Program: B.A., Environmental Science
Program Description
The B.A. in Environmental Science degree provides a strong foundation in the major disciplines of environmental and Earth sciences upon which students can layer relevant coursework in other related fields to prepare for careers that integrate environmental science with policy, public awareness, K-12 education, and resource and risk evaluations.
Program Requirements
1. Environmental Science Core Courses (24-25 units)
GEOG 206/L Introduction to Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOL 125 Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
GEOL 303 Communicating Geoscience (2)
GEOL 314/L Earth Systems and Lab (3/1)
GEOL 362 Energy Resources and the Environment (3)
GEOL 456 Environmental Hydrogeology (3)
or GEOL 440/L Environmental Sampling and Analysis and Lab (3/1)
2. Related Fields Core Courses (25-27 units)
BIOL 101 and BIOL 101L General Biology I and Lab (3/1)
or BIOL 106 and BIOL 106L Biological Principles I and Lab (3/1)
CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 101D Problem Solving in General Chemistry I (1)
Choose one of the following Introductory Earth Science courses (with the lab):
GEOG 101 The Physical Environment (3)
and GEOG 102 Physical Geography Lab (1)
GEOG 101A The Physical Environment (2)
and GEOG 101AL The Physical Environment Lab (1)
GEOL 101 Geology of Planet Earth (3)
and GEOL 102 Geology of Planet Earth Lab (1)
GEOL 110 The Fossil Record of Ancient Life on Earth (3)
and GEOL 112 Earth and Life Through Time Lab (1)
GEOL 113 Earth and Life Through Time (2)
and GEOL 112 Earth and Life Through Time Lab (1)
GEOL 117 Geology Disasters (2)
and GEOL 117L Geology Disasters Lab (1)
GEOL 122 The World Ocean (3)
and GEOL 123 World Ocean Lab (1)
SCI 111 Understanding Climate Change (3)
and SCI 111L Understanding Climate Change Lab (1)
Choose one additional Introductory Biology, Chemistry or Physics course (with lab, and discussion as listed) from the following:
BIOL 107 and BIOL 107L Biological Principles II and Lab (3/1)
CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (3)
and CHEM 102D Problem Solving in General Chemistry II (1)
and CHEM 102L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
PHYS 100A General Physics I (3)
and PHYS 100AL General Physics I Lab (1)
3. Electives (12-14 units)
Select four courses totaling 12-14 units, with two courses from each category.
Earth and Environmental Science
Choose two of the following:
BIOL 316CS/LCS Plant Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 322 Evolutionary Biology (3)**
EOH 356A Environmental Health I (3)
EOH 459 Hazardous Materials and Waste Management (3)
EOH 468 Air Pollution and Health (3)
GEOG 306/L Intermediate Geographic Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 316 Environmental Geography (3)
GEOG 364/L Geography of World Ecosystems and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 365 and GEOG 365L Geomorphology and Lab (3/1)
GEOG 366 and GEOG 366L Geography of Environmental Hazards and Lab (3/1)
GEOG 406/L Advanced Geography Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOL 306/L Earth Materials and Lab (3/1)
GEOL 309/L Earth Tectonics and Structure and Lab (3/1)
GEOL 313 Field Methods (2)
GEOL 464/L Applied Geophysics and Lab (3/1)**
GEOL 501 Teaching and Learning About the Natural World (3)
GEOL 552 Geochemistry (3)
GEOL 575/L Hydrogeology and Lab (3/1)**
Policy
Choose two of the following:
ANTH 432 Environmental Justice and Health (3)**
CAS 355 Environment, Development and Social Exclusion in Central America (3)**
ECON 360 Environmental Economics (3)**
EOH 454 Environmental Health Law (3)
GEOG 350 Metropolitan Los Angeles (3)
GEOG 370 Water, Society, and the Environment (3)
GEOG 444 Conservation (3)
GEOG 459 Environmental Impact Studies (3)
GEOG 473 Water Quality in the Managed Environment (3)
POLS 461 Environmental Policy (3)
RS 370 Religion and Ecology (3)
SUST 401 Applied Sustainability (3)
URBS 310 Growth and Sustainable Development of Cities (3)
URBS 415 The California Environmental Quality Act for Urban Planners (3)
URBS 425 Social Policy, Environmental Justice and the City (3)
**Prerequisites beyond core courses and related fields courses.
4. General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.
12 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: CHEM 101 satisfies B1 Physical Science; BIOL 101 or BIOL 106 satisfies B2 Life Science; CHEM 101L satisfies B3 Science Laboratory Activity; MATH 140SCI satisfies Basic Skills B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; and GEOG 206/L satisfies E Lifelong Learning and fulfills the Information Competence requirement.
If taken, GEOG 316, GEOG 365 or GEOG 366 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; RS 370 satisfies C2 Humanities; and ECON 360, GEOG 370 and/or URBS 310 satisfy 3-6 units of D1 Social Sciences.
Total Units in the Major: 61-66
General Education: 36
Additional Units: 18-23
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120
Contact
Department of Geological Sciences
Chair: Richard V. Heermance
Live Oak Hall (LO) 1202
(818) 677-3541
Program Learning Outcomes
Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science will be able to:
- Explain how the Earth system and anthropogenic processes have shaped a specific environment.
- Interpret and critically evaluate environmental findings and their implications for society.
- Evaluate solutions to social and environmental problems in the context of the Earth system.
- Work collaboratively in a way that makes all members of an interdisciplinary team feel valued.
- Communicate complex environmental findings to scientific and public audiences in written, oral and visual formats.
ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps
Students who have graduated with a verified Associate Degree for Transfer and have been admitted to a CSUN program that has been deemed similar will be able to complete the baccalaureate degree within 60 semester units. For additional information, see ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps.
Environmental Science, B.A. - AS-T in Environmental Science (2023-Present)