Program Overview

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Environmental Science, Geography and Management, BS

The BS degree in Environmental Science, Geography, and Management is designed to establish a strong grounding in the natural (biological, physical) and data sciences, and applying that understanding to a holistic and systemic analysis of environmental and social 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 four focal areas: Environmental Management and Policy, Environmental Systems, Energy Management & Design, or Geospatial Science. All students are required to take a 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, integrating additional natural and/or data science disciplines
• PLO2: (Analysis): Analyze quantitative, qualitative and spatial evidence through multiple analytical frameworks (integrating additional natural and/or data science disciplines) 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

Core Courses (41 units)

Foundation Courses (11 units)

• Environmental Systems
  • GEP 201 - Global Environmental Systems Unit(s): 3
• Society, Environment and Development Theme (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

Natural and Data Science Foundation Outside GEP (10 units)

• Take two courses from either the Biological Science Theme, Physical Science Theme, then select one additional course from an alternate theme
• Biological Science Theme
  • BIOL 130 - Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 131 - Biological Diversity and Ecology Unit(s): 4
• Physical Science Theme
  • CHEM 110 - Introductory General Chemistry Unit(s): 3OR
  • CHEM 115A - General Chemistry Unit(s): 5
  • CHEM 115B - General Chemistry Unit(s): 5
  • PHYS 114 - Introduction to Physics I Unit(s): 4OR
  • PHYS 210A - General Physics Unit(s): 3
  • PHYS 214 - Introduction to Physics II Unit(s): 4OR
  • PHYS 210B - General Physics Unit(s): 3
• Geospatial Data Science Theme
  • CS 115 - Programming I Unit(s): 4

Breadth Courses (15 units)

• Choose one from each category
• Society, Environment, and Development Credits / Units: 4
  • 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 Credits / Units: 3
  • GEP 340 - Applied Ecology Unit(s): 3
  • GEP 351 - Natural Hazards Unit(s): 3
  • GEP 355 - Weather and Climate Unit(s): 3
• Planning Credits / Units: 4
  • GEP 360 - Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning Unit(s): 4
• Geospatial Analysis Credits / Units: 4
  • 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 310 - Professional Development Unit(s): 2
• GEP 311 - Research Colloquium Unit(s): 1
• Note: 310 & 311 required; 311 is repeatable but only 1 unit counts.
• GEP 201B - Global Environmental Systems Lab Unit(s): 1
• 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

Electives (27 units)

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: Environmental Management and Policy
  • 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 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 461 - Planning Practice and Methodology Unit(s): 4
• Focus 2: 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 3: 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 4: Geospatial Science
  • 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

Natural and Data Science Courses outside of GEP (6 units)

• Biological Science Theme
  • BIOL 314 - Field Biology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 322 - Invertebrate Biology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 323 - Entomology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 324 - Biology of Marine Mammals Unit(s): 3
  • BIOL 327 - Vertebrate Biology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 329 - Plant Biology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 330 - Plant Taxonomy Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 332 - Marine Biology Unit(s): 3
  • BIOL 333 - Ecology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 334 - Biology of Fishes Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 335 - Marine Ecology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 337 - Behavioral Ecology Unit(s): 3
  • BIOL 338 - Environmental Microbiology Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 341 - Evolution Unit(s): 4
  • BIOL 351 - Climate Change Biology Unit(s): 4
• Physical Science Theme
  • CHEM 300 - Chemistry in Sustainability Unit(s): 3
  • CHEM 335A - Organic Chemistry Unit(s): 3
  • CHEM 336A - Organic Chemistry Lab I Unit(s): 2
  • GEOL 303 - Advanced Principles of Geology Unit(s): 4
  • GEOL 310 - Geophysics Unit(s): 4
  • GEOL 323 - Hydrology Unit(s): 3
• Data Science Theme
  • ANTH 328 - New Technologies in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Unit(s): 4.00
  • BIOL 485 - Biometry Unit(s): 4
  • CS 210 - Introduction to Unix Unit(s): 1
  • CS 215 - Programming II Unit(s): 4
  • CS 355 - Database Management Systems Design Unit(s): 4
  • CS 370 - Software Design and Development Unit(s): 4
  • CS 386 - Selected Topics in CS with Lab Unit(s): 3
  • ECON 317 - Introduction to Econometrics Unit(s): 4
  • EE 314 - Advanced Programming, Modeling, and Simulation Unit(s): 4
  • MATH 161 - Differential and Integral Calculus I Unit(s): 4
  • PHYS 381 - Computer Applications for Scientists Unit(s): 2

Total Units = 120

• GE: 48 units
• Core: 41 units (with 3 units GE overlap)
• Major and Supporting Electives: 27 units
• University Electives: 7 units
• Total units required for graduation: 120

Program Roadmaps

• Environmental Science, Geography and Management, BS, Sample Four-Year Plan
• Environmental Science, Geography and Management, BS, Sample Two-Year Plan