B.S. in Environmental Sciences Curriculum

Our B.S. in Environmental Science degree is highly flexible. Review the curriculum guide below and meet with an advisor to find the emphasis and course schedule that matches your goals.

Degree Overview

You will take at least 120 units total:

  • General Education Courses (32-40 units)
  • Supporting Coursework (21 units)
  • Environmental Science Core Courses (40-43 units)
  • Subplan (27-29)

B.S. in Environmental Science Curriculum

General Education  Course Units  32-40
Introduction to General Education UNIV 101 1
Foundation Mathematics: Moderate Strand MATH 112 (Consult with advisor) 3
First Year Composition 1 ENGL 101 3
First Year Composition 2 ENGL 102, OR 109H 3
Foundation Second Language Various (2nd semester proficiency) 0-8
General Education, Exploring Perspectives Artist 3
General Education, Exploring Perspectives Humanist 3
General Education, Exploring Perspectives Natural Scientist 3
General Education, Exploring Perspectives Social Scientist 3
General Education, Building Connections Building Connections 3
General Education, Building Connections Building Connections 3
General Education, Building Connections Building Connections 3
General Education Capstone Course UNIV 301 1

Supporting Coursework Course Units (21)
General Chemistry I (Quantitative)
     OR Chemical Thinking I
     OR Honors Chemical Thinking I
CHEM 141*   & 145*
     OR 151
     OR 161 & 163
4
General Chemistry II (Quantitative)
     OR Chemical Thinking II
     OR Honors Chemical Thinking II
CHEM 142* & 146*
     OR 152
     OR 162 & 164
4
Introductory Biology I (Lecture) MCB 181R 3
Biology of Environmental Systems
     OR Introductory Microbiology (Lecture)
ENVS 225
    OR MIC 205A
3
Introductory Biology II (Lecture) ECOL 182R 3
Introductory Physics I
     OR Introductory Mechanics
PHYS 102/181
     OR 141
4

Environmental Science Core Course Units (32)
Introduction to Soil Science & Soils Laboratory ENVS 200 & 201 4
Environmental Essentials: A Global Approach to Saving Planet Earth ENVS 210 3
Critical Zone Science ENVS 270 3
Data Analysis in the Life and Environmental Sciences ENVS 275 3
Pollution Science ENVS 305 3
Environmental Chemistry (Choose one)
     Environmental Chemistry     
        OR Environmental Soil & Water Chemistry
        OR Environmental Organic Chemistry 
ENVS 340
    OR ENVS 462
    OR ENVS 464
3
Environmental Physics  ENVS 420 3
Environmental Ecology (Choose one)
     Environmental Microbiology
        OR Limnology
        OR Aquatic Plants & the Environment
        OR Freshwater & Marine Algae
        OR Principles of Ecotoxicology
ENVS 425
   OR 442
   OR 474
   OR 475
   OR 477
3-4
Environmental Assessment for Contaminated Sites ENVS 480 3

Career Preparation Course Units
Careers in Environmental Science ENVS 195A 1
Science Communications (Choose one) 
     Scientific Writing
        OR Translating Environmental Science
ENVS 408
   OR 415
3
Capstone (Choose one)
     Environmental Monitoring & Remediation
       OR Senior Capstone: Intro to Research I & II
ENVS 430 R/L
   OR 498A* & 498B*
4
Individual Student Presentation   0
Individual Studies: Directed Research, Internship, Teaching Workshop, Independent study, Practicum, OR Thesis ENVS 392, 393, 397A, 399, 399H, 492, 493, 499, OR 499H 1-3

Emphasis Areas

In addition to general education and core courses, you will choose one of four emphasis areas for further study (about 26 units)

