Environmental Science, Geography and Management, BS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

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

This degree is designed to establish a strong grounding in the physical, natural and data sciences, and apply that understanding to a holistic and systemic analysis of environmental and social 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 do not double-counted in GEP Electives.

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): 3 OR
CHEM 115A - General Chemistry Unit(s): 5
CHEM 115B - General Chemistry Unit(s): 5
PHYS 114 - Introduction to Physics I Unit(s): 4 OR
PHYS 210A - General Physics Unit(s): 3
PHYS 214 - Introduction to Physics II Unit(s): 4 OR
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