BS Environmental Science, Geography & Management
This degree emphasizes the application of natural and geospatial sciences while solving problems in environmental management. Graduates go on to careers in fields such as watershed and forest management, environmental restoration and conservation science, geographic information system (GIS) analysis, and sustainable energy management and design.
The BS degree concentrates on understanding how physical and natural systems function. Students learn how to apply scientific tools and techniques to analyze how humans are impacting those systems and what interventions are required to maintain more sustainable systems.
Degree Plan
GEP FOUNDATION COURSES (11 Units)
Environmental Systems
- GEP 201 Environmental Systems (GE B1)
Environmental Inquiry & Analysis (take both)
- GEP 211 GEP Forum
- GEP 280 Foundations in Environmental Data & Analysis
Society, Environment & Development (choose one)
- GEP 150b Global Societies through Film (GE A3/C1)
- GEP 203 Human Geography
- GEP 206 Society, Environment & Sustainable Development (GE E)
- GEP 305 or 306 World Regions in Global Context (GE UD D)
NATURAL AND DATA SCIENCE FOUNDATION COURSES (10 Units)
Take two courses from either the Biological Science Theme or the Physical Science Theme, then select one additional course from an alternate theme
Biological Science Theme
- BIOL 130 Intro to Cell Biology and Genetics (GE B2, B3)
- BIOL 131 Biological Diversity and Ecology (GE B2, B3)
Physical Science Theme
- CHEM 110 or CHEM 115A (GE B1; B3)
- CHEM 115B (GE B1, B3)
- PHYS 114 or 210A (GE B1 or B3)
- PHYS 214 or 210B
Geospatial Data Science Theme
- CS 115 Programming I
BREADTH COURSES (15 Units)
Society, Environment & Development (choose one)
- GEP 324 Climate Change and Society
- GEP 325 Global Food Systems
- GEP 334 Globalization and the City
- GEP 373 Energy, Technology and Society
Environmental Systems (choose one)
- GEP 340 Applied Ecology
- GEP 351 Natural Hazards (GE UD B)
- GEP 355 Weather and Climate (GE UD B)
Planning
- GEP 360 Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning
Geospatial Analysis
- GEP 387 Introduction to Geospatial Analysis
Professional Preparation (5 units minimum)
- GEP 310 Professional Development (required)
- GEP 311 Research Colloquium (required)
- GEP 201b Global Environmental Systems Lab
- GEP 312 Professional Conferences
- GEP 313 Field Experience
- GEP 316 Research Assistant
- GEP 317 Internship
- GEP 318 Agroecology in Practice
- GEP 319 Native Plant Propagation in Practice
ELECTIVE COURSES (21 Units)
Take 3 courses in one focus area. Take additional electives within any focus to reach 21 units. Take at least one 400-level course during junior/senior year (72+units). Breadth courses do not count as electives.
Focus 1: Environmental Management & Policy
- GEP 321 Parks & Protected Area Management
- GEP 323 Natural Resources & Development
- GEP 324 Climate Change & Society
- GEP 325 Global Food Systems
- GEP 326 Water Law, Policy & Management
- GEP 330 Environmental History
- GEP 332 Environmental Literature
- GEP 332W Environmental Literature, writing intensive
- GEP 362 Environmental. Impact Assessment
- GEP 367 Transportation Policy & Technology
- GEP 368 Urban Design
- GEP 461 Planning Practice & Methodology
Focus 2: Environmental Systems
- GEP 340 Applied Ecology
- GEP 343 Biogeography
- GEP 344 Field Methods
- GEP 345 Lab Methods
- GEP 347 Conservation Biology
- GEP 350 Geomorphology
- GEP 351 Natural Hazards
- GEP 352 Soil Science
- GEP 354 Watershed Hydrology & Management
- GEP 355 Weather and Climate
- GEP 446 Restoration Ecology
- GEP 456 Global Climate Change
Focus 3: Energy, Management & Design
- GEP 373 Energy, Technology & Society
- GEP 374a Carbon & Energy Reduction
- GEP 374b Lab Methods for Energy
- GEP 375 Renewable & Resilient Energy
- GEP 476 Energy Services & Efficiency
Focus 4: Geospatial Analysis
- GEP 380 Environmental Remote Sensing
- GEP 385 Cartographic Visualization
- GEP 388 Environmental GIS
- GEP 486 Environmental Data Analysis
- GEP 489 Advanced GIS
SUPPORTING COURSES (6 Units)
Note: Classes may have lower division prerequisites.
Biological Science Theme
- BIOL 314 Field Biology
- BIOL 322 Invertebrate Biology
- BIOL 323 Entomology
- BIOL 324 Biology of Marine Mammals
- BIOL 327 Vertebrate Biology
- BIOL 329 Plant Biology
- BIOL 330 Plant Taxonomy
- BIOL 332 Marine Biology
- BIOL 333 Ecology
- BIOL 335 Marine Ecology
- BIOL 337 Behavioral Ecology
- BIOL 338 Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology
- BIOL 341 Evolution
- BIOL 351 Climate Change Biology
Physical Science Theme
- CHEM 300 Chemistry of Sustainability
- CHEM 335A Organic Chemistry
- CHEM 336A Organic Chemistry Lab I
- GEOL 303 Advanced Geology
- GEOL 310 Geophysics
- GEOL 323 Hydrology
Data Science Theme
- ANTH 328 New Tech Arch and Cult Heritage
- BIOL 485 Biometry
- CS 210 Intro to UNIX
- CS 215 Programming II
- CS 355 Database Managment
- CS 370 Software Design & Dev.
- CS 386 Selected Topics in CS with Lab
- ECON 317 Introduction to Econometrics
- ES 314 Adv. Programming, Simulation & Modeling
- MATH 161 Differential and Integral Calculus I
- PHYS 381 Computer Applications for Scientists
NOTE: Courses required for the major must be taken for a traditional letter grade, except for courses that are offered CR/NC only. Students must earn a C- or better in any course applied to the major. Breadth courses are not double-counted in GEP electives
Complimentary Minors
Students are encouraged to complete a minor in a discipline that interests them and that compliments their major. For help, students should consult with an advisor in the minor department.
Students with a strong interest in:
Biological sciences should consider:
NOTE: Students who follow the Biological Science theme for their Natural Science Foundation Courses and Supporting Courses will need to take just one additional course for the biology minor.