The Biosphere Emphasis

Required Courses Course Units (10)
Calculus  (Choose one) 
     Elements of Calculus
        OR Mathematics of Biological Systems
        OR First Semester Calculus
        OR Calculus I
MATH 113
   OR 119A
   OR 122B
   OR 125
3
Organic Chemistry I (Choose one)
    Organic Chemistry Lecture & Lab
       OR Organic Chemistry Lecture & Lab for chemistry majors
CHEM 241A & 243
   OR 246A & 247A
4
Ecology (Choose one)
     Ecology
        OR Natural Resources Ecology
ECOL 302
   OR RNR 316
4

Biosphere emphasis Core Course Units (10)
Environmental Microbiology ENVS 425 3
Environmental Microbiology Lab ENVS 426 2
Aquatic Plants & The Environment ENVS 474 4
Microbial Biogeochemistry & Global Change ENVS 410
Environmental Drivers of Plant Adaptations ENVS 435 3
Green Infrastructure ENVS 450 3
Freshwater & Marine Algae ENVS 475 4
Principles of Ecotoxicology ENVS 477 3
Principles of Ecotoxicology Lab ENVS 477L 1
Biochemistry BIOC 462A 4-5
Metabolic Biochemistry BIOC 385 3
Foundations in Biochemistry BIOC 384 3
Lectures in Organic Chemistry (for chemistry majors) CHEM 246B 3
Organic Chemistry Lab CHEM 247B 1
Organic Chemistry II CHEM 241B 3
Organic Chemistry Lab II CHEM 243B  
Ecology ECOL 302 4
Genetics ECOL 320 4
Evolutionary Biology ECOL 335 4

Biosphere emphasis electives – complete 6 units Course Units
Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition ENVS 316 3
Collaborative Environmental Problem Solving ENVS 350 3
Microbial Biogeochemistry & Global Change ENVS 410 3
Sustainable Management of Arid Lands and Salt-Affected Soils ENVS 401  3
Soil Genesis & Classification ENVS 431  3
Limnology ENVS 442 3
Ecotoxicology ENVS 477 3
Ecotoxicology Lab ENVS 477L 1
Reclamation and Redevelopment of Impacted Lands ENVS 482 3
Living in Symbiosis ECOL 310 3
Conservation  Biology in the Field ECOL 406L 1
Conservation Biology ECOL 406R 3
Physical Geology GEOS   251 4
Ocean Sciences GEOS  412A 4
Global Change  GEOS 478 3
Hydrology (Choose one)
     Watershed Hydrology
        OR Principles of Hydrology
WSM  460A
   OR HWRS 349A/B or 350
3-4
Molecular Biology MCB 411 3-4
Recombinant DNA Methods & Applications MCB 473 4
Microbial Physiology MIC 328R 3
Microbial Techniques MIC 421B  3
Natural Resources Ecology RNR 316 3
Natural Resource Management Practices RNR 384 3
Applications of Geographic Information Systems RNR 403 3
Climate Change and Dryland Ecosystem Ecology RNR 452 3
Conservation Biology (Choose one)
     Conservation Biology: Field Studies in Developing Countries (Namibia)
        OR Amazon Rainforest: Conservation Biology in Ecuador
RNR 495F
   OR RNR 495G
3-6

Leadership, Sustainability, and Communication Emphasis

Required Courses Course Units (9 Units)
Environmental Health (Choose two)
     Ecosystem Health and Justice
         OR Toxic! The Anthropology of Exposure
         OR Reclamation and Redevelopment of Impacted Lands
         OR Environment, Health, and Society
ENVS 310
ANTH 373
ENVS 482
SOC/CHS 350
3
Communications (Choose one)    
   Translating Environmental Science
        OR Scientific Writing for Environmental, Agricultural & Life Sciences
        OR Communicating Knowledge in Agriculture and the Life Sciences
        OR Applied Organization Communication
        OR Environmental Journalism
        OR Issues in Covering Science and the Environment
        OR Science Journalism
        OR Science Communication
   ENVS 415
      OR ENVS 408
      OR ALC 422
      OR COMM 312
      OR JOUR 455
      OR JOUR 465
      OR JOUR 472
      OR SCI 401
3

