May 16, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Catalog

Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystem Science Emphasis, B.S. Four-Year Course Plan

All General Education course options can be found here.   

Please Note: This four-year plan serves as a general guide and assumes that all prerequisite requirements have been met prior to each course. Students may need to complete additional prerequisite coursework (MATH 005 , CHEM 001 , WRI 001 ) based on placement results or prior preparation. Be sure to consult with your academic advisor to create a personalized plan that aligns with your individual progress and goals.

First Year
Fall Spring
ESS 001: Introduction to Earth Systems Science   Major Lower Division ESS Elective
MATH 011: Calculus I  or  MATH 021: Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering   MATH 012: Calculus II  or  MATH 022: Calculus II for Physical Sciences and Engineering  
SPRK 001: Spark Seminar  or  SPRK 010: Spark Seminar   WRI 010: College Reading and Composition  
CHEM 002: General Chemistry I  and CHEM 002L   CHEM 010: General Chemistry II  and CHEM 010L  

Second Year
Fall Spring
Major Probability and Statistics ESS 148: Fundamentals of Ecology  
General Education: Area B–Approaches to Knowledge Social Science, Literary and Textual Analysis, Media and Visual Analysis, Societies and Cultures of the Past General Education: Area B–Approaches to Knowledge Social Science, Literary and Textual Analysis, Media and Visual Analysis, Societies and Cultures of the Past
Major Computer Science Requirement Major Lower Division NS/ENGR Elective
PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences  and PHYS 018L  OR  PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences  and PHYS 008L   PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences  and PHYS 019L  OR  PHYS 009: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences  and PHYS 009L  

Third Year
Fall Spring
ESS 120: Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Microbiology   ESS 170: Fundamentals of Soil Science  and ESS 170L  
Major Non-Ecosystem Emphasis Elective ESS 190: Undergraduate Seminar  
General Education: Upper Division Writing in the Discipline Major Ecosystem Science Emphasis Elective
General Education: Area B–Approaches to Knowledge Social Science, Literary and Textual Analysis, Media and Visual Analysis, Societies and Cultures of the Past Major Non-Ecosystem Emphasis Elective

Fourth Year
Fall Spring
Major Ecosystem Science Emphasis Elective Major Ecosystem Science Emphasis Elective
Major Upper Division NS/ENGR Elective Major Research or Service-Learning Course
General Education: Upper Division Crossroads Major Upper Division NS/ENGR Elective
Major Ecosystem Science Emphasis Elective Free Elective