IMPT FALL CLASS REG INFO
Eric Zimmerman
IMPORTANT FALL CLASS REGISTRATION INFO:
5/11/26 Fall
Registration Pass #1 starts.
Check GOLD for your exact
pass day and time!
5/19/25
Fall
Registration Pass #2 begins.
9/9/26 Fall
registration Pass
#3 starts – Mark your calendar NOW!
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INDEX:
1) REMINDER: ALL ES Fall classes will
have a Pass #1 ES or
HYDO majors only
restriction! If you
are planning to declare the ES major, but have not done so yet,
visit the How
To Declare ES as Your Major webpage!
Can take multiple days to process.
2) Still Need to Take ENVS 1?
If so you’re
strongly advised registering
for it during Pass #1 or #2 as the class has a
reduced number of seats to reserving
space for Summer Orientation students.
3) NEW ES COURSES FOR
FALL 2026!
- ENVS 124 – Socio-Environmental Data Science (B-1 elective)
- ENVS 170 - From Rain to River: Adv. Modeling of Watershed Dynamics (B-1 elective)
4) MANY
REQUIRED ES
COURSES ARE ONLY OFFERED ONCE A YEAR.
See below the list of Fall courses you should consider as
many are required
or
prerequisites for other ES courses.
5) ES
B.S. majors
must take at least 20 UD ES electives for Area B-1. Any
newly added B-1 courses are always retroactive to all ES
B.S. majors, regardless
of which year’s major requirements you’re pursuing. These
are the B-1 courses
offered this Fall quarter:
ENVS 101, 114A, 124 (new), 133, 154, 156,
163A, 170 (new), 171,
and 197
6) BEWARE: ENVS 40 has become a
prerequisite for all ES
Area A
Cluster Courses! Good
news it's offered every quarter and may be taken concurrently.
7) For ES B.S. Majors
looking to complete their
biology requirement:
MCDB 1A is only
offered in the Fall or Summer and it’s a prerequisite to
move on to the
next course in the series. NOTE: ES majors can only
enroll in the MCDB 1A
lecture taught in Campbell hall.
8) TAKE
ENV S 190 IN
THE FALL to learn about “Intro to Environmental
Studies and Environmental
Careers, and what UCSB resources you
may use to better prepare for life after
graduation.”
9) HELPFUL
CLASS
SCHEDULING TOOL:
The ES
2026-27 Proposed Schedule of Courses can help you prepare
and plan your ES
courses for the entire academic year!
10) Approximately ¼ of
all ES courses
are “Cross-listed” meaning
they are the same class but offered under a second
UCSB Department.
To view a list of all ES Cross-listed Departments and which
departments
they are offered under, visit the ES Courses webpage
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CONTEXT:
1) REMINDER:
ALL ES Fall classes will have a Pass #1 ES or HYDO
majors only
restriction! If
you
are planning to declare the ES major, but have not done so
yet,
visit the How
To Declare ES as Your Major webpage!
Can take multiple days to process.
To
assure declared ES majors get priority registration all ES
courses are
restricted to declared ES and HYDRO majors only during
registration Pass
#1. NO EXCEPTIONS CAN BE
MADE! If you are not an
ES or HYDRO major, you will
need to wait till Pass #2 when all ES courses open to any major
as long as you
meet the perroquets and space is still available.
If you are planning to declare the ES major, you can submit your
request electronically
online. Please visit the ES
Change of Major webpage to learn more and to officially
declare the ES
major. The change of
major process can
take multiple days before it shows up in GOLD, and up to 1-2
weeks if you re
declaring a double major or changing majors as a senior. So start the process ASAP!
Questions? First read the Change of Major webpage and then email
advi...@es.ucsb.edu with
any unanswered
questions.
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2) Still Need to Take
ENVS 1? If so you’re
strongly advised registering for it during Pass #1 or #2 as the
class has a
reduced number of seats to reserving space for Summer
Orientation students.
ENVS 1 will remain open during Pass #1 and #2 for continuing students. HOWEVER, as this is a popular class for new freshman and transfer students over 130 seats have been reserved for Summer Orientation. By the time your Pass #3 starts in September ENVS 1 will be at max enrollment and you will have to add yourself to the waitlist and/or try to crash the class. Thus, you are strongly advised to add ENVS 1 during Pass #1 or #2 to give you the best chance of securing a seat.