Leadership, Sustainability and Communication emphasis core Courses Units (11 units)
Environmental Anthropology (Choose one)
     Globalization, the Environment, and Indigenous Religions
        OR Ecological Anthropology
        OR Environmental Archaeology
RELI/ANTH/HUMS 428A
   OR ANTH 307  
   OR ANTH 332
3
Teaching (Choose only one)
     Teaching Workshop
        OR Teaching Geosciences
        OR Undergrad Teaching Training in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
        OR Environmental Learning
ENVS/BE 397A
   OR GEOS 397A
   OR ECOL 497A
   OR TLS 431
1-5
Teaching & Technology (Choose only one)
     Teaching with New Technologies
       OR Integrating Technology into the Curriculum
ETCV 310
   OR TLS 318
3
Additional Selectives to choose from    
Collaborative Environmental Problem Solving ENVS 350 3
Reclamation and Redevelopment of Impacted Lands ENVS 482 3
Southwest Land & Society ANTH/AIS/LAS  418 3
Toxic! The Anthropology of Exposure ANTH 373 3
Introduction to Human Health Risk Assessment EHS/ENVS 418 3
U.S. Environmental History HIST 355 3
Global Environmental History HIST 356 3
Natural History of Disasters HIST 358 3
Environmental Ethics PHIL/PA/PPEL 323 3
Environmental Psychology PSY 374 3
Environmental Sociology SOC 307 3
Social Movements & Activism SOC 313 3
Environment, Health, and Society SOC/CHS 350 3

Leadership, Sustainability and Communication Emphasis Elective Courses Course Units (9 units)
Conservation Biology: Field Studies in Developing Countries ENVS 495F 3
Math (Choose only one)
     Mathematics of Biological Systems
        OR Elements of Calculus
        OR First Semester Calculus
        OR Calculus I
   MATH 119A
     OR MATH 113
     OR MATH 122B
     OR MATH 125
3
Political Ecology ANTH 424A 3
Environmental Economics ECON/AREC 373 3
Economics of Policy Analysis AREC 464 3
Environmental Law & Economics AREC 476 3
Economic Analysis of Water, Food and Environmental Policies AREC/ENVS 479 3
Weather, Climate, & Society ATMO 336 3
Conservation Biology ECOL 406R 3
Environmental Studies: Ideas/Institutions EVS 260 3
Environment and Development GEOG/EVS 362 3
Environmental & Resource Geography GEOG/EVS 461 3
Introduction to Dendrochronology GEOS/ANTH 439A 3
Global Change GEOS 478 3
Natural History of Disaster HIST 358 3
Environmental Law and Policy LAW 454 3
Public International Environmental Law LAW 459 3
Global Climate Change: Integrating Science, Policy, & Decision Making PA 461 3
Formation of Public Policy PA 480 3
Environmental Policy PA 481 3
Environmental Land Use Planning PLG 472 3
Psychology of Leadership PSYV 471 3
Adaptation to Climate Change RNR 440 3
Natural Resources Policy & Law RNR 480 3
The Economics and Social Connections to Natural Resources RNR/PA 485 3

Physical and Chemical Dynamics Emphasis

Required Courses Course Units (7 units)
Math (Choose only one)
     Mathematics of Biological Systems
     First Semester Calculus
     Calculus I
MATH 119A
MATH 122B
MATH 125
3-4
Organic Chemistry I CHEM 241A & 243A 4

