University of California, Los Angeles College of Letters and Science 264 courses
The Environmental Science BS program represents strong collaboration between the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the departments of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Environmental Health Sciences; and Geography. The program is designed for students who are deeply interested in the study of environmental science. There are two components to the program, and both must be completed to receive the degree. The first component, the Environmental Science major, requires completion of lower-division requirements grounded in basic natural sciences, a five-course upper-division environmental science requirement reflecting the disciplinary breadth of environmental science, three social sciences/humanities courses, participation in a sustainability-focused speaker series, and completion of an environmental science practicum. The second component is a minor or concentration in one of seven environmental science areas, each associated with a particular department. With assistance from IoES staff, students must formally apply to and be accepted by the associated department to receive the minor. The Environmental Science major is a designated capstone major. In collaboration with a local agency or nonprofit institution, students work individually and in groups to complete projects that require them to integrate many of the skills, principles, theories, and concepts they have learned throughout the curriculum and apply them to real systems. Students are expected to contribute meaningfully to the analysis and solution of particular environmental science issues involving multiple disciplines and stakeholders with different perspectives. Those completing the major should possess critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and familiarity with essential computational, data collection, and analysis skills, as well as demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. Graduates should also be able to identify key ethical issues and analyze the consequences of various professional dilemmas, as well as work productively as part of a team.
Preparation for the Major
Complete 12 required courses and additional required courses based on minor selection as follows:
Preparation for the Major: Chemistry
Select one series from:
Preparation for the Major: Chemistry: Chemistry 14 series
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 14A | General Chemistry for Life Scientists I | 4 |
| CHEM 14B | General Chemistry for Life Scientists II | 4 |
| CHEM 14BL | General and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 3 |
Preparation for the Major: Chemistry: Chemistry 20 series
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 20A | Chemical Structure | 4 |
| CHEM 20B | Chemical Energetics and Change | 4 |
| CHEM 20L | General Chemistry Laboratory | 3 |
Preparation for the Major: Environment
Complete the following course:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRON 10 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 4 |
Preparation for the Major: Geography
Complete the following course:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 7 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences
Complete the following two courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIFESCI 7A | Cell and Molecular Biology | 5 |
| LIFESCI 7B | Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Mathematics
Select one series from:
Preparation for the Major: Mathematics: Life Sciences 30 series
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIFESCI 30A | Mathematics for Life Scientists | 5 |
| LIFESCI 30B | Mathematics for Life Scientists | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Mathematics: Mathematics 3 series
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 3A | Calculus for Life Sciences Students | 4 |
| MATH 3B | Calculus for Life Sciences Students | 4 |
Preparation for the Major: Mathematics: Mathematics 31 series
Students may select Mathematics 31A or 31AL.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 31A | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 31AL | Differential and Integral Calculus Laboratory | 5 |
| MATH 31B | Integration and Infinite Series | 4 |
Preparation for the Major: Physics
Select one series from:
Preparation for the Major: Physics: Physics 1 series
Preparation for the Major: Physics: Physics 5 series
Preparation for the Major: Statistics
Select one course from:
Preparation for the Major: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Minor
For the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences minor, one course selected from the following is also required:
Preparation for the Major: Conservation Biology Minor
For the Conservation Biology minor, one or two courses from one of the following options is also required:
Preparation for the Major: Conservation Biology Minor: Chemistry 14C or 30A
Select one course from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 14C | Structure of Organic Molecules | 4 |
| CHEM 30A | Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity | 4 |
Preparation for the Major: Conservation Biology Minor: Life Sciences 7C and 23L
Complete both of the following courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIFESCI 7C | Physiology and Human Biology | 5 |
| LIFESCI 7L | Introduction to Laboratory and Scientific Methodology | 3 |
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor
For the Earth and Environmental Science minor, complete one of the following two options and one additional course.
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor: Option 1
Complete two courses as follows:
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor: Option 1: Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences 1
Complete the following course:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EPS SCI 1 | Introduction to Earth Science | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor: Option 1: Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences 1: Substitution
Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences 1 may be substituted with a course from the following range or listed course:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLUSTER 70A | Evolution of Cosmos and Life | 6 |
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor: Option 1: Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences 51, 61, or M71
Select one course from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EPS SCI 51 | Mineralogy: Earth and Planetary Materials | 4 |
| EPS SCI 61 | Geologic Maps | 4 |
| EPS SCI M71 | Introduction to Computing for Geoscientists | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor: Option 2
Select two courses from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EPS SCI 51 | Mineralogy: Earth and Planetary Materials | 4 |
| EPS SCI 61 | Geologic Maps | 4 |
| EPS SCI M71 | Introduction to Computing for Geoscientists | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Earth and Environmental Science Minor: Additional Course
Select one course from:
Preparation for the Major: Environmental Engineering Minor
For the Environmental Engineering minor, one additional course from the following is also required:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 3C | Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra for Life Sciences Students | 4 |
| MATH 32A | Calculus of Several Variables | 4 |
Preparation for the Major: Environmental Health Science Minor
Select one course from the following and complete one additional course.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PUB HLT 50A | Introduction to Public Health I | 5 |
| PUB HLT C150 | Fundamentals of Public Health | 4 |
Preparation for the Major: Environmental Health Science Minor: Additional Course
For the Environmental Health Science minor, one additional course from the following is also required. Students selecting Life Sciences 7C must also complete 7L.
