The Environmental Studies Program at The University of California, Santa Barbara, offers three distinct undergraduate degrees, each designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to address pressing environmental challenges.
The B.A. and B.S. degrees in Environmental Studies both provide a holistic understanding of the intricate relationship between human society and the natural world, drawing upon insights from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. These degrees allow students to tailor their education to align with their specific environmental interests and career aspirations.
The major in Hydrological Sciences and Policy focuses on the scientific underpinnings of hydrology, preparing students to tackle complex water-related issues at local, regional, and global scales. The curriculum emphasizes a rigorous framework for comprehending the diverse hydrological processes that shape our environment.
All three-degree programs provide a rigorous academic foundation, exposing students to a comprehensive breadth and depth of environmental knowledge and expertise.
Environmental Studies, B.A.
The Environmental Studies Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex social, cultural, and scientific aspects of environmental challenges and their solutions.
The foundational phase of the program immerses students in a series of interdisciplinary lower-division courses that foster integrated thinking across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Next, students delve into core upper-division courses, selecting one from each of three clusters: Ecology and Society, Energy/Water/Climate, and The Built Environment. These clusters and their associated courses explore critical environmental topics through a multidisciplinary lens, emphasizing solutions and critical thinking.
To culminate their training, students gain in-depth expertise through upper-division Environmental Studies electives and an outside concentration. The outside concentration allows students to complete courses from relevant UCSB departments or programs, aligned with their areas of interest. Approximately one-third of Environmental Studies B.A. majors choose to pursue a double major or minor, participate in field studies, or undertake study abroad programs through this option.
Requirements:
Environmental Studies, B.A.
Environmental Studies, B.S.
The Environmental Studies Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree cultivates expertise in the natural and physical sciences while fostering an understanding of the social and cultural factors that influence environmental issues.
The B.S. curriculum closely resembles the B.A. program, immersing students in interdisciplinary lower-division courses that promote integrated thinking across scientific disciplines, social sciences, and the humanities.
To solidify their scientific foundation, B.S. majors complete a full year of introductory biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus, in addition to introductory social science and humanities courses.
Upper-division coursework delves into the core clusters: Ecology and Society, Energy/Water/Climate, and The Built Environment. These clusters and their associated courses tackle critical environmental themes, drawing from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities while emphasizing solutions and critical thinking.
Students in the B.S. degree track hone their expertise through upper-division Environmental Studies electives and an outside concentration focused solely on physical and natural science disciplines.
Requirements:
Environmental Studies, B.S
Hydrological Sciences & Policy, B.S.
The Hydrological Sciences and Policy major offers a rigorous scientific education that prepares students to tackle complex water-related challenges at various scales.
The program, housed within the Environmental Studies Program, draws upon the expertise of four departments: Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Geography; and Earth Science.
Lower-division coursework focuses on the fundamentals of the natural sciences, laying a solid foundation for further exploration.
In upper-division studies, students delve into core hydrology courses and then choose from three specialized emphases: biology and ecology, physical and chemical sciences, or policy.
This emphasis-based approach allows students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals, enabling them to become experts in their chosen area of hydrology.
Requirements:
Hydrological Sciences & Policy, B.S.
To conclude, these new academic programs reflect UCSB’s commitment to providing its students with a world-class education that prepares them to make a positive impact on the world.
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