AA Archive Environmental Science, Technology Policy B.S. Requirements Summary

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Environmental Science, Technology & Policy B.S. ~ Requirements Summary

Note that some courses have a required lab component

MLO 1 Quantitative Foundations ~ Students must be able to apply the fundamental mathematical and statistical constructs used to communicate quantitative information within the context of Environmental Science, Technology & Policy.

  • Core courses required for all concentrations and emphases: 
  • In addition:
    •  Marine and Coastal Ecology Concentration:  MATH 151 Calculus II, STAT 250 Applied Stat:Sci Tech
    •  Watershed Systems Concentration:  MATH 151 Calculus II, STAT 250 Applied Stat:Sci Tech
    •  Science & Social Justice Concentration:  STAT 100 Introduction to Statistics or STAT 250 Applied Stat:Sci Tech
    •  Environmental Policy Concentration:  MATH 151 Calculus II, STAT 100 Introduction to Statistics or STAT 250  Applied Stat:Sci Tech
    •  Science Education -- Environmental Education Emphasis:  STAT 100 Introduction to Statistics or STAT 250 Applied Stat:Sci Tech

MLO 2 Environmental Science, Technology & Policy Foundations ~ Students must be able to apply basic scientific principles and methods to the study of: (a) major physical and life science components of the earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere, as well as the chemical and physical processes underlying these components, and (b) human components of the earth system including the social, economic and political structures that shape our interactions with our environment.

  • Core courses required for all concentrations and emphases: 
  • In addition:
    • Marine and Coastal Ecology Concentration:  BIO 241 Cellular and Molecular Biology (and recommend BIO 241L)
    • Watershed Systems Concentration:  None
    • Science & Social Justice Concentration:  BIO 204 Introduction to Life Sciences or BIO 241 Cellular and Molecular Biology
    • Environmental Policy Concentration: None
    • Science Education -- Environmental Education Emphasis:  BIO 204 Introduction to Life Sciences or BIO 241 Cellular and Molecular Biology

MLO 3 Natural Science Competency ~ Students must be able to understand, use and accurately communicate advanced scientific concepts.

  • Core courses required for all concentrations and emphases: 
    • None
  • In addition:
    • Marine and Coastal Ecology Concentration:  BIO 340/L Ecological Systems
    • Watershed Systems Concentration:  GEOL 360/L Geomorphic Systems
    • Science Education Concentration:  GEOL 360/L Geomorphic Systems
    • Science & Social Justice Concentration:  BIO 340/L Ecological Systems or BIO 342/L California Ecosystems or BIO 345/L Marine Biology or GEOL 360/L Geomorphic Systems
    • Environmental Policy Concentration:  BIO 340/L Ecological Systems or BIO 342/L California Ecosystems or BIO 345/L Marine Biology or GEOL 360/L Geomorphic Systems
    • Science Education – Environmental Education Emphasis: BIO 340/L Ecological Systems or BIO 342/L California Ecosystems or BIO 345/L Marine Biology or GEOL 360/L Geomorphic Systems

MLO 4 Policy Competency ~ Students must understand and accurately communicate state, federal and local political structures and processes and their relationships, as well as landmark environmental laws and regulations.

  • Core course required for all concentrations and emphases: 
    • ENVS 384S Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL or ENVS 387 Water Resource Assess/Law/Poli or ENVS 386 Sci, Enviro & Polit Process or SBS 385 CA/Gov/Politic/Environ/History

MLO 5 Data Acquisition, Analysis and Display ~ Demonstrate proficiency with current technologies for acquiring, analyzing and displaying data relevant to a real-world problem.

  • Core course required for all concentrations and emphases, except Science Education – Environmental Education Emphasis: 
  • In addition:
    •  Science Education – Environmental Education Emphasis:  CST 201/L Technology Tools or TAT 337/L Production Foundations or ENVS 332/L Intro to GIS/GPS

MLO 6 Systems Approach to Environmental Decision Making ~ Students must be able to demonstrate skill in the application of general systems theory, system modeling, stakeholder analysis, cost/benefit analysis or other interdisciplinary analysis tools to evaluate the equitability and the effectiveness of alternative environmental decisions, policies or actions.

(Courses may not be double counted for two different MLOs.)

  • Core course required for all concentrations and emphases:

 MLO 7 Area of Concentration ~ Students must be able to apply advanced knowledge and skills relevant to their concentration

IMPORTANT: All students should meet with their upper-division advisor to select a sequence of courses appropriate to their career goals.

(Courses may not be double counted for two different MLOs.)

