Credits Required: 

120 units

The Environmental Studies major begins in the freshman year with science, social science, humanities, mathematics and other general education requirements. Students are encouraged to take courses the fulfill both general education and major requirements. 

Like other majors at CSUMB, the B.A. in Environmental Studies is defined by a set of Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs), each of which is fulfilled by one or more courses that provide breadth and/or depth in that outcome. After completing lower-division core courses in science, math, social science and humanities, students select a concentration in Science for Sustainable Communities or Environmental Education. Both concentrations include a mix of science, social science/humanities, technical skills and service learning. The major culminates in a senior capstone experience that includes a community-based project that provides students with real-world experience and an opportunity to apply their academic skills and knowledge to a local issue.

Major Requirements and Learning Outcomes are identified below. In order to graduate, students must also meet all general education and university requirements. 

MLO 1: Environmental Science and Quantitative Analysis

Students will understand and apply core concepts and methods from biological, ecological and physical sciences.

Required Courses

  • Each of the following:
  • MATH 130: Precalculus (5 units)
  • CHEM 109: Introductory Chemistry (3 to 4 units)
  • ENVS 201: Intro to Environmental Science (4 units)
  • BIO 204: Introduction to Life Science (3 to 4 units)
  • BIO 240/L: Ecology,Evol, Biodiversity (4 units)
  • And one of the following:
  • GEOL 210: Introduction to Earth Science (3 units)
  • GEOL 260: Geology/Hydrology (4 units)
  • And one of the following:
  • STAT 100: Introduction to Statistics (4 units)
  • STAT 250: Applied Stat:Sci Tech (4 units)
  • And one of the following:
  • MSCI 271: The Oceans (2 units)
  • ENVS 272: The Atmosphere (2 units)
  • ENVS 282: Mtry Bay:Case Sty Env Sci &Pol (4 units)
  • PHYS 121/L: Integrated Physical Science (4 units)

MLO 2: Environmental Economics and Policy

Students will understand and apply core concepts and methods from environmental economics and environmental policy.

Required Courses

  • One of the following:
  • ENVS 284: Envi Econ & Management (2 units)
  • SBS 251: Intro to Global Economics (4 units)
  • SBS 351: Intro to Global Economics (4 units)
  • And one of the following:
  • ENSTU 283: Politics & the Environment (2 units)
  • GS 200: Politics of Everyday Life (4 units)
  • SBS 212: US Histories & Politics (4 units)
  • And one of the following:
  • ENSTU 387: Water Res Assess/Law/Poli (4 units)
  • GS 376: Political Economy of the US (2 to 4 units)
  • MSCI 470: Sci Pol & Mgmt in Marine Env (4 units)
  • SBS 342: Economic Thought (2 to 4 units)

MLO 3: Culture and the Environment

Students will understand and apply the ethical, cross-cultural and historical contexts of environmental issues and problems.

Required Courses

  • One of the following courses:
  • TAT 211: Picturing the Environment (4 units)
  • HCOM 230: Environmental Creative Writing (4 units)
  • HCOM 432S: Social Action Writing (6 units)
  • SBS 336: Advan/Topics/Cult/Anthro (4 units)
  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units)
  • SBS 385: Environmental History of CA (3 to 4 units)
  • SBS 386: Social/Pol/Hist/CA (4 units)

MLO 4: Global Environmental Perspectives

Students will understand the transnational character of environmental problems, global patterns of resource distribution and how individual behaviors, national policies and international policies can create and resolve inequitable distributions of environmental benefits and burdens.

Required Courses

  • One of the following courses:
  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World (4 units)
  • GS 375: Ecological Political Economy (2 to 4 units)
  • GS 385: Global Ecology (2 to 6 units)
  • SBS 339: Sweat/Service/Solidarity (4 units)
  • SBS 352: On-line:Wrl/Reg/Geo/Cul/Soc/Sp (3 to 4 units)
  • SBS 252: Wrl/Reg/Geo/Cul/Soc/Sp:On-line (3 to 4 units)
  • ENVS 309: Sci & Policy of Global Change (4 units)

MLO 5: Critical Thinking & Communication

Students will demonstrate proficient critical thinking and ethical written and oral communication skills needed to conduct high-level work as interdisciplinary scholars and/or practitioners.

