Earth Systems Science & Policy, B. S.~ Marine & Coastal Ecology Concentration Requirements

Note that many of the courses listed below have required lab components.

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 Earth Systems Science & Policy.

MLO 2 Earth Systems Science & 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 without environment.

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

  • Complete: BIO 340 Ecological 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.

  • Complete one of the following: ESSP 384S Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL; SBS 385 CA/Gov/Politic/Environ/History; ESSP 386 Sci, Enviro & Polit Process; ESSP 387 Water Resource Assess/Law/Poli *

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

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.

  • Complete one of the following not used for MLO 4: ESSP 301 Ecosys Srvs: Sci&Econ Anl; ESSP 303/L CA Transect Orien & Lab; ESSP 309 Sci & Policy of Global Change; ESSP 387 Water Resource Assess/Law/Poli *

MLO 7 Area of Concentration ~ Students must be able to apply advanced knowledge and skills in marine and coastal ecology.

  • Group I
    Complete one of the following: BIO 342 California Ecosystems; BIO 345 Marine Biology; BIO 242 Plant & Animal Form & Function
    Group II
    Complete two of the following: BIO 310 Biochemical Systems; ESSP 330  Elec Proj. for Envir. Measure; ESSP 433 App Mar Sci Tech; ESSP 436 Rmt Sns/Image Process; ESSP 440 Environmental Modeling; ESSP 442 Vernal Pools of Fort Ord; BIO 444L Biotechnology Lab; BIO 448 Aquatic Ecology; ESSP 470 Marine Conservation Biology; or an MLML course approved by your advisor.

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.

  • Complete one of the following: ESSP 350 Quantitative Field Methds; ESSP 355 Environmental Monitoring; MLML 504  Quantitative Marine Science

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

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.

  • Complete one of the following: ESSP 349S Interp MB Natrl Hist F/Commun; ESSP 369S Com-Based Watershed Restor SL; ESSP 384S  Envir Justice & Envir Poli SL. 

* ESSP 387 may be used to satisfy MLO 4 or 6, but not both simultaneously