BA in Environmental Studies

Units required for Major: 66-69
Total units required for BA: 120

Program Description

The Environmental Studies program can help students use the resources of the entire University to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of such increasingly serious issues as pollution, wildlife and wilderness preservation, land use, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, energy conservation, and a generally healthful relationship between nature and society.

The major is designed to help students understand environmental issues in their political, social, and scientific context. Because dealing with environmental issues requires an interdisciplinary approach, we emphasize the development of strong writing, research, and quantitative skills and a broad liberal arts perspective.

Minimum Grade Requirement

A minimum grade of "C-" is required in all courses required for the Environmental Studies B.A. and B.S. majors.

Program Requirements

Required Lower Division Courses (23-24 Units)
BIO 1Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology 15
BIO 2Cells, Molecules and Genes4 - 5
or BIO 10
& BIO 15L		 Basic Biological Concepts
Laboratory Investigations in Biology
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry I 15
or CHEM 6A Introduction to General Chemistry
ECON 1BIntroduction to Microeconomic Analysis 13
or ECON 1A Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis
ENVS 10Introduction to Environmental Science3
GEOG 1Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena 13
or GEOL 10 Physical Geology
Required Upper Division Courses (30 Units)
BIO 160General Ecology3
ENVS 111Environmental Ethics3
ENVS 112International Environmental Problems 13
ENVS 120Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science3
ENVS 121Field Methods in Environmental Science2
ENVS 122Environmental Impact Analysis: CEQA and NEPA3
ENVS/POLS 128Environment and the Law3
ENVS/POLS 171Environmental Politics and Policy3
ENVS 187Environmental Studies Seminar1
ENVS 190Senior Thesis3
ENVS 195Environmental Studies Internship3
Environmental Science Electives (6 Units)
Select two of the following courses:6
ENVS 110
Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVS 130
Environmental Toxicology
ENVS 135
California Water and Society
ENVS 137
Conservation and Society
ENVS 140
Energy, Society, and the Environment
ENVS 144
Sustainability Science & Policy
ENVS 147
Urban Agriculture and Aquaponics
ENVS 149
Agroecology
ENVS 151
Restoration Ecology
ENVS 158
Wetlands Ecology
ENVS 163
Ethnoecology 1
ENVS 170
Environmental Justice (New course: Environmental Justice - Form A submitted concurrently)
ENVS 199
Special Problems ( Requires faculty advisor)
Interdisciplinary Electives (6 Units)
Select two of the following courses:6
ECON 110
Cost Benefit Analysis
ECON 123
Resource Economics
ECON 162
Energy Economics
ENVS/HIST 165
American Environmental History
ENVS/SOC 138
Introduction to Environmental Sociology
HIST 139A
Global Environmental History in the Age of Imperialism, 1450-Present Day
GEOG 147
Urban Geography
GEOG 148
Urban and Regional Planning
GEOG 149
Transportation Geography
GEOG 161
California's Water Resources
RPTA 148
Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings
or RPTA 153
 Environmental Interpretation
POLS 180
California State and Local Government
Total Units65-66
1

Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking3
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (3 Units)
B1 - Physical Science 20
B2 - Life Forms 20
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 20
B4 - Math Concepts3
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 2,30
Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities3
C1/C2 - Area C Course3
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area D: The Individual and Society (3 Units)
Area D Course3
Area D Course 20
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 20
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units)
Area E Course3
Area F: Ethnic Studies
Area F Course
Total Units30
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Required in Major; also satisfies GE.

3

Department recommends taking ENVS 163 in Program Requirements - Environmental Science Electives to meet Area B5.

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government3
Writing Intensive (WI) 20
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 36
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement.

3

If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html