Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Environmental Studies, BS

The BS degree, offered by the Department of Environmental Studies , is designed to prepare students for career opportunities in energy or water resources management, biological resource protection, aquatic environments, sustainable agriculture, energy resources, environmental health and safety, environmental impact assessment, environmental restoration, and wilderness open space resource management.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	29
Major Preparation	24
Major Core Requirements	28
Major Electives	21
Advisor Approved Minor	18
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements apply to this major.

Core Lower Division General Education (21 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 18 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Upper Division General Education

Of the 9 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 10 /AMS 11 ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.

Major Preparation (24 units)

BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I 4 unit(s) (B2+B3)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (B1+B3)
ENVS 10 - Life on a Changing Planet 3 unit(s) (B2)
MATH 19 - Precalculus 5 unit(s) (B4)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) (B4)

Major Requirements (67 units)

Core Courses (28 units)

ENVS 1 - Introduction to Environmental Issues 3 unit(s) (A3)
ENVS 100W - Environmental Research and Writing 3 unit(s) (WID)
ENVS 107 - Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy 4 unit(s)
ENVS 110 - Resource Analysis 4 unit(s)
ENVS 117 - Human Ecology 3 unit(s)
ENVS 124 - Introduction to Environmental Law 3 unit(s)
ENVS 185 - Environmental Impact Analysis 4 unit(s)
ENVS 198 - Senior Seminar 4 unit(s)

Major Electives (21 units)

Field Courses (8 units)

Complete two courses:

ENVS 144 - California Wetland Controversies 4 unit(s)
ENVS 148 - Sustainable Materials Management 4 unit(s)
ENVS 154 - Sustainable Agriculture 4 unit(s)
ENVS 161 - California Wildlands 4 unit(s)
ENVS 166 - Nature and Conservation Photography 4 unit(s)
ENVS 173 - Forest Ecology and Conservation 4 unit(s)
ENVS 187 - Environmental Restoration 4 unit(s)
ENVS 189 - Coastal Field Studies 4 unit(s)
ENVS 190 - Advanced Environmental Impact Assessment 4 unit(s)
ENVS 191 - Advanced Environmental Restoration 4 unit(s)
ENVS 270 - Field Studies in Water Resource Management 4 unit(s)

Choose one SJSU Studies Sequence (9 units)

Sequence One (9 units)

ENVS 168A - Climate Action and Leadership I 6 unit(s)
ENVS 168B - Climate Action and Leadership II 3 unit(s) (R+S+V)

Sequence Two (9 units)

ENVS 150 - Introduction to Environmental Thought 3 unit(s) (S)
ENVS 159 - Nature and World Cultures 3 unit(s) (V)

Complete One ‘R’ Course From:

ENVS 111 - Geology and the Environment 3 unit(s) (R)
ENVS 113 - Atmospheric Pollution 3 unit(s) (R)
ENVS 119 - Energy and the Environment 3 unit(s) (R)
ENVS 152 - Globalization and the Environment 3 unit(s) (R)

Advisor Approved Electives (4 units)

Additional units of advisor approved electives.

Recommended that students take 1-3 units of ENVS 194 - Environmental Internship .

Advisor Approved Minor (18 units)

If the minor is fewer than 18 units, students must complete additional advisor approved electives.

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