Major Requirements

Watershed Systems Requirements

Credits Required: 

Total credits: 120 
Minimum credits at CSUMB: 30
Total credits required for the major: 74-80
Upper-division credits in the major: 44

You may declare Environmental Science, Technology & Policy as your major at any time in your CSUMB career, although we recommend that you declare as soon as possible so that you can begin lower-division prerequisite courses.

The Environmental Science, Technology & Policy B.S. includes three formal concentrations:  Applied Ecology, Watershed Systems, and Natural Resources.   Each is designed to help you prepare for a particular type of career or postgraduate education, and each requires different courses, although the required courses for all concentrations fulfill the Major Learning Outcomes. These MLOs describe the knowledge, skills and abilities in science, mathematics, technology, economics and policy that you must demonstrate before you graduate with a degree in Environmental Science, Technology & Policy. To demonstrate the required level of competency, you must earn a grade of C or higher in each required course. Click on the name of any concentration below to see what courses you would take to fulfill the Environmental Science, Technology & Policy Major's Learning Outcomes within that concentration. To see what prerequisites are needed for a particular course, please consult the course descriptions.

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

MLO 1: Quantitative Foundations

Students apply the fundamental mathematical and statistical constructs used to communicate quantitative information.

Required Courses

  • Each of the following courses required for every concentration:
  • MATH 150: Calculus I (4 units)
  • STAT 250: Applied Stat:Sci Tech (4 units)
  • MATH 151: Calculus II (4 units)

MLO 2: Science and Policy Foundations

Students apply the nomenclature, concepts and methodology of chemistry, biology, physics, earth science and economics to understand, describe and predict environmental science processes.

Required Courses

  • ALL of the following CHEM, BIO, ENVS, and GEOL courses:
  • CHEM 110/L: Chemistry I (5 units)
  • CHEM 111/L: Chemistry II (5 units)
  • BIO 240/L: Ecology,Evol, Biodiversity (4 units)
  • GEOL 260: Geology/Hydrology (4 units)
  • ENSTU 283: Politics & the Environment (2 units)
  • ENVS 284: Envi Econ & Management (2 units)
  • ONE of the following PHYS courses:
  • PHYS 150: Physics for Biologists (4 units)
  • PHYS 220: Physics I (4 units)
  • One of the following courses consistent with educational and professional goals:
  • BIO 241/L: Cellular & Molecular Biology (4 units)
  • MSCI 271: The Oceans (2 units)
  • ENVS 272: The Atmosphere (2 units)
  • ENVS 282: Mtry Bay:Case Sty Env Sci &Pol (4 units)

MLO 3: Environmental Science Communication

Students analyze and synthesize information from a multi-stakeholder perspective to develop alternative scenarios for environmental science problems, and communicate their recommendations in oral and written formats.

Required Course

  • ENVS 300: Crit Thkg & Comm in Env Sci (4 units)

MLO 4: Geospatial Technology

Students demonstrate proficiency with current technologies for acquiring, analyzing and displaying spatial data relevant to real-world problems.

Required Course

MLO 5: Quantitative Research Methods

Students use the scientific method and statistical analyses in the design, execution and interpretation of environmental science investigations.

Required Courses

  • ONE of the following:
  • ENVS 350: Quantitative Field Methds (4 units)
  • ENVS 355: Environmental Monitoring (4 units)

MLO 6: Service Learning

Students combine disciplinary knowledge and community experiences in the context of social responsibility, justice, diversity and compassion.

Required Courses

  • One of the following courses:
  • 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)
  • BIO 379S: Biology Education Serv Learn (5 units)
  • MATH 361S: Mathematics Tutors (5 units)

MLO 7: Natural Science Competency

Students understand, use and accurately communicate advanced science concepts applied to environmental decision making.

Required Courses

MLO 8: Advanced Environmental Science, Technology & Policy

Students apply advanced knowledge and skills in Environmental Science, Technology & Policy.

Required Courses

  • At least 16 credits of Advanced Environmental Science, Technology & Policy courses as follows:
  • ONE of the following capstone seminar options:
  • ENVS 410: Capstone Integration Seminar (1 unit)
  • ENVS 402: Honors Capstone Seminar II (3 units)
  • ENVS 403: Capstone Seminar II (3 units)
  • Students who select ENVS 410 for their capstone seminar option must enroll concurrently in a 400-level capstone project course after completing ENVS 300. Please meet with a faculty mentor for more information about capstone options.
  • 13 to 15 additional credits (depending upon capstone seminar option liisted above). May not double-count with any other MLO.
  • BIO 242/L: Plant & Animal Form & Function (4 units)
  • BIO 340: Ecology (4 units)
  • BIO 342: Plant Communities of CA (4 units)
  • BIO 344L: Environmental Biotech Lab (4 units)
  • BIO 360: Vertebrate Natural History (4 units)
  • BIO 448: Aquatic Ecology (4 units)
  • BIO 472: California Flora (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 350: Quantitative Field Methds (4 units)
  • ENVS 355: Environmental Monitoring (4 units)
  • ENSTU 387: Water Res Assess/Law/Poli (4 units)
  • ENVS 436: Rmt Sns/Image Process (4 units)
  • ENVS 440: Environmental Modeling (4 units)
  • ENVS 442: Vernal Pools of Ft Ord (4 units)
  • GEOL 360: Geomorphic Systems (4 units)
  • GEOL 460: River Hydrology, Assmt&Monitor (4 units)
  • PHYS 330: Robotics for Ecol Research (4 units)
  • MSCI 433: Seafloor Mapping (4 units)
  • MSCI 470: Sci Pol & Mgmt in Marine Env (4 units)
  • Other upper-division BIO, ENVS, CHEM courses may count with advisor approval

Concentrations

Applied Ecology

The Applied Ecology concentration prepares students for employment immediately after graduation by providing students with a strong background in field biology and ecology as well as marketable skills including GIS, ecological and environmental modeling, experimental design and statistical analysis, as well as aquatic and plant ecology. 

Natural Resources

Students in the Natural Resources Concentration prepare for jobs with natural resource management agencies, developing knowledge and skills in soil science, plant identification, GIS, and water quality, to be prepared for a wide range of post-graduation careers in natural resource management, or for graduate school in a related field. 

Watershed Systems

The mission of the Watershed Systems concentration is to educate and train students for successful careers with organizations that make land-use decisions, particularly in coastal areas where a variety of land-use needs must be reconciled with the need to maintain long-term ecosystem stability. This mission is consistent with the CSU mission of educating students for immediate post-baccalaureate employment. At the same time, students will also have the background and skills necessary to pursue graduate degrees in watershed science, policy or related disciplines. The ESTP core curriculum (MLO's 1 and 2) provides fundamental skills in math, chemistry and physics, as well as an understanding of the important components and interactions of the earth system. The Watershed Systems concentration extends the students learning experience by utilizing core ESTP skills to study the interactions of science, policy and economics at the watershed scale. Students develop critical thinking and writing skills, as well as technical skills useful in acquiring and interpreting environmental information across a variety of space and time scales. These technical skills include an ability to develop environmental monitoring programs, as well as the application of geographic information systems to local watershed issues and concerns.