Environmental Systems
Office: 188 Galbraith Hall, Revelle College
Program Faculty
Courses
There can be little doubt that in the twenty-first century the global
human community is facing a substantial growth in the environmental consequences
of providing food, energy, materials, and basic services to a population
of more than six billion inhabitants. The Environmental Systems Program
recognizes the growing demand for environmental specialists and is designed
to prepare undergraduates to enter a broad spectrum of environmental careers
and graduate programs in, for example, the natural sciences, the social
sciences, public policy, law, and business.
This interdisciplinary program recognizes that local, national, regional,
international, and global environmental problems do not fit neatly into
traditional academic departments. A measurable part of societys
inability to effectively manage complex environmental problems stems from
the lack of specialists who can apply analytical tools that cross disciplinary
boundaries. Many environmental specialists possess little training in
the natural sciences including both the fundamental ideas and methodologies
of the earth and environmental sciences. The environmental systems
major was created to address both of these shortcomings.
To encourage and foster an interdisciplinary focus in the major, the
Environmental Systems Program is supported by a wide range of UCSD faculty
representing the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities,
engineering, and medicine. The program includes a required lower-division
core, an upper-division integrating course sequence, two other
upper-division courses and statistics, an advanced track, and a senior
integrative project and seminar. There is a strong emphasis on a rigorous
natural science foundation as well as an introduction to the policy sciences
for all students enrolled in the major. The Environmental Systems program
places a significant value on interdisciplinary problem solving and all
majors are expected to complete an integrative Senior Project in their
final year. The Senior Project is designed by the student to focus on
an interdisciplinary environmental problem or research topic. Appropriate
topics for the Senior Project could conceivably include biodiversity conservation,
coastal zone management, environmental health, climate change, environmental
justice, and/or urban air quality. An important component of the Senior
Project is an off-campus or laboratory internship where students might
work on, for example, the development of a comprehensive management plan
for a threatened ecosystem. The Senior Seminar provides a venue for the
presentation and group evaluation of the ESYS Senior Projects. Distinction
in the major may be awarded for outstanding projects.
The Environmental Systems Major
The requirements for completion of the environmental systems major include
a lower-division core, two upper-division courses, a three course upper-division
integrating sequence (ESYS 101, ESYS 102, ESYS 103), an upper-division
statistics course, advanced courses in one of four tracks, and the senior
project (ESYS 190A) and senior seminar (ESYS 190B). Any questions concerning
the requirements should be directed to the associate director or the program
adviser. Students completing the advanced tracks in Earth Sciences,
Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, and Environmental
Chemistry will be awarded a B.S. in environmental systems. The B.A.
In environmental systems will be granted to students completing the Environmental
Policy track within the major.
A grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in the upper-division major program
is required for graduation. Students must receive a grade of C or
better in any course to be counted toward fulfillment of the major requirements.
In exceptional cases, students with a grade-point average in the major
of 2.5 or greater may petition to have one grade of D accepted.
Lower-Division Core Requirements
(Should be completed early in students degree program.)
Biology 3BILD 3
Chemistry 6A, 6B, 6BL, 6CEnvironmental Chemistry track students
must also complete Chemistry 6CL
Physics 1A, 1B, 1CEarth Sciences track students complete Physics
2A-B-C
Mathematics 10A, 10B, 10CEarth Sciences track students complete
Math. 20A-B, 20C, and Math. 20D is recommended Economics 1A
Upper-Division Core Requirements
Economics 131. Economics of the Environment
Political Science 160AA. Introduction to Policy Analysis
Integrating Course Sequence
(Should be taken junior year.)
Environmental Systems 101. The Living Earth
Environmental Systems 102. The Solid and Fluid Earth
Environmental Systems 103. The Human Earth
Environmental Systems 190A. Senior Project (two quarters)
Environmental Systems 190B. Senior Seminar
Environmental Systems Major Tracks
There are four advanced tracks in which students must complete a minimum
of seven upper-division courses. Students will select courses following
the requirements below in consultation with a faculty adviser.
Earth Sciences
Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Policy
The program is working with the School of Engineering to create an Environmental
Engineering track to be offered at a future date.
