Environmental Studies B.s. Ucsb

[Stephany Tousley]

TheEnvironmental Studies Program offers three undergraduate degrees. The B.A. and B.S. degrees in Environmental Studies both integrate knowledge from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to analyze and address the complex interactions between humans and the environment. The two options allow students the opportunity to choose a degree that best fits their environmental interests and goals (learn more about the difference between the B.A. and B.S. in Environmental Studies). The major in Hydrological Sciences and Policy provides students with the scientific training needed to understand and solve complex hydrologic problems at local, regional, and global levels. The goal of the hydrologic sciences curriculum is to provide a rigorous framework for students to examine the range of hydrologic processes in our environment. All three degree programs offer rigorous training and exposure to significant breadth and depth of subject matter.

The Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) in Environmental Studies offers interdisciplinary training necessary for students to explore the social, cultural, and scientific challenges pertaining to the study of environmental threats and solutions. Students are introduced to the major through a series of interdisciplinary lower division courses (ENV S 1, 2, and 3), which emphasize integrated thinking across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They then acquire basic disciplinary expertise by completing a range of lower division prerequisites.

The next stage of training reemphasizes integration and interdisciplinarity. Under the upper division requirements, Environmental Studies majors select three courses, one from each of three clusters (Ecology and Society; Energy/Water/Climate; The Built Environment). Although these clusters and the associated courses vary in focus, each tackles a key environmental topic by drawing on research from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, each emphasizes solutions, and each requires critical thinking.

Finally, students complete their training by acquiring in-depth expertise through upper division Environmental Studies electives and an outside concentration. Through the outside concentration, students complete courses from one or more UCSB departments or programs relating to their emphasis. Approximately one-third of all environmental studies B.A. majors elect to use this section to complete either a double major or minor, or to participate in a field studies or study abroad program.

The goal of the Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) in Environmental Studies is to train students to become proficient in the natural and physical sciences, as well as to be aware of social and cultural influences upon environmental problems facing society today. The B.S. degree follows a curriculum design similar to the B.A. degree. Students in the B.S. degree are also introduced to the major through a series of interdisciplinary lower division courses (ENV S 1, 2, and 3), which emphasize integrated thinking across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. However, their lower division prerequisites include a full year of introductory biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus, in addition to introductory social science and humanities courses.

At the upper division level, the B.S. degree also emphasizes integration and interdisciplinarity. Under the new upper division requirements, B.S. majors in Environmental Studies select three courses, one from each of three clusters (Ecology and Society; Energy/Water/Climate; The Built Environment). Although these clusters and the associated courses vary in focus, each tackles a key environmental topic by drawing on research from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, each emphasizes solutions, and each requires critical thinking.

Students in the B.S. degree track complete their training by acquiring in-depth expertise through upper division Environmental Studies electives and an outside concentration. Both elective and outside concentration courses are restricted to physical and natural science disciplines.

The main focus of the hydrologic sciences and policy major is to provide students with the scientific training needed to understand and solve complex hydrologic problems at local, regional, and global levels. The goal of the hydrologic sciences curriculum is to provide a rigorous framework for students to examine the hydrologic process in our environment. Although the program is housed within the Environmental Studies Program, the curriculum for this degree is offered cooperatively by the departments of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Geography; and Earth Science. Lower-division courses concentrate on the physical and natural sciences. In the upper division, students complete a core group of hydrology courses and then select one of the following three emphases: biology and ecology, physical and chemical sciences, or policy.

The majors leading to a B.A. or B.S. in Biological Sciences are the most general of those offered by EEMB and MCDB. Students in either major take courses fulfilling requirements in several broad areas ranging from ecology to molecular biology, but can choose from a variety of courses in each area. In addition, the Biological Sciences majors allow a greater number of electives than the more specialized majors offered by the two departments. Students who wish to have the most flexibility in their choice of biology courses often choose a Biological Sciences B.A. or B.S. major.