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3) NEW ES COURSES FOR
FALL 2026!
- ENVS 124 – Socio-Environmental Data Science (B-1 elective)
- ENVS 170 - From Rain to River: Adv. Modeling of Watershed Dynamics (B-1 elective)
ENVS 124 – Socio-Environmental Data Science (4 units, B-1
elective)
Instructor: Professor Brian
Codding
Prerequisites: Upper-Division
Standing and either PSTAT 5A or 5LS or 120A or Economics 5.
Recommended Preparation: Basic
familiarity with the use of R or Python would be helpful; but is
not required
to succeed in this course.
This
is
a small course of just 24 total students.
Data science and applied statistics courses typically focus on
either
environmental or social data. This unique course integrates
data science and
applied statistics from both natural and human systems to
examine their
relationships and address socio-environmental challenges. Each
week, students
learn new skills in data science and applied statistics by
working on
real-world research problems that link environmental and
behavioral data to
study how people impact ecosystems and how environments
influence human
behavior. Topics include linear, non-linear, and machine
learning regression in
R. Weekly assignments guide students through the research
process, helping them
apply methods, interpret results, and communicate findings.
ENVS 170 - From Rain to River: Advanced Modeling of
Watershed Dynamics (4
units, B-1 elective)
Instructor: Professor
Rafael Schmitt
Prerequisites: Math 3A and 3B or 34A and either 34B or
Environmental
Studies 25; PSTAT 5A or 5LS or 120A or Economics 5; and one of
the following
which may be taken concurrently: Environmental Studies 154 or
Earth Sciences
176 or Geography 176A.
Recommended Preparation: Familiarity
with the use of R or Python for statistical computing, data
analysis, and
high-quality graphical visualization..
This is a small course of just 24 total students
Provides hands-on training in the modeling of watershed and
river processes
that shape freshwater systems and influence water resources
management.
Students learn to build, visualize, and interpret both data
and models of
hydrologic flow, erosion, sediment transport, and river
hydraulics using
open-source and agency tools (e.g., SWAT, HEC-RAS, InVEST, and
R/Python
workflows). Emphasis is placed on (1) developing process
understanding, (2)
learning modeling tools and modeling best practices and (3)
visualizing and
communicating results. Students
will
design, apply, and communicate modeling workflows to analyze
hydrologic and
geomorphic processes and their management under change.
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4) MANY REQUIRED ES COURSES
ARE ONLY OFFERED
ONCE A YEAR.
See the list of Fall courses you should consider as many are
required or
prerequisites for other ES courses below:
- ENVS 1 (Intro to ES)
– Fall only or
offered in Summer
- ENVS 40 (Critical
Thinking in ES) is
offered quarterly, but is a prerequisite for any Area A
courses
- ENV S 60 (Applied
Ecology) is required
for all BA majors and only offered in the Fall and
Summer
- ENVS 101 (Ecosystems Services) is an option for Area A-1
cluster
- ENVS 114A (Intro to Soil Sci) is a prerequisite for ENVS
114B in Winter 2026
- ENVS 116 (Sustainable Communities) is an option for Area A-3
cluster
- ENVS 156 (Pathways to a Sustainable Water Infrastructure) is
a A-3 cluster
course
- ENVS 163A (Global Water Resources: Supply & Demand) is
Area A-2 cluster
course
- ENVS 165A (Intro to Environmental Impact Analysis) is a
prerequisite for ENVS
165B
- ENVS 190 (Intro to Environmental Careers) only offered in
Fall. 190 with
different topic will be offered in Spring 2026.
And by application, enrollment in these two ES Capstone
Courses:
- ENVS 195A (Environmental
Leadership Incubator
– ELI) is a must if you want to do a project in 2024-25.
- ENVS 197 (Senior Thesis)
is only offered in
Fall
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5) ES B.S. majors must
take at least 20 UD ES
electives for Area B-1. Any
newly added B-1 courses are always retroactive to all ES
B.S. majors, regardless
of which year’s major requirements you’re pursuing. These
are the B-1 courses
offered this Fall quarter:
ENVS 101, 114A, 124 (new), 133, 154, 156,
163A, 170 (new), 171,
and 197
Note: There are two NEW Area B-1 courses being taught this Fall
that will
retroactively apply to ALL current ES B.S. majors! No petition will be
required.
