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University Catalog

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

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)

BIO 1

Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology

(3)

BIO 10

Biological Concepts

(1)

BIO 15L

Laboratory Investigations in Biology (BIO 9, BIO 10 or BIO 20)

(5)

CHEM 6A

Introduction to General Chemistry (One year high school algebra; high school chemistry recommended.)

(3)

ECON 1B

Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis

(3)

ENVS 10

Environmental Science

(3)

GEOG 1

Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena OR

GEOL 10

Physical Geology

B. Required Upper Division Courses (30 units)

(3)

BIO 160

General Ecology (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2; STAT 1)

(3)

ENVS 111

Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10)

(3)

ENVS 112

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)

ENVS 121

Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; Must be an Environmental Studies major or minor)

(3)

ENVS 122

Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA

(3)

ENVS/GOVT 128

Environment and the Law

(3)

ENVS/GOVT 171

Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission)

(1)

ENVS 187

Environmental Studies Seminar

(3)

ENVS 190

Senior Thesis (Completion or substantial completion of all lower and upper division ENVS courses prior to enrollment. Instructor permission.)

(3)

ENVS 195

Environmental Studies Internship (Instructor permission)

C. Environmental Science Electives (6 units)
Select two of the following:

 

ENVS 110

Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies (Instructor permission)

 

ENVS 130

Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 6A or instructor permission)

ENVS 144

Sustainability in the Tropics

ENVS 149

Agroecology

ENVS 151

Restoration Ecology

ENVS 158

Wetlands Ecology

ENVS 163

Ethnoecology (Instructor permission)

D. Interdisciplinary Electives (6 units)

Select two of the following:

ECON 110

Cost Benefit Analysis (ECON 1B)

ECON 123

Resource Economics (ECON 1B)

ECON 162

Energy Economics (ECON 1B)

ENVS 124

Social Justice in Interdisciplinary Perspective (Sophomore standing or instructor permission)

ENVS/HIST 165

American Environmental History

ENVS/SOC 138

Environmental Sociology

GEOG 147

Urban Geography

GEOG 148

Urban and Regional Planning

GEOG 149

Transportation Geography (GEOG 141 or GEOG 147 or GEOG 148 or instructor permission)

GEOG 161

California's Water Resources

GOVT 180

California State and Local Government

RPTA 148

Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings OR

RPTA 153

Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education

E. Other Electives 1-3 Units (permission of instructor)

(1-3)

ENVS 199

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)

BIO 1

Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology

(3)

BIO 10

Biological Concepts

(1)

BIO 15L

Laboratory Investigations in Biology (BIO 9, BIO 10 or BIO 20)

(5)

CHEM 6A

Introduction to General Chemistry (One year high school algebra; high school chemistry recommended.)

(3)

ECON 1B

Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis

(3)

ENVS 10

Environmental Science

(3)

GEOG 1

Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena OR

 

GEOL 10

Physical Geology

B. Required Upper Division Courses (21 units)

(3)

BIO 160

General Ecology (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2; STAT 1)

(3)

ENVS 111

Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10)

(3)

ENVS 112

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)

ENVS 121

Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; Must be an Environmental Studies major or minor)

(1)

ENVS 187

Environmental Studies Seminar

(3)

ENVS 190

Senior Thesis (Completion or substantial completion of all lower and upper division ENVS courses prior to enrollment. Instructor permission.)

(3)

ENVS 195

Environmental Studies Internship (Instructor permission)

C. Policy Electives (3 units)

Select one of the following:

 

ENVS 122

Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA

 

ENVS/GOVT 128

Environment and the Law

 

ENVS/GOVT 171

Environmental Politics and Policy (Instructor permission)

D. Environmental Science Electives (9 units)

Select three of the following:

 

ENVS 110

Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies (Instructor permission)

 

ENVS 130

Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 6A or instructor permission)

ENVS 144

Sustainability in the Tropics

ENVS 149

Agroecology

ENVS 151

Restoration Ecology

ENVS 158

Wetlands Ecology

ENVS 163

Ethnoecology (Instructor permission)

E. Interdisciplinary Electives (9 units)

Select three of the following:

 

BIO 103

Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent)

 

BIO 112

Plant Taxonomy (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 118

Natural Resource Conservation (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 157

General Entomology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 162

Ichthyology: The Study of Fishes (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 164

Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 166

Ornithology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 168

Mammalogy (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 169

Animal Behavior (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 173

Principles of Fisheries Biology (BIO 160 and STAT 1)

 

BIO 179

Principles of Wildlife Management (BIO 160, BIO 166, BIO 168, or instructor permission)

 

ENVS/SOC 138

Environmental Sociology

GEOG 107

Remote Sensing

GEOG 109

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 110

Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 109 or instructor permission)

GEOG 111

Elements of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 113

Climate (GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOL 8, GEOL 10 or ENVS 10, or instructor permission)

GEOG 115

Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1)

GEOG 116

Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 118

Earth Transformed

GEOG 161

California's Water Resources

GEOL 127

Hydrogeology (CHEM 1A; GEOL 10, GEOL 10L, GEOL 12; MATH 26A or MATH 30; PHYS 5A; or instructor permission)

GEOL 130

Oceanography

GEOL 140

Geology and the Environment

RPTA 153

Environmental Interpretation and Outdoor Education

F. Other Courses 1-3 units (require instructor permission)

(1-3)

ENVS 199

Special Problems


Requirements - Minor

Units required for Minor: 25

Specific course requirements are:

(3)

BIO 10

Basic Biological Concepts

(3)

ECON 1B

Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis

(3)

ENVS 10

Environmental Science

(3)

ENVS 111

Environmental Ethics (ENVS 10)

(1)

ENVS 187

Environmental Studies Seminar

Select one of the following (3 units):

 

ENVS 112

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)

 

ENVS 122

Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA

 

ENVS/GOVT 128

Environment and the Law

ENVS/GOVT 171

Environmental Politics and Policy (ENVS 111 or instructor permission

Select one of the following (3 units):

 

ENVS 110

Contemporary Environmental Issues (instructor permission)

 

ENVS 130

Environmental Toxicology (CHEM 6A or instructor permission)

ENVS 144

Sustainability in the Tropics

ENVS 149

Agroecology

ENVS 151

Restoration Ecology

ENVS 158

Wetlands Ecology

ENVS 163

Ethnoecology (instructor permission)

Select one of the following (3 units):

BIO 160

General Ecology (BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2; STAT 1)

  ENVS 120

Quantitative Methods For Environmental Science (STAT 1 or instructor permission; must be an ENVS major or minor)

 

ENVS 121

Field Methods in Environmental Science (BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission)

GEOG 109

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 113

Climate (GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOL 8, GEOL 10 or ENVS 10, or instructor permission)

GEOL 10

Physical Geology

Select one of the following (3 units):

 

BIO 103

Plants and Civilization (BIO 10 or equivalent)

 

BIO 112

Plant Taxonomy (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 118

Natural Resource Conservation (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 157

General Entomology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 162

Ichthyology: The Study of Fishes (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 164

Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 166

Ornithology (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 168

Mammalogy (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 169

Animal Behavior (BIO 1 and BIO 2)

 

BIO 173

Principles of Fisheries Biology (BIO 160 and STAT 1)

 

BIO 179

Principles of Wildlife Management (BIO 160, BIO 166, BIO 168, or instructor permission)

ECON 110

Cost Benefit Analysis (ECON 1B and MATH 24 or equivalent)

ECON 123

Resource Economics (ECON 1B and MATH 24 or equivalent)

ECON 162

Energy Economics (ECON 1B and MATH 24 or equivalent)

ENVS 124

Social Justice in Interdisciplinary Perspective (Sophomore standing or instructor permission)

ENVS/SOC 138

Environmental Sociology

ENVS/HIST 165

American Environmental History

 

ENVS 195

Environmental Studies Internship

ENVS 199

Special Problems

GEOG 107

Remote Sensing

GEOG 109

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 111

Elements Of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 113

Climate (GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOL 8, GEOL 10 or ENVS 10, or instructor permission)

GEOG 115

Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1)

GEOG 116

Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 118

Earth Transformed

GEOG 147

Urban Geography

GEOG 148

Urban and Regional Planning

GEOG 161

California's Water Resources

GEOL 127

Hydrogeology (CHEM 1A; GEOL 10, GEOL 10L, GEOL 12; MATH 26A or MATH 30; PHYS 5A; or instructor permission)

GEOL 130

Oceanography

GEOL 140

Geology and the Environment

GOVT 180

California State and Local Government

RPTA 148

Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings OR

RPTA 153

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



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