The Biological Sciences B.S. degree is more oriented toward science and math courses, with fewer General Education requirements. The Biological Sciences B.A. degree allows students to pursue a typical liberal arts education while still receiving excellent training in biology.

All students interested in any area of the biological sciences enter UCSB as pre-biological sciences majors. Pre-biology majors share a common core curriculum, typically completed during the freshman and sophomore years, consisting of introductory biology with laboratory, general chemistry with laboratory, mathematics, physics with laboratory, and for many of the majors, organic chemistry with laboratory. After completion of a subset of this key preparatory coursework, students may petition to declare the full major. The Biological Sciences B. S. degree requires completion of 48 upper-division quarter units in biology and offers a strong, well-rounded background in the field. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences requires 36 upper division units in biology and allows students greater flexibility in taking courses both within and outside their major. Students are encouraged to work closely with faculty members who share their interests, and to seek assistance in program planning from the well-informed and helpful undergraduate advisors.

Modern biology is too comprehensive and complex a field for one person to master all sub-disciplines at the advanced level. Thus, most professional biologists specialize in a particular area. A considerable number of biology students pursue graduate study in an area of interest, finding that they can gain admission to any major university on the basis of their Biological Sciences major from UCSB.

Some students elect employment immediately upon graduation. These students secure positions with state or federal agencies, or begin careers in research or supervision within private industries such as pharmaceutical companies and environmental consulting firms.

The Biological Sciences majors and many of the specialized majors are excellent preparation for careers in the health sciences (dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and medical technology). The Health Professions Office in the College of Letters & Sciences advises and supports students from the beginning of their studies in biology to their entrance into health science graduate programs and professional schools.

Students interested in teaching biological sciences or conducting research at a college or university should plan to complete the PhD degree. Teaching at the junior high or high school (secondary) level requires the California single subject teaching credential. Students considering this last option should discuss their plans with the credential advisor in UCSB's Graduate School of Education early in their academic careers.

We recommend taking two upper division biology courses per quarter (assuming 8.0 units per quarter) and, if possible, fulfilling area specific requirements first starting one's Junior/3rd year. This will give you the required 48.0 units required for most of our majors. For more detailed recommendations for the MCDB majors please go to: Resource Documents: Recommended Schedule - MCDB majors.

A major in Chemistry leads one to a trail head at graduation from which many career paths may be taken. One path leads to medical school, or veterinary school or nursing; that is, to a career in the health sciences. Another path leads to graduate studies in chemistry or biochemistry, fore-shadowing a life of teaching and research. Most environmental problems have a fundamental chemical basis. The chemistry major is well prepared to attack such problems, both technically and politically. Chemical analysis underlies many specialties. Criminal forensics, medical tests, and impurity testing come to mind. The chemistry major may choose a path in one of these directions. Synthesis of new materials and drugs is often the goal of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Many of our chemistry majors choose paths leading to careers in these areas. Large numbers of our former chemistry majors follow non-chemistry career paths. They tell us that their chemistry major provided excellent grounding in analytical thinking and an understanding of the basics of nature that helped make them successful in their chosen line of business.?

At UCSB the freshman student planning a degree in chemistry begins with a three quarter course in General Chemistry with Laboratory. Courses in Physics and Mathematics also are taken to provide the tools and understanding needed for later chemistry courses. In the second year, the student takes a three quarter course in Organic Chemistry with Laboratory. More required courses in Physics and, in the case of the B.S. degree Mathematics, also are taken. The student takes Analytical and Physical Chemistry with Laboratories in the junior year. The first opportunity to take upper division electives in chemistry occurs in this year. Electives allow you to place an emphasis on one of the subfields of chemistry. The student takes Inorganic Chemistry and more electives in the senior year. In addition to advanced courses in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, electives exist in biochemistry, biophysics, quantum mechanics, photochemistry, and statistical mechanics. We urge qualified chemistry majors to do some real research too by encouraging independent study and research with individual professors.?

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