Earth Sciences Track
Required upper-division courses:
ERTH 101. Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences
ERTH 102. Introduction to Geochemistry
MATH 183. Statistical Methods (This statistics course, required in sophomore
year)
Upper-division electives: (must complete a minimum of seven courses)
Solid Earth emphasis:
ERTH 103. Introduction to Geophysics
ERTH 104. Geobiology
ERTH 105. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
ERTH 120. Introduction to Mineralogy
ERTH 130. Geodynamics of Terrestrial Planets
ERTH 144. Isotope Geochemistry
ERTH 160. Introduction to Tectonics
ERTH 162A. Introduction to Field Geology
ERTH 162L. Structural Analysis for Field Geology
ERTH 180. Geophysics of Natural Resources
ERTH 182. Field Geophysics
SIO 210. Physical Oceanography
SIO 260. Marine Chemistry
SIO 240. Marine Geology
Other ERTH/SIO courses by petition
Ocean/Atmosphere emphasis:
ERTH 142. Atmospheric Chemistry and Biochemical Cycles
Chemistry 149A. Environmental Chemistry
Chemistry 173. Atmospheric Chemistry
SIO 240. Marine Geology
SIO 269. Special Topics in Marine Chemistry
SIO 280. Biological Oceanography
BIEB 130. Introduction to Marine Ecology
Other courses may be substituted by petition.
CURRICULUM GUIDE PLANNING
FALL
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WINTER
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SPRING
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Freshman
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Chem. 6A
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Chem. 6B
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Chem. 6C
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Math. 20A
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Math. 20B
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Math. 20C
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Chem. 6BL
|
Bild 3
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|
|
Sophomore
|
|
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Math. 20D (recommended)
|
Phys. 2B
|
Phys. 2C
|
Phys. 2A
|
Econ. 131
|
UD Esys elective
|
Econ. 1A
|
Poli. 160AA
|
|
|
Junior
|
|
|
Erth 101
|
Erth 102
|
UD Esys elective
|
Esys 101
|
Esys 102
|
Esys 103
|
Math. 183
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
|
Senior
|
|
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190B
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
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|
Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Track
Required upper-division courses:
BICD 100. Genetics
BIEB 100. Biometry (satisfies upper-division statistics requirement)
Upper-division electives [a total of seven courses required, one of which
must be a lab course, selected from the courses below.] Students may satisfy
some part of the upper-division elective requirements through enrollment
in the Environmental Biology Program at the White Mountain Research Station
(WMRS). The courses that make up this program are listed below as BIEB
170-171-172. For details contact the Environmental Systems Program office.
BIBC 100. Structural Biochemistry
BIBC 102. Metabolic Biochemistry
BIBC 103. Biochemical Techniques
BIBC 115. Computer Programming in Biology
BIBC 120. Nutrition
BIBC 130. Marine Biochemistry
BICD 110. Cell Biology
BICD 120. Fundamental of Plant Biology
BICD 130. Embryos, Genes, and Development
BICD 134. Human Reproduction and Development
BIEB 102. Introductory EcologyOrganisms and Habitats
BIEB 120. General Ecology
BIEB 121. Ecology Laboratory
BIEB 126. Plant Ecology
BIEB 130. Introduction to Marine Ecology
BIEB 140. Biodiversity
BIEB 150. Evolution
BIEB 156. Population Genetics
BIEB 164. Behavioral Ecology
BIEB 166. Animal Communication
BIEB 170. Field Ecology (WMRS)
BIEB 171. Physiological Ecology (WMRS)
BIEB 172. Applied Conservation Biology (WMRS)
BIEB 176. Conservation and the Human Predicament
BIEB 178. Principles of Conservation Ecology
BIEB 179. Conservation Biology Laboratory
BIEB 180. Principles of Conservation Genetics
BIMM 100. Molecular Biology
BIMM 110. Molecular Basis of Disease
BIMM 114. Virology
BIMM 120. Bacteriology
BIMM 121. Laboratory in Microbiology
BIMM 124. Medical Microbiology
BIMM 126. Environmental Microbiology
BIMM 127. Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
BIPN 100. Mammalian Physiology I
BIPN 102. Mammalian Physiology II
BIPN 105. Animal Physiology Lab (6)
BIPN 106. Comparative Physiology (4)
ERTH 150. Environmental Perils
Other courses may be substituted by petition.