Required Courses

  • One of the following courses:
  • ENSTU 300: Crit Thkg & Comm in Env Stds (4 units)
  • ENVS 300: Crit Thkg & Comm in Env Sci (4 units)
  • MSCI 300: Marine Sci, Comm, & Policy (4 units)
  • Both of the following:
  • ENSTU 400: Capstone Seminar I (1 unit)
  • ENSTU 403: Capstone Seminar 2 (3 units)

MLO 6: Service learning

Students will deepen their understanding of personal and professional social responsibility, and be able to apply the knowledge and skills of environmental studies to enhance the social, cultural and civic life of our communities; students will analyze and apply theories and practices from environmental studies to understand how individuals and social systems promote both equitable and inequitable practices in society; and students will learn from and work responsively and inclusively with diverse individuals, groups and organizations to build just and equitable communities. Courses used to fulfill the Service Learning MLO may double-count with MLO 3 but not with MLO 7.

 

Required Courses

  • One of the following courses:
  • BIO 379S: Biology Education Serv Learn (5 units)
  • ENSTU 349S: Environmental Interpretation (4 to 5 units)
  • ENSTU 369S: Com-Based Wshed Restor SL (5 units)
  • ENSTU 384S: Social and Ecol Justice (2 units)
  • GS 380S: Int'l Organizations & SL (4 to 6 units)
  • HCOM 432S: Social Action Writing (6 units)
  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units)
  • SL 394S: Service & Social Justice (2 to 4 units)
  • TAT 399S: Community-Based Media (4 units)

MLO 7: Area of Concentration

Students will gain depth of understanding in Environmental Education or Environmental Science for Sustainable Communities and they will apply that knowledge to promote sustainable human and non-human communities.

