Environmental Science, Geography, and Management, BS

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The B.S. 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 Program ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Major Requirements (68 units)

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 (40 units)

Foundation Courses (11 units)

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

Lower Division Natural and Data Science Foundation Outside GEP (10 units)

Choose three courses from at least two categories

Biological Science Theme
BIOL 130 - Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Unit(s): 4
BIOL 131 - Biological Diversity and Ecology Unit(s): 4
CHEM 110 - Introductory General Chemistry Unit(s): 3 OR
Physical Science Theme
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 330 - Environmental History 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
Sustainable Communities Credits / Units: 4
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 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 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 201B - Global Environmental Systems Lab Unit(s): 1
GEP 310 - Professional Development 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: Environmental Management and Policy
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 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 431 - Restoration and Society Unit(s): 4
GEP 422 - Globalization and Environments 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 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
GEP 400 - Special Topics Capstone Unit(s): 3-4
GEP 405 - Special Topics Capstone With Lab Unit(s): 3-4

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 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
MATH 161 - Differential and Integral Calculus I Unit(s): 4
PHYS 381 - Computer Applications for Scientists Unit(s): 2