CURRICULUM GUIDE PLANNING
FALL
|
WINTER
|
SPRING
|
|
Freshman
|
|
|
Chem. 6A
|
Chem. 6B
|
Chem. 6C
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Math. 10A
|
Chem. 6BL
|
Math. 10C
|
|
Math. 10B
|
Bild 3
|
|
Sophomore
|
|
|
Phys. 1A
|
Phys. 1B
|
Phys. 1C
|
Econ. 1A
|
Econ. 131
|
UD Esys elective
|
Bicd 100
|
Bieb 100 (statistics)
|
Poli. 160AA
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Junior
|
|
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Esys 101
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Esys 102
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Esys 103
|
UD Esys elective lab
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
|
Senior
|
|
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190A
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Esys 190B
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys Elective
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Environmental Chemistry Track
Students must complete two of the following courses:
Chemistry 149A. Environmental Chemistry
Chemistry 149B. Environmental Chemistry
Chemistry 173. Atmospheric Chemistry
Students must complete:
Math. 183. Statistical Methods (This statistics course required in sophomore
year)
Chemistry 140A and B. Organic Chemistry
One upper-division lab from either:
Chemistry 106. Instrumental Analysis Laboratory
Chemistry 143A. Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Two other upper-division courses, for example:
Chemistry 122. Biochemical Evolution
Chemistry 124. Bioinorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 126/127. Physical Chemistry
Chemistry 131/132/133. Physical Chemistry
Chemistry 140C. Organic Chemistry
Other courses may be substituted by petition.
CURRICULUM GUIDE PLANNING
FALL
|
WINTER
|
SPRING
|
|
Freshman
|
|
|
Chem. 6A
|
Chem. 6B
|
Chem. 6C
|
Math. 10A
|
Chem. 6BL
|
Math. 10C
|
Bild 3
|
Math. 10B
|
Chem. 6CL
|
|
Sophomore
|
|
|
Phys. 1A
|
Phys. 1B
|
Phys. 1C
|
Econ. 1A
|
Econ. 131
|
Chem. 140A
|
Math. 183
|
|
Poli. 160AA
|
|
Junior
|
|
|
Chem. 140B
|
*Chem. 149B
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*Chem. 173
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*Chem. 149A
|
Chem. 106 OR
|
Chem. 143A
|
Esys 101
|
Esys 102
|
Esys 103
|
|
Senior
|
|
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190B
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
|
|
* Choose (2) out of 3
Environmental Policy Track
Students complete a minimum of seven courses selected from the following
list. It is also possible to complete the requirements for the Environmental
Policy track with a specialization that includes courses from one of the
other tracks. For example, a course of study with a focus on conservation
biology and policy for students who may be interested in the policy and
scientific dimensions of habitat conservation planning for endangered
species, would include advanced courses from the Ecology, Behavior, and
Evolution track.
One upper-division Statistics courseMath 183. Statistical
Methods or Economics 120A. Econometrics.
Economics 132. Energy Economics
Economics 125. Economics of Population Growth
Economics 116. Economic Development
Economics 130. Public Policy
Political Science 102L. The Politics of Regulation
Political Science 125. The Politics of Conservation in Developing Countries
Political Science 150A. Politics of Immigration
Political Science 160AB. Introduction to Policy Analysis
Earth Sciences 150. Environmental Perils
IR-PS 453*. Sustainable Development
IR-PS 458*. International Environmental Policy
HISC 105. History of Environmentalism
HIUS 154. Western Environmental History
ANBI 132. Conservation and the Human Predicament
Com/Cul 148. Communication and the Environment
Env. Studies 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies
Env. Studies 110. Environmental Law
Philosophy 148. Philosophy of the Environment
Philosophy 164. Technology and Human Values
USP 124. Land Use Planning
USP 144. Environmental and Preventive Health Issues
USP 170. Planning Theory and Practice
USP 171. Sustainable Development
Other courses may be substituted by petition.
* These graduate courses are offered through the Graduate School of International
Relations and Pacific Studies. Enrollment in these courses requires the
permission of the instructor.
CURRICULUM GUIDE PLANNING
FALL
|
WINTER
|
SPRING
|
|
Freshman
|
|
|
Chem. 6A
|
Chem. 6B
|
Chem. 6C
|
Math. 10A
|
Math. 10B
|
Math. 10C
|
|
Chem. 6BL
|
Bild 3
|
|
Sophomore
|
|
|
Phys. 1A
|
Phys. 1B
|
Phys. 1C
|
Econ. 1A
|
Econ. 131
|
Poli. 160AA or Econ. 120A
|
|
Junior
|
|
|
Esys 101
|
Esys 102
|
Esys 103
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
|
Senior
|
|
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190A
|
Esys 190B
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
UD Esys elective
|
|
|
UD Esys elective
|
|
Study abroad through the Education Abroad Program or Opportunities Abroad
Program can enhance a students major, particularly as an opportunity
for diverse field experiences. However, careful planning is important
to meet all major requirements. Please contact the Environmental Systems
Office as early as possible if you are planning to study abroad.
Environmental Systems
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