  • Core course required for all concentrations and emphases:
    • None.
  • In addition:
    • Marine and Coastal Ecology Concentration: 
      • Take three of the following, at least one of which must be 400 level or above:
        • BIO 242/L Plant & Animal Form & Function,
        • BIO 310/L Biochemical Systems,
        • BIO 311 Genetics,
        • BIO 342/L California Ecosystems,
        • BIO 345/L Marine Biology,
        • GEOL 360/L Geomorphic Systems,
        • ENVS 303/L CA Transect Orien & Lab,
        • ENVS 433/L App Mar Sci Tech,
        • ENVS 436/L Rmt Sns/Image Process,
        • ENVS 440 Environmental Modeling,
        • ENVS 442/L Vernal Pools of Fort Ord,
        • BIO 344L or BIO 444L Biotechnology Lab,
        • BIO 448/L Aquatic Ecology,
        • ENVS 470 Marine Conservation Biology,
        • PHYS 330/L Electronics for Ecol. Research
        • Or an advisor-approved MLML course
    • Watershed Systems Concentration: 
      • GEOL 460/L Physical Hydrology and (BIO 340/L Ecology or BIO 342/L California Ecosystems)
        and
      • BIO 448/L Aquatic Ecology or ENVS 303/L  CA Transect Orien & Lab or ENVS 440 Environmental Modeling or ENVS 442/L Vernal Pools of Ft Ord or ENVS 433/L App Mar Sci Tech or ENVS 436/L Rmt Sns/Image Process or PHYS 330/L Electronics for Ecol. Research
    • Science and Social Justice Concentration: 
      • ENVS 384S Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL
        and
      • ENVS 349S Natural History Interpretation or ENVS 369S Com-Based Watershed Restor SL or ENVS 394 Junior Internship
      • And another appropriate course approved by your advisor.
    • Environmental Policy Concentration: 
      • ENVS 580 Envir & Resource Eco:App&Meth
        and
      • Two upper division policy or economic courses approved by your advisor.
    • Science Education -- Environmental Education Emphasis:
      • CST 328 Digital Art & Design or CST 251/L Basic Web Design or TAT 339/L Advanced Video Prod or TAT 361 Intro to Non-Linear Editing or ENVS 436/L Rmt Sns/Image Process
        and
      • ENVS 349S Natural History Interpretation or ENVS 369S Com-Based Watershed Restor SL
        and
      • BIO 342/L California Ecosystems or BIO 345/L Marine Biology or BIO 347/L Working with Marine Mammals or BIO 360/L Vertebrate Natural History

MLO 8 Scientific Inquiry ~ Students must use the scientific method to design, conduct and interpret natural science and/or social science investigations, and understand the ethical norms that guide scientific practice.

  • Core courses required for all concentrations and emphases: 
    • None.
  • In addition:
    •  Marine and Coastal Ecology Concentration:  ENVS 350/L Quantitative Field Methds or ENVS 355/L Environmental Monitoring or MLML 504/L Quantitative Marine Science
    •  Watershed Systems Concentration:  ENVS 350/L Quantitative Field Methds or ENVS 355/L Environmental Monitoring
    •  Science and Social Justice Concentration: ENVS 350/L Quantitative Field Methds or ENVS 355/L Environmental Monitoring or SBS 366/L Research/Meth/Data/Analysis or SBS 362/L Rsrch Meth for SBS: Qual Emph
    •  Environmental Policy Concentration: ENVS 350/L or ENVS 355/L or SBS 366/L Research/Meth/Data/Analysis or SBS 362/L Rsrch Meth for SBS: Qual Emph
    •  Science Education -- Environmental Education Emphasis: ENVS 350/L Quantitative Field Methds or ENVS 355/L Environmental Monitoring or SBS 366/L Research/Meth/Data/Analysis

MLO 9 Effective Communication ~ Students must present clearly (in both written and oral formats) analyses of complex Environmental Science, Technology & Policy issues.

  • Core courses required for all concentrations and emphases: 

MLO 10 Service Learning ~ Students must demonstrate the ability to combine disciplinary knowledge and community experiences to share the relevance and importance of science with culturally, linguistically, technologically and economically diverse populations in the context of issues of social responsibility, justice, diversity and compassion.

  • Core courses required for all concentrations and emphases: 
    • ENVS 349S Interp MB Natrl Hist F/Commun or ENVS 369S Com-Based Watershed Restor SL or ENVS 384S Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL or MATH 361S Mathematics Tutors or SL394S Service & Social Justice SL.  Service learning courses may double count in other MLOs.