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6) BEWARE:
ENVS 40 has become a prerequisite for all ES Area A
Cluster
Courses! Good news is it
will be offered
every quarter and may be taken concurrently.
Yes, all courses accepted to satisfy any of the Area A Cluster
requirements
(A-1, A-2, A-3) either currently require or are in the process
of having ENVS
40 added as a prerequisite. Be sure to take this course soon as
possible. The good news
is, where ENVS 40 is required,
the class will allow you to concurrently be enrolled in ENVS 40
that same
quarter.
**************************************************************************
7) For ES B.S. Majors
looking to complete their
biology requirement: MCDB
1A is only
offered in the Fall or Summer and it’s a prerequisite to move on
to the
next course in the series. NOTE: ES majors can only enroll in
the MCDB 1A
lecture taught in Campbell hall.
The
biology sequence is sequential, so one need to take MCDB 1A in
Fall to take
MCDB 1B, EEMB 2 and MCSB 1LL in Winter; then EEMB 3 and EEMB 2LL
in Spring.
Also
be aware the prerequisite for MCDB 1A is to either have
completed or be
concurrently enrolled in CHEM 1C.
NOTE: There are two
intro to MCDB 1A
lectures offered in the Fall. Only
the
one on taught in Capbell Hall is open to ES majors. The one in ILP 1203 is only
open to declared
pre-biology majors through all three Registration Passes.
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8) TAKE ENV S 190 IN THE
FALL to learn about
“Intro to Environmental Studies and Environmental Careers, and
what UCSB
resources you may use to better prepare for life after
graduation.”
The topic is designed to help you think about your career
interests and how to
achieve your desires. The sooner you take this class the more
time you will
have to apply the knowledge and skills you gain while still at
UCSB! Some of the topics
covered include:
• Introduction to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century
• Self-Assessment: Choosing the Right Career for the Right
Reasons
• Second Half of your Education: Internships, Research, Studying
Abroad, etc.
• Intro to UCSB’s Career Services, Resumes & Cover Letters
• Attending Graduate School: Why, When, and How
• And MOST IMPORTANT: Guest ES Alumni Who Will Talk About Their
Environmental
Careers.
Env S 190 is a one-unit, P/NP only, course with no perquisites and is open to all UCSB students and class levels (including first year), and can be taken up to three times for credit. No exams, just complete a couple short exercises all designed to help you better understand the resources available at UCSB and help you prepare for life after graduation.
Here are some quotes from past ENVS 190 students:
- ES 190 offered this quarter put a face and voice to what everyone wants to know as an undergraduate in regards to their working future after college
- Every time I walked out of this class I felt some encouragement that I was finally figuring out my path in college.
- The focus of this class has not only given me insight on environmental careers, but also has given me a smoother transition to understand what is expected as a college student.
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9) HELPFUL CLASS
SCHEDULING TOOL: The ES
2026-27 Proposed Schedule of Courses can help you prepare
and plan your ES
courses for the entire academic year!
This is a helpful tool for preparing one’s short-term Fall as
well as
longer-term 2026-27 class schedule! Just
beware, although this list of courses is the most up-to-date for
the coming
year – it is not set in stone and schedule changes may still
occur prior to the
start of each quarter.
See attached .pdf or download it from the ES
Courses webpage.
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10) Approximately ¼
of all ES courses are “Cross-listed” meaning they are the same
class but
offered under a second UCSB Department. To view a list of all ES
Cross-listed
Departments and which departments they are offered under, visit
the ES Courses webpage
A cross-listed course is a single course offered collaboratively
through two or
more departments or programs. Each department shares
responsibility for the
course and it's likely offered concurrently in the schedule of
classes with
seats made available under both departments (but not always).
One may enroll in
a cross-listed class under either department and have it apply
towards their
major requirements. No need to switch which department you
officially took the
course to move it to another section within your major
requirements.
IMPORTANT:
All cross-listed courses may only apply towards just one
Area/Requirement
within one's major requirements. For example, one can only apply
a cross-listed
course towards Area B (ES Electives) or Area C (Outside
Concentration), but not
both simultaneously.
If you have any questions about how to apply a cross-listed
course towards your
major requirements please consult an ES Academic Advisor.
-- Eric D. Zimmerman (he/him) Student Services Manager, Lecturer Environmental Studies, UC Santa Barbara To schedule a Zoom advising appointment visit: https://tinyurl.com/8nrcckds "Work Hard ~ Play Harder!"