmental Studies) OR |
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Environmental Studies Internship OR |
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Independent Senior Thesis Research (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a "C-" in ENGL 109M/W, and prior consent of a faculty member who will supervise the work) |
||
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Special Problems |
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| (1) Select one of the following: | ||
Ecological and Environmental Issues Seminar (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2) |
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| (3) Select one of the following: | ||
|
Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA |
|
|
Environment and the Law (ENVS 110 or ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
|
|
Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
|
| (9) Select three of the following: | ||
|
Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 1A, CHEM 6A or instructor permission) |
|
Sustainability in the Tropics |
||
Agroecology |
||
Restoration Ecology |
||
Wetlands Ecology |
||
Ethnoecology (Instructor permission) |
||
| (9) Select three of the following: | ||
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Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent) |
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Principles of Wildlife Management (BIO 160, BIO 166, BIO 168, or instructor permission) |
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Remote Sensing (GEOG 103; passing score on ELM recommended) |
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Geographic Information Systems |
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Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 109 or instructor permission) |
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Elements of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
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Climate (Knowledge of general world distribution of climatic elements as given in an introductory physical geography course) |
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Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1) |
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Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
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The Changing Earth's Ecosystems |
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Hydrogeology (CHEM 1A; GEOL 10, GEOL 10L, GEOL 12; MATH 26A or MATH 30; PHYS 5A; or instructor permission) |
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Oceanography |
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Geology and the Environment |
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Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education |
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Requirements - Minor
Units required for Minor: 25-29, including courses from Environmental Studies and related departments. A minimum of 14 upper division units is required.
Specific course requirements are:
(3) |
Basic Biological Concepts |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis |
|
(3) |
Environmental Science OR |
|
|
The Joy of Garbage OR |
|
|
Contemporary Environmental Issues |
|
(3) |
Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10, ENVS 110 or equivalent recommended) |
|
| (3) Select one of the following: | ||
|
International Environmental Problems (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or "C" or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or "C-" grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite) |
|
|
Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA |
|
Environment and the Law (ENVS 110, ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
||
Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission |
||
| (3-5) Select one of the following: | ||
|
Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 1A, CHEM 6A or instructor permission) |
|
Sustainability in the Tropics |
||
Agroecology |
||
Restoration Ecology |
||
Wetlands Ecology |
||
Ethnoecology (Instructor permission) |
||
| (1) Select one of the following: | ||
Ecological and Environmental Issues Seminar (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2) |
||
| (3) Select one of the following: | ||
Quantitative Methods for Environmentalists (Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions (Math 9 or 11). For Environmental Studies majors ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
||
Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A, or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission) |
||
Geographic Information Systems |
||
Climate (Knowledge of general world distribution of climatic elements as given in an introductory physical geography course) |
||
Physical Geology |
||
| (1-3) Select one of the following: | ||
|
Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent) |
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Principles of Wildlife Management (BIO 160, BIO 166, BIO 168, or instructor permission) |
|
Cost Benefit Analysis (ECON 1B) |
||
Resource Economics (ECON 1B) |
||
Energy Economics (ECON 1B) |
||
Social Justice in Interdisciplinary Perspective (Sophomore standing or instructor permission) |
||
American Environmental History |
||
Environmental Studies Internship |
||
Independent Senior Thesis Research (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a "C-" in ENGL 109M/W, and prior consent of a faculty member who will supervise the work) |
||
Special Problems |
||
Remote Sensing (GEOG 103; passing score on ELM recommended) |
||
Geographic Information Systems |
||
Elements Of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
||
Climate (Knowledge of general world distribution of climatic elements as given in an introductory physical geography course) |
||
Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1) |
||
Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
||
The Changing Earth's Ecosystems |
||
Urban Geography |
||
Urban and Regional Planning (GEOG 147 or instructor permission) |
||
California's Water Resources |
||
Hydrogeology (CHEM 1A; GEOL 10, GEOL 10L, GEOL 12; MATH 26A or MATH 30; PHYS 5A; or instructor permission) |
||
Oceanography |
||
Geology and the Environment |
||
California State and Local Government |
||
Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings OR |
||
Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education |
||
Environmental Sociology |
||
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
Faculty
Mary Brentwood, Dudley Burton, Virginia Matzek, Michelle Stevens
Contact Information
Dudley Burton, Department Chair
Christine Hall, Administrative Support Coordinator
Amador Hall 554A
(916) 278-6620; FAX (916) 278-7582
www.csus.edu/envs
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