Program Overview

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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science is designed for students intending to prepare for graduate school or direct entry into a career as an environmental scientist or environmental manager in industry or government. Entry to the major presupposes prior coursework comprising the high school equivalents of two years of algebra, one year of plane geometry, one-half year of trigonometry, one year of biology, and one year of physics and/or chemistry.

Program Overview

The Environmental Science curriculum comprises a core providing a foundation of science and methods coursesintroductory earth systems and environmental science, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematicsas well as distributed electives in environmental science, environmental management, and analytical methods, and a capstone proseminar.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students will investigate environmental systems from an interdisciplinary perspective including interactions between systems and interactions with human activities.
2. Students will critically evaluate environmental plans, and strategies as well as resource management practices with respect to environmental sustainability and social justice.
3. Students will utilize GIScience techniques to investigate environmental questions.
4. Students will conduct field-based sampling and/or observational studies, analyze results and critically evaluate the method.
5. Students will design, conduct and report on independent research projects using appropriate and well-developed methods.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science requires a minimum of 65 units.

Lower-Division Requirements (27 units)

• CHEM 180: Chemistry for Energy and the Environment (3 units)
• GEOG 101: Our Physical Environment (3 units)
• GEOG 102: The Human Environment (3 units)
• GEOG 160: Introduction to Environmental Science (4 units)
• GEOG 205: Geographic Techniques (3 units)
• MATH 226: Calculus I (4 units)
• Select one:
  • BIOL 150: The World of Plants (3 units)
  • BIOL 170: Animal Diversity (3 units)
  • BIOL 313: Principles of Ecology (3 units)
• Select one:
  • PHYS 111 and PHYS 112: General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (4 units)
  • PHYS 220 and PHYS 222: General Physics with Calculus I and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory (4 units)

Upper-Division Requirements (6 units)

• GEOG 500GW: Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR (3 units)
• GEOG 603: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 units)

Capstone (3 units)

• GEOG 690: Senior Seminar in Geography and Environmental Science (3 units)

Electives (29-32 units)

Distributed as 11-12 units of Environmental Science, 11-12 units of Environmental Management, and 7-8 units of Analytical Methods.

Environmental Science (11-12 units)

Select 11-12 units from:

• CHEM 380: Chemistry Behind Environmental Pollution (3 units)
• GEOG 312: Geography of Landforms (4 units)
• GEOG 313: Earth's Climate System (4 units)
• GEOG 314: Bioclimatology (4 units)
• GEOG 316: Biogeography (4 units)
• GEOG 317: Geography of Soils (4 units)
• GEOG 342/ERTH 442: Surface Water Hydrology (4 units)
• GEOG 644: Water Quality (3 units)

Environmental Management (11-12 units)

Select 11-12 units from:

• GEOG 421: Future Environments (3 units)
• GEOG 427: Agriculture and Food Supply (4 units)
• GEOG/ERTH 642: Watershed Assessment and Restoration (4 units)
• GEOG 646: The Geography of Marine Resources (4 units)
• GEOG 647: Geography of Water Resources (4 units)
• GEOG 648: Management of National Parks and Protected Areas (4 units)
• GEOG/USP 652: Environmental Impact Analysis (4 units)
• GEOG/ENVS 657: Natural Resource Management: Biotic Resources (4 units)
• GEOG 666: Geography of Garbage: Recycling and Waste Reduction (3 units)

Analytical Methods (7-8 units)

Select 7-8 units from:

• BIOL 458: Biometry (4 units)
• GEOG 602: Field Methods in Environmental Science & Physical Geography (4 units)
• GEOG 604: Environmental Data Science (3 units)
• GEOG 610: Remote Sensing of the Environment I (4 units)
• GEOG 611: Remote Sensing of the Environment II (4 units)
• GEOG 620: Geographical Information Systems (4 units)
• GEOG 621: Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Analysis (4 units)
• GEOG 625: Programming for Geographic Information Science (3 units)

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements are met through a combination of lower-division and upper-division courses.

Lower-Division General Education

• Oral Communication (A1): 3 units
• Written English Communication (A2): 3 units
• Critical Thinking (A3): 3 units
• Physical Science (B1): 3 units
• Life Science (B2): 3 units
• Lab Science (B3): 1 unit
• Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4): 3 units
• Arts (C1): 3 units
• Humanities (C2): 3 units
• Arts or Humanities (C1 or C2): 3 units
• Social Sciences (D1): 3 units
• Social Sciences: US History (D2): 3 units
• Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (LLD): 3 units
• Ethnic Studies (F): 3 units

Upper-Division General Education

• Physical and/or Life Science (UD-B): 3 units
• Arts and/or Humanities (UD-C): 3 units
• Social Sciences (UD-D): 3 units

SF State Studies

Courses certified as meeting the SF State Studies requirements may be upper or lower division in General Education (GE), a major or minor, or an elective.

• American Ethnic and Racial Minorities (AERM): 3 units
• Environmental Sustainability (ES): 3 units
• Global Perspectives (GP): 3 units
• Social Justice (SJ): 3 units

First-Time Student Roadmap (4 Year)

The roadmaps presented are intended as suggested plans of study and do not replace meeting with an advisor.

Transfer Student Roadmap (2 Year)

For students with an AS-T in Environmental Science.

General Advising Information for Transfer Students

1. Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
2. The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
   • A course in U.S. History
   • A course in U.S. & California Government

Previous Bulletins

Students following earlier "Bulletin" requirements can access the appropriate year using the link to Previous Bulletins.