Earth Systems Science, B.S.

Lower Division Major Requirements [42-44 Units]

• One Earth Systems Science Course (lower division ESS) [4 units]

 

• CHEM 002: General Chemistry I [4 units] or
• CHEM 002H: Honors General Chemistry I [4 units]

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• MATH 015: Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis [2 units] or
• CSE 005: Introduction to Computer Applications [4 units] or
• CSE 020: Introduction to Computing I [2 units]

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• CHEM 010: General Chemistry II [4 units] or
• CHEM 010H: Honors General Chemistry II [4 units]

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• MATH 011: Calculus I [4 units] or
• MATH 021: Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering [4 units]

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• MATH 012: Calculus II [4 units] or
• MATH 022: Calculus II for Physical Sciences and Engineering [4 units]

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• MATH 018: Statistics for Scientific Data Analysis [4 units] or
• MATH 032: Probability and Statistics [4 units] or
• ENVE 105: Environmental Data Analysis [3 units]

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• PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences [4 units] or
• PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences [4 units]

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• PHYS 009: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences [4 units] or
• PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences [4 units]

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• Two additional Natural Sciences or Engineering courses [6-8 units]. Relevant courses outside of Natural Sciences or Engineering by approval.

Upper Division Major Requirements [21 Units]

• ESS 100: Environmental Chemistry [4 units]
• ESS 110: Hydrology and Climate [4 units]
• ESS 120: Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Microbiology [4 units]
• BIO 148: Fundamentals of Ecology [4 units]
• ESS 141: Environmental Science and Policy [4 units] or equivalent course (by approval)
• ESS 190: Undergraduate Seminar [1 unit]

Upper Division Elective Courses [9-12 Units]

Complete three elective courses in ESS or related fields. Elective courses in the major can be selected from among upper division ESS courses (3 or 4 units) or from related courses offered in other areas, such as Biology (BIO), Environmental Engineering (ENVE), Engineering (ENGR), geography (GEOG), and management (MGMT). A list of approved courses offered each semester is available in the Natural Sciences office. Example elective courses include:

• ESS 103: Geochemistry of Earth Systems [3 units]
• ESS 105: Biogeochemistry [4 units]
• ESS 112: Subsurface Hydrology [4 units]
• ESS 124: Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology [3 units]
• ESS 125: Microbial Ecology [4 units]
• ESS 129: Paleoecology [3 units]
• ESS 132: Applied Climatology [3 units]
• ESS 149: Conservation Biology [4 units]
• ESS 170: Fundamentals of Soil Science [3 units] and
• ESS 170L: Soil Science Laboratory [1 unit]
• ESS 174: Stable Isotope Ecology [4 units]
• ECON 120: Economics of the Environment and Public Policy [4 units]
• ENGR 180: Spatial Analysis and Modeling [4 units]
• ENVE 114: Mountain Hydrology of the Western United States [3 units]
• ENVE 118: Global Change [4 units]
• ENVE 140: Water Resources Planning and Management [3 units]
• ENVE 152: Remote Sensing of the Environment [4 units]
• BIO 140: Genetics [4 units]
• BIO 141: Evolution [4 units]

Additional Degree Requirements [10-13 Units]

• ECON 120: Economics of the Environment and Public Policy [4 units] or
• ECON 100: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory [4 units] or
• ENGR 155: Engineering Economic Analysis [3 units]

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• Two upper division electives in Natural Sciences or Engineering [6-8 units]. Relevant courses outside of Natural Sciences or Engineering by approval.

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• ESS 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units] or
• ESS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units] or
• ENGR 097: Engineering Service Learning [1-2 units] or
• ENGR 197: Engineering Service Learning [1-2 units]

Transfer Students

To be admitted to the Earth Systems Science major transfer students must meet the following requirements:

Applicants will, at the time of admission have completed at minimum each of the following courses (or their equivalent) with a “C-” or better:

• CHEM 002: General Chemistry I [4 units]
• CHEM 010: General Chemistry II [4 units]

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• MATH 011: Calculus I [4 units] or
• MATH 021: Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering [4 units]

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• PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences [4 units] or
• PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences [4 units]