Required Courses

  • Science for Sustainable Communities Concentration
  • 28 units total, including at least 8 credits from each group.
  • GROUP 1: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
  • Complete 8 to 20 credits to give a total of 28 credits in MLO 7.
  • You may choose any combination of courses from the groups listed below.
  • (Courses may NOT double-count with any other major requirements.)
  • BIO 340: Ecology (4 units)
  • BIO 342: Plant Communities of CA (4 units)
  • BIO 345: Marine Biology (4 units)
  • BIO 448: Aquatic Ecology (4 units)
  • ENSTU 349S: Environmental Interpretation (4 to 5 units)
  • ENSTU 369S: Com-Based Wshed Restor SL (5 units)
  • ENSTU 375: Sustainability Systems (3 units)
  • ENSTU 376: Utility Systems (3 units)
  • ENSTU 387: Water Res Assess/Law/Poli (4 units)
  • ENVS 303/L: Calif Transect Orientation (5 units)
  • ENVS 309: Sci & Policy of Global Change (4 units)
  • ENVS 315: Soils & the Environment (4 units)
  • ENVS 332: Intro to GIS/GPS (4 units)
  • ENVS 436: Rmt Sns/Image Process (4 units)
  • GEOL 360: Geomorphic Systems (4 units)
  • MSCI 433: Seafloor Mapping (4 units)
  • MSCI 470: Sci Pol & Mgmt in Marine Env (4 units)
  • or other upper-division BIO, ENVS, GEOL, MSCI, or PH course with advisor approval.
  • GROUP 2: SOCIAL SCIENCE, HUMANITIES, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  • Complete 8 to 20 credits to give a total of 28 credits in MLO 7.
  • You may choose any combination of courses from the groups listed below.
  • (Courses may NOT double-count with any other major requirements.)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCE ANALYSIS METHODS:
  • SBS 362/L: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph (4 to 5 units)
  • SBS 366/L: Rsrch Mthd for SBS:Quant Emph (4 to 5 units)
  • COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT:
  • BUS 433: Mgmt of Nonprofit Organization (4 units)
  • CHHS 330: Collab Community Leadership (4 units)
  • CHHS 340: Conflict Res/Collab Negotia (4 units)
  • KIN 382: Wilderness Leadership (3 units)
  • KIN 385/L: Outdoor Edu/Rec Program Admin (4 units)
  • ETHICS AND COMMUNICATION:
  • CHHS 350: Ethics for Health & Human Serv (3 units)
  • ENSTU 384: Social & Ecological Justice (3 units)
  • ENSTU 384S: Social and Ecol Justice (2 units)
  • HCOM 403: Ethical Issues (4 units)
  • GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES:
  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World (4 units)
  • GS 375: Ecological Political Economy (2 to 4 units)
  • GS 385: Global Ecology (2 to 6 units)
  • ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY AND LITERATURE:
  • HCOM 432S: Social Action Writing (6 units)
  • SBS 342: Economic Thought (2 to 4 units)
  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units)
  • SBS 333: Forensic Anthropology (1 to 4 units)
  • SBS 385: Environmental History of CA (3 to 4 units)
  • POLITICS, SOCIAL SCIENCE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT:
  • GS 370: Global Political Economy (4 units)
  • GS 376: Political Economy of the US (2 to 4 units)
  • GS 390: Global Politics (4 units)
  • SBS 252: Wrl/Reg/Geo/Cul/Soc/Sp:On-line (3 to 4 units)
  • SBS 339: Sweat/Service/Solidarity (4 units)
  • SBS 355: Archaeologic/Thought/Americas (2 to 4 units)
  • SBS 356: Intro/Geog/People/Places/Envir (2 to 4 units)
  • SBS 371: Applications/GIS/Soc/Scie/Busi (2 to 4 units)
  • ARTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT:
  • TAT 237: Intro to Video (2 units)
  • TAT 301: Practical Application (1 to 4 units)
  • TAT 339: Advanced Video Prod Lect (2 units)
  • TAT 424: Environmental Filmmaking (4 units)
  • INTERNSHIP:
  • ENVS 394: Junior Internship (2 to 4 units)
  • or other appropriate internship course with advisor approval
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES OR HUMANITIES ELECTIVE:
  • Other upper-division ENSTU, social science or humanities course with advisor approval
  • Environmental Education Concentration
  • 28 credits, distributed by taking the specified number of credits from each group of courses
  • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN COMMUNITY SETTING (5 credits)
  • ENSTU 349S: Environmental Interpretation (4 to 5 units)
  • ENSTU 369S: Com-Based Wshed Restor SL (5 units)
  • VISUAL AND MEDIA TOOLS (8 credits)
  • CST 201/L: Media Tools Lecture (3 to 6 units)
  • CST 328: Digital Art and Design (4 units)
  • CST 351: Web Design (4 units)
  • ENVS 332: Intro to GIS/GPS (4 units)
  • SBS 371: Applications/GIS/Soc/Scie/Busi (2 to 4 units)
  • TAT 237/L: Intro to Video (4 units)
  • TAT 339/L: Advanced Video Prod Lect (4 units)
  • TAT 399S: Community-Based Media (4 units)
  • TAT 424: Environmental Filmmaking (4 units)
  • NATURAL HISTORY (4 credits)
  • BIO 340: Ecology (4 units)
  • BIO 342: Plant Communities of CA (4 units)
  • BIO 345: Marine Biology (4 units)
  • BIO 448: Aquatic Ecology (4 units)
  • ENVS 303/L: Calif Transect Orientation (5 units)
  • GEOL 360: Geomorphic Systems (4 units)
  • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ELECTIVES (11 credits)
  • BIO 379S: Biology Education Serv Learn (5 units)
  • CST 351: Web Design (4 units)
  • ENSTU 349S: Environmental Interpretation (4 to 5 units)
  • ENSTU 369S: Com-Based Wshed Restor SL (5 units)
  • LS 380: Teaching for Social Change (3 units)
  • LS 383: Innov Approach to Schooling (3 units)
  • LS 384: Issues in Comp & Intl Ed (1 to 3 units)
  • LS 391: Diversity in Ed Settings (3 units)
  • TAT 339/L: Advanced Video Prod Lect (4 units)
  • TAT 399S: Community-Based Media (4 units)
  • TAT 424: Environmental Filmmaking (4 units)
  • Any course listed under MLO 7, Group 1 for the Science for Sustainable Communities Concentration
  • Other upper division courses, internships or certification program with advisor approval

Concentrations

Environmental Education

The concentration in Environmental Education prepares students for work as environmental educators with ecological interpretive centers (e.g. nature centers, aquariums, zoos, museums), outdoor education programs, school programs, businesses, government agencies and environmental organizations.

Science for Sustainable Communities

 The concentration in Science for Sustainable Communities prepares students for “green" jobs with government agencies, non-governmental agencies, industry and business.