Environmental Studies, Geography, and Planning, BA

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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 Program ” 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 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): 4
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 330 - Environmental History 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
Sustainable Communities
GEP 360 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning Unit(s): 4
GEP 370 - Globalization and the City Unit(s): 4
GEP 373 - Energy, Technology, and Society 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
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 320 - Geopolitics Unit(s): 4
GEP 323 - Resource Management & Development in Global Perspective Unit(s): 4
GEP 324 - Climate Change and Society Unit(s): 4
GEP 325 - Global Food Systems: Scarcity and Sustainability Unit(s): 4
GEP 330 - Environmental History Unit(s): 4
GEP 333 - Natural Resource Planning Unit(s): 4
GEP 335 - U.S. Environmental Policy Unit(s): 4
GEP 336 - U.S. Environmental Law Unit(s): 3
GEP 337 - Landscape History of the American West Unit(s): 3
GEP 422 - Globalization and Environments Unit(s): 4
GEP 431 - Restoration and Society Unit(s): 4
GEP 490 - Global Challenges Research Design Unit(s): 3
GEP 491 - Global Challenges Research Project Unit(s): 3
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: Urban Studies and Planning
GEP 360 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning Unit(s): 4
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 370 - Globalization and the City Unit(s): 4
GEP 371 - Social Geography of the American City Unit(s): 3
GEP 461 - Planning Practice and Methodology 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
GEP 400 - Special Topics Capstone Unit(s): 3-4
GEP 405 - Special Topics Capstone With Lab Unit(s): 3-4

Supporting Courses outside GEP (3 units)

Society, Environment, and Development Theme
ANTH 345 - Nature and Society: Topics in Anthropology and the Environment Unit(s): 4
ANTH 352 - Global Issues Unit(s): 4
ANTH 358 - Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology Unit(s): 4
CALS 480 - Latin American Migration to the United States Unit(s): 4
CALS 432 - Latinas/os and Globalization Unit(s): 4
GEOL 306 - Environmental Geology 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 352 - Politics of Eastern Europe Unit(s): 4
POLS 314 - Environmental Political Theory Unit(s): 4
SOCI 384 - Sociology of Consumption Unit(s): 4
SOCI 425 - Urban Sociology Unit(s): 4
SOCI 382 - Social Movements and Collective Behavior Unit(s): 4
Environmental Systems Theme
BIOL 131 - Biological Diversity and Ecology Unit(s): 4
BIOL 312 - Biological Oceanography Unit(s): 3
GEOL 323 - Hydrology Unit(s): 3
GEOL 310 - Geophysics Unit(s): 4
GEOL 303 - Advanced Principles of Geology Unit(s): 4
Technology and Data Analysis Theme
ANTH 328 - New Technologies in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Unit(s): 4.00
CS 115 - Programming I Unit(s): 4