Environmental Sciences
The environmental sciences program prepares students to address one of society’s greatest challenges: preservation and stewardship of the natural world.
The curriculum synthesizes the natural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences, all of which are important for understanding the environment, the impact human activities have on it, and ways to mitigate and manage such impacts. In the interdisciplinary curriculum, majors learn integrative and quantitative approaches to local and global environmental issues, such as climate change, energy, air and water pollution, biodiversity, human health, and sustainability. The program provides preparation for employment in environmentally oriented firms, companies, and organizations; training for graduate study in diverse environmental disciplines; and pre-professional development for careers in civil service, law, business, and medicine.
ENVR_SCI 201-0 Earth: A Habitable Planet (1 Unit) Overview of the physical processes governing environmental systems, from lithosphere to hydrosphere to atmosphere. Physical science perspectives on current debates, such as those over water resources, energy, and climate change. Natural Sciences Distro Area
ENVR_SCI 202-0 The Health of the Biosphere (1 Unit) Dimensions of the ecological niche; growth and regulation of populations; interactions among populations; community structure and diversity; conservation. Prerequisite: CHEM 152-0 or equivalent. Natural Sciences Distro Area
ENVR_SCI 203-0 Humans and the Environment (1 Unit) Introduction to human interactions with the environment. Topics may include but are not limited to energy, sustainability, pollution, and climate change. Natural Sciences Distro Area
ENVR_SCI 390-0 Special Topics in Environmental Sciences (1 Unit) Lecture course on environmental science topics of interest to students and faculty. May be repeated for credit with different topic.
ENVR_SCI 399-0 Independent Study (1 Unit) Independent research on special problems under direct supervision of a faculty adviser. Comprehensive report required. Prerequisite: consent of program director.