Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystem Science Emphasis, B.S.

Biological or Environmental Systems Science Requirement [4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

• ESS 001: Introduction to Earth Systems Science Units: 4
• ESS 002: Sustainability Science Units: 4
• BIO 005: Concepts and Issues in Biology Today Units: 4
• BIO 012: Introduction to Organismal Biology Units: 4

Environmental Systems Science Requirement [4 units]

Complete one lower division ESS course from the following, with *indicating courses recommended for the Earth and Climate Science emphasis track and ^indicating courses recommended for the Ecosystem Science emphasis track:

• *  ESS 010: Earth Resources and Society Units: 4
• *  ESS 015: Weather, Climate, and the Environment Units: 4
• *  ESS 020: Fundamentals of Geology Units: 4
• *, ^  ESS 034: Introduction to Marine Science Units: 4
• ESS 040: Air Quality, Air Resources and Environmental Health Units: 4
• ^  ESS 043: Biodiversity and Conservation Units: 4
• ^  ESS 050: Ecosystems of California Units: 4
• ^  ESS 060: Global Environmental Change Units: 4
• ^  ESS 065: Natural History of Dinosaurs Units: 4

General Chemistry Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following two chemistry courses:

• CHEM 002: General Chemistry I Units: 4 or CHEM 002H  
• CHEM 010: General Chemistry II Units: 4 or CHEM 010H  

Computer Science Requirement [2-4 units]

Complete one of the following computer science courses:

• CSE 005: Introduction to Computer Applications Units: 4
• CSE 019: Introduction to Computing Units: 4
• MATH 015: Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis Units: 2

Mathematics Requirement [8 units]

Complete Calculus I and II:

• MATH 011: Calculus I Units: 4 or
• MATH 021: Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering Units: 4

• and

• MATH 012: Calculus II Units: 4 or
• MATH 022: Calculus II for Physical Sciences and Engineering Units: 4

Probability and Statistics Requirement [4-5 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

• BIO 018: Data Science for Life Sciences Units: 4
• ECON 010: Statistical Inference Units: 4
• MATH 018: Statistics for Scientific Data Analysis Units: 4
• MATH 032: Probability and Statistics Units: 4
• PSY 010: Analysis of Psychological Data Units: 5

Physics Requirement [8 units]

Complete Introductory Physics I and II:

• PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences Units: 3 or PHYS 008H  
• PHYS 008L: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences Lab Units: 1
• PHYS 009: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences Units: 3 or PHYS 009H  
• PHYS 009L: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences Lab Units: 1

•  

  or

   

• PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences Units: 3
• PHYS 018L: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences Lab Units: 1
• PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences Units: 3
• PHYS 019L: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences Units: 1

Undergraduate Research Requirement [2-5 units]

Complete one of the following research courses for a minimum of two units:

• ESS 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research Units:
• ESS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research Units:
• ESS 148F: Ecology Research in the Field and Lab Units: 4
• ENGR 097: Engineering Service Learning I Units: 2
• ENGR 197: Engineering Service Learning II Units: 3

Natural Sciences or Engineering Course Requirement [9-12 units]

Complete one additional lower-division and two additional upper-division Natural Sciences or Engineering courses. Relevant courses outside of Natural Sciences or Engineering may be allowed with approval.

Additional Information

Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.8 in transferable courses. A one-year series of algebra or trigonometry-based physics may also be accepted in place of PHYS 8/8L or PHYS 18/18L. Any outstanding General Education and Major preparation coursework will be completed at UC Merced. Students should also consult the Information for Prospective Students link on the School of Natural Sciences website naturalsciences.ucmerced.edu for more information.