Physical and Chemical Dynamics emphasis core Course Units (13 units)
Environmental Chemistry ENVS/GEOS 340  3
Microbial Biogeochemistry and Global Change ENVS/ECOL/PLS 410 3
Limnology ENVS 442  3
Environmental Soil & Water Chemistry ENVS 462 3
Environmental Organic Chemistry ENVS 464 3
Soil Physics ENVS 470 3
Principles of Ecotoxicology ENVS 477 3
Principles of Ecotoxicology Laboratory ENVS 477L 1
Foundations in Biochemistry BIOC 384 3
Metabolic Biochemistry BIOC 385 3
Biochemistry BIOC 462A 3-5
Organic Chemistry II CHEM 241B 3
Physical Chemistry CHEM 480A 3
Physical Geology GEOS 251 4
Hydrology (Choose only one)
     Watershed Hydrology
        OR Principles of Hydrology
   HWRS/WSM 460A 
      OR HWRS 349A/B or 350
3-4
Hydrogeology HWRS 431 4
Hydrology HWRS/ATMO/CE 423 3
Calculus II MATH 129 3
Physics (Choose only one)
     Introductory Physics II
        OR Introductory Mechanic
        OR Introductory Optics and Thermodynamics
PHYS 103
PHYS 141
PHYS 142
3-4

Physical and Chemical Dynamics emphasis elective courses Course Units (6 units)
Environmental Chemistry ENVS/GEOS 340 3
Collaborative Environmental Problem Solving ENVS 350 3
Sustainable Management of Arid Lands & Salt-Affected Soils ENVS 401  3
Microbial Biogeochemistry & Global Change ENVS/ECOL/GEOS/PLS 410 3
Environmental Microbiology ENVS/MIC 425 3
Soil Genesis, Morphology & Classification ENVS 431  3
Biodegradation of Pollutants  ENVS/MIC 440 3
Green Infrastructure ENVS/LAR/PLG/SBE 450 3
Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry ENVS 462 3
Environmental Organic Chemistry ENVS 464 3
Reclamation and Redevelopment of Impacted Lands ENVS 482 3
Air Pollution I: Gases ATMO 469A 3
Air Pollution II: Aerosols ATMO 469B 3
Environmental & Water Engineers CHEE/CE 370R 3
Environmental & Water Engineers Lab CHEE/CE 370L 1
Water Chemistry for Engineers CHEE 400R 3
Water Chemistry for Engineers Lab CHEE 400L 1
Introduction to Hazardous Waste Management CHEE/CE 478 3
Inorganic Chemistry CHEM 404A
Basic Laboratory Safety CHEM 405A 1
Introduction to Geochemistry GEOS 400 3
Chemistry of the Solar System PTYS 407 3

Soil, Air, and Water Emphasis

Required Courses Course Units (6 units)
Math (Choose only one)
     Elements of Calculus
        OR Mathematics of Biological Systems
        OR First Semester Calculus
        OR Calculus I
MATH 113
   OR MATH 119A
   OR MATH 122B
   OR MATH 125
3-4
Soils (Choose one)
     Soil Ecology
        OR Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition
        OR Sustainable Management of Arid Lands & Salt-Affected Soils
        OR Soil Genesis and Classification
        OR Soil Physics
        OR Reclamation and Redevelopment of Impacted Lands
ENVS 300
   OR ENVS 316
   OR ENVS 401
   OR ENVS 431
   OR ENVS 470
   OR ENVS 482
3