Preparation for the Major: Required for the Environmental Systems and Society Minor
For the Environmental Systems and Society minor, one course from the following is also required. Students selecting Life Sciences 7C must also complete 23L.
Preparation for the Major: Geography/Environmental Studies Minor
For the Geography/Environmental Studies minor, three courses as follows are also required. Students should take these courses before enrolling in upper-division courses.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 5 | People and Earth's Ecosystems | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Geography/Environmental Studies Minor: Geography Elective
Select one course from:
Preparation for the Major: Geography/Environmental Studies Minor: Additional Course
Students selecting Life Sciences 7C must also complete 23L.
The Major
Complete the four requirements—physical and life science, social science and humanities, practicum/sustainability talks, and minor or concentration, as follows:
The Major: Physical and Life Sciences Requirements
Complete five courses as follows:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRON 175 | Programming with Big Environmental Datasets | 4 |
The Major: Physical and Life Sciences Requirements: Additional Physical and Life Sciences Courses
Select four courses from the following physical and life sciences areas. No more than two courses may be from any one department.
The Major: Social Sciences and Humanities Requirements
Complete three courses as follows:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRON 140 | Foundations of Environmental Policy and Regulation | 4 |
The Major: Social Sciences and Humanities Requirements: Additional Social Sciences and Humanities Courses
Select two courses from:
The Major: Practicum/Sustainability Talks Requirements
Complete the following four courses:
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements
A minimum of 20 units applied toward the minor requirements must be in addition to units applied toward major requirements or another minor. Successful completion of a minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Minor
Complete seven 4-unit courses as follows. Other relevant courses from related disciplines may be substituted with prior approval of the department. At least five courses approved for the minor must be upper-division. One course may be taken on a Passed/Not Passed basis.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Minor: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Select four courses from:
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Minor: Additional Courses
Complete three additional courses, two of which must be upper-division, from any of the above atmospheric and oceanic sciences courses beyond the minimum four required or selected from the following. Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 186 must be taken twice. Only one course from Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 123A or 123B may be applied.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Conservation Biology Minor
Complete Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 100, 116, and four to six additional courses.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 100 | Introduction to Ecology and Behavior | 4 |
| EE BIOL 116 | Conservation Biology | 4 |
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Conservation Biology Minor: Additional Courses
Select four to six courses from the following list or any courses associated with the Field Biology Quarter or the Marine Biology Quarter or approved equivalent. A maximum of two Geography courses may be applied to the minor.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Earth and Environmental Science Minor
Select five courses from:
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Engineering Minor
Complete Civil Engineering 153 and five additional courses.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| C&EE 153 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering Science | 4 |
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Engineering Minor: Additional Courses
Select five courses from the following list. Credit for both Chemical Engineering 102A and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 105A is not allowed.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Health Sciences Minor
Complete one course from Environmental Health Sciences 100 or 120, and five elective courses with no more than two courses from the non-environmental health sciences options.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Health Sciences Minor: Environmental Health Sciences
Select one course from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENV HLT 100 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 4 |
| ENV HLT 120 | Environment and Health | 5 |
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Health Sciences Minor: Electives
Complete five elective courses with at least two courses from each of the following. No more than two courses may be from outside of environmental health sciences.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Health Sciences Minor: Electives: Methods
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Health Sciences Minor: Electives: Topical
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Environmental Systems and Society Minor
Select seven courses from:
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Geography/Environmental Studies Minor
Complete three required courses and two additional upper-division geography courses.
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Geography/Environmental Studies Minor: Required Geography Courses
Select three courses from:
The Major: Minor and Concentration Requirements: Geography/Environmental Studies Minor: Additional Geography Courses
Complete any two additional upper-division geography courses (except those from the preceding list and courses 194 through 199).
Honors Program
The honors program provides exceptional students an opportunity for advanced research and study, under the guidance of a faculty member, that leads to the completion of an honors thesis or research project. To qualify for graduation with honors, students must (1) complete all requirements for the major, (2) have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better in upper-division coursework in the major and an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, (3) complete at least 8 units of Environment 198 taken over at least two terms, and (4) produce a completed satisfactory honors thesis. The honors thesis or research project is in addition to the requirement of the completed practicum in environmental science project. Contact the student affairs officer for more information.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRON 198 | Honors Research in Environmental Science | 2 to 4 |
Click a course code or title to read the full course description.
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