Program Overview

Environmental Studies, Geography, and Planning, BA

The BA in Environmental Studies, Geography, and Planning focuses on bridging the natural and social sciences in order to produce more holistic and systemic analysis of environmental and societal issues. Students complete a common core of Foundational, Breadth, and Professional Preparation and Experience courses. Students further specialize their studies through GEP electives in one of five focal areas: Society, Environment and Development, Environmental Systems, Urban Studies and Planning, Energy Management & Design, or Geospatial Analysis. All students are required to take a minimum of one 400-level capstone course. All courses in the curriculum strengthen students’ writing, critical thinking and presentation skills, which are critical for any successful career.

Program Learning Outcomes

• PLO1 (Knowledge) Articulate and explain major social and environmental processes, and their interactions, in both the natural and built environment
• PLO2 (Analysis) Analyze quantitative, qualitative and/or spatial evidence through at least one analytical framework to draw conclusions, solve problems, or optimize a plan
• PLO3 (Communication) Demonstrate effective writing and presentation skills
• PLO4 (Professional Preparation) Apply academic knowledge and skills to a real-world experience and prepare for a professional career

Degree Requirements

See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (48 units)

See the “General Education ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Major Requirements (55 units)

This degree focuses on bridging the natural and social sciences in order to produce more holistic and systemic analysis of environmental and societal issues.

• 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 not double-counted in GEP electives.

Core Courses + Practical Experiences (31 units)

• Foundation Courses (11 units)
  • Environmental Systems
    • GEP 201 - Global Environmental Systems Unit(s): 3
  • Society, Environment, and Development (choose one)
    • GEP 150B - Global Societies through Film Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 203 - Human Geography Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 206 - Society, Environment, and Sustainable Development Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 305 - World Regions in Global Context Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 306 - World Regions in Global Context: Asia Unit(s): 3
  • Environmental Inquiry and Analysis (take both)
    • GEP 211 - GEP Forum Unit(s): 1
    • GEP 280 - Foundations in Environmental Data Analysis Unit(s): 4
• Breadth Courses (15 units)
  • Choose one from each category:
    • Society, Environment, and Development
      • GEP 324 - Climate Change and Society Unit(s): 4
      • GEP 325 - Global Food Systems: Scarcity and Sustainability Unit(s): 4
      • GEP 334 - Globalization and the City Unit(s): 4
      • GEP 373 - Energy, Technology, and Society Unit(s): 4
    • Environmental Systems
      • GEP 340 - Applied Ecology Unit(s): 3
      • GEP 351 - Natural Hazards Unit(s): 3
      • GEP 355 - Weather and Climate Unit(s): 3
    • Planning
      • GEP 360 - Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning Unit(s): 4
    • Geospatial Analysis
      • GEP 387 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Unit(s): 4
• Professional Preparation and Experiences (5 units)
  • GEP 310 and 311 are required. GEP 311 is repeatable, but only 1 unit may count in this category.
    • GEP 201B - Global Environmental Systems Lab Unit(s): 1
    • GEP 310 - Professional Development Unit(s): 2
    • GEP 311 - Research Colloquium Unit(s): 1
    • Note: 310 & 311 required; 311 is repeatable but on 1 unit counts.
    • GEP 312 - Professional Conferences Unit(s): 1-2
    • GEP 313 - Field Experience Unit(s): 1-2
    • GEP 316 - Research Assistant in GEP Unit(s): 1-4
    • GEP 317 - Internship Unit(s): 1-4
    • GEP 318 - Agroecology in Practice Unit(s): 2
    • GEP 319 - Native Plants in Restoration Unit(s): 2

GEP Electives (21 units)

• Take 3 courses in one focus area. Take additional electives within any focus area to reach 21 units. Must take at least one 400-level capstone course during junior/senior year (72+ units). Breadth courses do not double count as electives.
  • Focus 1: Society, Environment, and Development
    • GEP 321 - Parks and Protected Areas Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 323 - Natural Resources & Development Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 324 - Climate Change and Society Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 325 - Global Food Systems: Scarcity and Sustainability Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 326 - Water Law, Policy & Management Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 330 - Environmental History Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 332 - Environmental Literature Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 334 - Globalization and the City Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 422 - Political Ecology Unit(s): 4
  • Focus 2: Planning and Urban Studies
    • GEP 362 - Environmental Impact Assessment Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 367 - Transportation Policy and Technology Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 368 - Urban Design Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 371 - Social Geography of the American City Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 461 - Planning Practice and Methodology Unit(s): 4
  • Focus 3: Environmental Systems
    • GEP 340 - Applied Ecology Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 343 - Biogeography Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 344 - Field Methods Unit(s): 2
    • GEP 345 - Lab Methods Unit(s): 2
    • GEP 347 - Conservation Biology Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 350 - Geomorphology Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 351 - Natural Hazards Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 352 - Soil Science Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 354 - Watershed Hydrology and Management Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 355 - Weather and Climate Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 446 - Restoration Ecology Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 456 - Global Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future Unit(s): 4
  • Focus 4: Energy Management and Design
    • GEP 373 - Energy, Technology, and Society Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 374A - Strategies for Carbon and Energy Reductions Unit(s): 3
    • GEP 374B - Laboratory Methods for Energy Efficiency Unit(s): 1
    • GEP 375 - Renewable and Resilient Energy Sources Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 476 - Energy Services and Efficiency Unit(s): 4
  • Focus 5: Geospatial Analysis
    • GEP 380 - Environmental Remote Sensing Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 385 - Cartographic Visualization Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 388 - Environmental Geographic Information Systems Unit(s): 3-4
    • GEP 486 - Environmental Data Analysis Unit(s): 4
    • GEP 489 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems Unit(s): 3-4
  • No Focus
    • GEP 396 - Selected Topics Unit(s): 1-4
    • GEP 397 - Special Topics: Lab Unit(s): 2-4

Supporting Courses outside GEP (3 units)

• ANTH 328 - New Technologies in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Unit(s): 4.00
• ANTH 345 - Nature and Society: Topics in Anthropology and the Environment Unit(s): 4
• ANTH 352 - Global Issues Unit(s): 4
• BIOL 131 - Biological Diversity and Ecology Unit(s): 4
• BIOL 312 - Biological Oceanography Unit(s): 3
• CALS 480 - Latin American Migration to the United States Unit(s): 4
• CS 115 - Programming I Unit(s): 4
• GEOL 303 - Advanced Principles of Geology Unit(s): 4
• GEOL 306 - Environmental Geology Unit(s): 3
• GEOL 310 - Geophysics Unit(s): 4
• GEOL 323 - Hydrology Unit(s): 3
• HIST 471 - California and the West Unit(s): 4
• NAMS 346 - Philos Systems, Sacred Movements in Native America Unit(s): 3
• POLS 314 - Environmental Political Theory Unit(s): 4
• POLS 452 - Politics of the Developing World Unit(s): 4
• SOCI 382 - Social Movements and Collective Behavior Unit(s): 4
• SOCI 425 - Urban Sociology Unit(s): 4
• SOCI 482 - Environmental Justice and Policy Unit(s): 4

Total Units = 120 units

• GE: 48 Units
• Core: 31 units
• Major Electives: 21 units (3 units GE overlap)
• Supporting Courses: 3 units
• University Electives: 20 units
• Total units required for graduation: 120

Program Roadmaps

• Environmental Studies, Geography and Planning, BA, Sample Four-Year Plan
• Environmental Studies, Geography and Planning, BA, Sample Two-Year Plan