ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies
- COMPLETE COURSE LISTING
- BACHELOR OF ARTS
- BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
- MINOR
- CAREER POSSIBILITIES
- FACULTY
- CONTACT
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.
- Faculty in the Environmental Studies Department represent disciplines including Biology,
Ecology, Toxicology, Political Science, Environmental Engineering, among others.
Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree
Units required for Major: 65
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 (23 units)
(5) |
Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology |
|
(3) |
Biological Concepts |
|
(1) |
Laboratory Investigations in Biology (BIO 9, BIO 10 or BIO 20) |
|
(5) |
Introduction to General Chemistry (One year high school algebra; high school chemistry recommended.) |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis |
|
(3) |
Environmental Science |
|
(3) |
Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena OR |
|
|
Physical Geology |
B. Required Upper Division Courses (30 units)
(3) |
||
(3) |
Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10) |
|
(3) |
International Environmental Problems (GWAR certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109 M/W, or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109 M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X) |
|
| (3) | ENVS 120 | Quantitative Methods For Environmental Science (STAT 1 or instructor permission; must be an ENVS major or minor) |
(2) |
Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; Must be an Environmental Studies major or minor) |
|
(3) |
Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA |
|
(3) |
Environment and the Law |
|
(3) |
Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission) |
|
(1) |
Environmental Studies Seminar |
|
(3) |
Senior Thesis (Completion or substantial completion of all lower and upper division ENVS courses prior to enrollment. Instructor permission.) |
|
(3) |
Environmental Studies Internship (Instructor permission) |
C. Environmental Science Electives (6 units)
Select two of the following:
|
Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies (Instructor permission) |
|
|
Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 6A or instructor permission) |
|
Sustainability in the Tropics |
||
Agroecology |
||
Restoration Ecology |
||
Wetlands Ecology |
||
Ethnoecology (Instructor permission) |
D. Interdisciplinary Electives (6 units)
Select two of the following:
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 Sociology |
||
Urban Geography |
||
Urban and Regional Planning |
||
Transportation Geography (GEOG 141 or GEOG 147 or GEOG 148 or instructor permission) |
||
California's Water Resources |
||
California State and Local Government |
||
Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings OR |
||
Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education |
E. Other Electives 1-3 Units (permission of instructor)
(1-3) |
Special Problems |
Requirements - Bachelor of Science Degree
Units required for Major: 65
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 (23 units)
(5) |
Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology |
|
(3) |
Biological Concepts |
|
(1) |
Laboratory Investigations in Biology (BIO 9, BIO 10 or BIO 20) |
|
(5) |
Introduction to General Chemistry (One year high school algebra; high school chemistry recommended.) |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis |
|
(3) |
Environmental Science |
|
(3) |
Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena OR |
|
|
Physical Geology |
B. Required Upper Division Courses (21 units)
(3) |
||
(3) |
Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10) |
|
(3) |
International Environmental Problems (GWAR certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W, or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X or WPJ score of 70/71 and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X) |
|
| (3) | ENVS 120 | Quantitative Methods For Environmental Science (STAT 1, must be an ENVS major or minor) |
(2) |
Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; Must be an Environmental Studies major or minor) |
|
(1) |
Environmental Studies Seminar |
|
(3) |
Senior Thesis (Completion or substantial completion of all lower and upper division ENVS courses prior to enrollment. Instructor permission.) |
|
(3) |
Environmental Studies Internship (Instructor permission) |
C. Policy Electives (3 units)
Select one of the following:
|
Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA |
|
|
Environment and the Law |
|
|
Environmental Politics and Policy (Instructor permission) |
D. Environmental Science Electives (9 units)
Select three of the following:
|
Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies (Instructor permission) |
|
|
Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 6A or instructor permission) |
|
Sustainability in the Tropics |
||
Agroecology |
||
Restoration Ecology |
||
Wetlands Ecology |
||
Ethnoecology (Instructor permission) |
E. Interdisciplinary Electives (9 units)
Select three of the following:
|
Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent) |
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetology (BIO 1 and BIO 2) |
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Principles of Wildlife Management (BIO 160, BIO 166, BIO 168, or instructor permission) |
|
|
Environmental Sociology |
|
Remote Sensing |
||
Geographic Information Systems |
||
Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 109 or instructor permission) |
||
Elements of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
||
Climate (GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOL 8, GEOL 10 or ENVS 10, or instructor permission) |
||
Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1) |
||
Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
||
Earth Transformed |
||
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 |
||
Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education |
F. Other Courses 1-3 units (require instructor permission)
(1-3) |
Special Problems |
Requirements - Minor
Units required for Minor: 25
Specific course requirements are:
(3) |
Basic Biological Concepts |
|
(3) |
Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis |
|
(3) |
Environmental Science |
|
(3) |
Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10) |
|
(1) |
Environmental Studies Seminar |
Select one of the following (3 units):
|
International Environmental Problems (GWAR certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W, or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite) |
|
|
Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA |
|
Environment and the Law |
||
Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission |
Select one of the following (3 units):
|
Contemporary Environmental Issues (instructor permission) |
|
|
Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 6A or instructor permission) |
|
Sustainability in the Tropics |
||
Agroecology |
||
Restoration Ecology |
||
Wetlands Ecology |
||
Ethnoecology (instructor permission) |
Select one of the following (3 units):
| ENVS 120 | Quantitative Methods For Environmental Science (STAT 1 or instructor permission; must be an ENVS major or minor) |
|
|
Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission) |
|
Geographic Information Systems |
||
Climate (GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOL 8, GEOL 10 or ENVS 10, or instructor permission) |
||
Physical Geology |
Select one of the following (3 units):
|
Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent) |
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetology (BIO 1 and BIO 2) |
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Principles of Wildlife Management (BIO 160, BIO 166, BIO 168, or instructor permission) |
|
Social Justice in Interdisciplinary Perspective (Sophomore standing or instructor permission) |
||
Environmental Sociology |
||
American Environmental History |
||
|
Environmental Studies Internship |
|
Special Problems |
||
Remote Sensing |
||
Geographic Information Systems |
||
Elements Of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
||
Climate (GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOL 8, GEOL 10 or ENVS 10, or instructor permission) |
||
Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1) |
||
Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission) |
||
Earth Transformed |
||
Urban Geography |
||
Urban and Regional Planning |
||
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 |
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 Educator · 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
Dudley Burton (Emeritus), Jeffery Foran, Julian Fulton, Sara Kross, Michelle Stevens
Contact Information
Jeffery Foran, Department Chair
Donna Leiva, Administrative Support Coordinator
Amador Hall 554A
(916) 278-6620; FAX (916) 278-7582
www.csus.edu/envs