Soil, Air, and Water emphasis core Course Units (12 units)
Soil Ecology ENVS 300 3
Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition ENVS 316 3
Collaborative Environmental Problem Solving ENVS 350 3
Sustainable Management of Arid Lands & Salt-Affected Soils ENVS 401 3
Microbial Biogeochemistry and Global Change ENVS/ECOL/GEOS/PLS 410 3
Soil Genesis, Morphology & Classification ENVS 431 3
Limnology ENVS 442 3
Green Infrastructure ENVS/LAR/SBE 450 3
Water Harvesting ENVS 454 3
Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry ENVS 462 3
Soil Physics ENVS 470 3
Principles of Ecotoxicology ENVS 477 3
Principles of Ecotoxicology Lab ENVS 477L 1
Reclamation and Redevelopment of Impacted Lands ENVS 482 3
Fundamentals of Atmospheric Sciences ATMO 436A 3
Organic Chemistry I CHEM 241A   3
Organic Chemistry Lab I CHEM 243A 1
Ocean Sciences GEOS/ATMO/ENVS/ECOL 412A 4
Hydrology (Choose only one)
     Watershed Hydrology
        OR Principles of Hydrology
        OR Principles of Hydrology (online)
WSM/HWRS 460A
   OR HWRS 350
   OR HWRS 349A & 349B* 
3-4
Physics (chose only one)
     Introductory Physics II
        OR Introductory Mechanic
        OR Introductory Optics and Thermodynamics
PHYS 103
PHYS 141
PHYS 142
3-4
GIS (Choose only one)
     Applications of Geographic Information Systems
        OR Geographic Information Systems for Natural & Social Science
GEOG/RNR 403
   OR RNR/GEOG 417
3
Dryland Ecohydrology and Vegetation Dynamics RNR/ECOL/WSM 452 4
Principals of Stratigraphy & Sedimentation GEOS 302 4
Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution GEOS 450 4
Global Change GEOS 478 3
Environmentally Acquired Illnesses EHS 420 3

Soil, Air, and Water emphasis elective courses Course Units (8 units)
Environmental Microbiology ENVS/MIC 425 3
Environmental Microbiology Lab ENVS/MIC 426 2
Limnology ENVS/ECOL 442 3
Water Harvesting ENVS/ECOL 454 3
Aquatic Plants & the Environment ENVS/ECOL 474 4
Freshwater & Marine Algae ENVS/ECOL 475 4
Principles of Ecotoxicology ENVS 477 3
Principles of Ecotoxicology Lab ENVS 477L 1
Air Pollution I: Gases ATMO 469A 3
Air Pollution II: Aerosols ATMO 469B 3
Synoptic Meteorology ATMO 471 3
Atmospheric Electricity ATMO 489 3
Conservation Biology ECOL 406R 3
Environmentally Acquired Illnesses EHS 420 3
Soil Ecology ENVS 300 3
Introduction To Remote Sensing GEOG/GIS/ENVS 330 3
Geographical Applications of Remote Sensing GEOG/ENVS 483 3
Microbial Biogeochemistry and Global Change ENVS/ECOL 410 3
Introduction to Human Health Risk Assessment EHS/ENVS 418 3
Environmental Studies: Ideas and Institutions EVS 260 3
Water, Environment, & Society GEOG/EVS 304 3
Field Study in Geography Workshop GEOG 397A 1
Environmental & Resource Geography GEOG/EVS/HWRS/LAS 461 3
Physical Geology  GEOS 251 4
Glacial & Quaternary Geology GEOS 453 3
Natural History of Disasters HIST 358 3
Conservation Planning & Wildland Recreation  LAR 448 3
Environmental Law and Policy LAW 454 3
Public International Environmental Law LAW 459 3
Calculus II MATH 129 3
Global Climate Change: Integrating Science, Policy and Decision Making     PA/PLG 461 3
The Economics & Social Connections to Natural Resources PA 485 3
Environmental Land Use Planning PLG 472  3
Rangeland Plant Communities of the West RAM 382 3
Management & Restoration of Wildlands Vegetation RAM 446 3
Dryland Ecohydrology and Vegetation Dynamics RAM/RNR/ECOL/WSM 452 4
Rangeland Inventory & Monitoring RAM 456A 3
Natural Resources Measurements RNR 321 3
Conservation Planning & Wildland Recreation RNR 448 3-4
Natural Resources Policy & Law RNR 480 3
Natural Resources Economics & Planning RNR 485A 3
     Conservation Biology: Field Studies in Developing Countries (Namibia) RNR/ENVS 495F 6
     Amazon Rainforest: Conservation Biology in Ecuador RNR/ENVS 495G 3
Watershed Management WSM 462 3
Wildland Water Quality WSM 468 3