EV Science Major

The Environmental Science Major has three tracks:

• Integrated Major
• Chemistry Concentration
• Physics Concentration

All Environmental Science majors require the following:

1. The integrated major or a major in Environmental Chemistry or Environmental Physics
2. A capstone experience that includes Environmental Inquiry (EV 221); Environmental Management (EV 321); Senior Seminar (EV 490); and either Environmental Synthesis (EV 421) or Senior Thesis (EV 499) or Senior Paper (EV 420). (3 units)

The Integrated Major (12 units)

Introduction to Global Climate Change (EV 128); Calculus I (MA 126); Physical Geology (GY 140 or GY 130); Sustainable Development or Microeconomics (EV 141 or EC 151); Environmental Policy (EV 271 or PS 321); Environmental Ethics (EV281/PH 246 or EV 275 Nature & Society or EV 273 Environmental History or FG 215 Ecofeminism or EV 130 Environmental Sociology); Human Impacts on Biogeochemical Cycles (EV 211); Analysis of Environmental Data (EV 228 or BY 220 or MA 117 or MA 217); Energy: Environmental Thermodynamics and Energetics (EV 212); Ecology and the Environment (EV 209); Water: Hydrology, Aquatic Chemistry and Ecology (EV 311); and Air: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry (EV 431).

Chemistry Concentration Requirements (13 units)

A student interested in a major in environmental science with an emphasis in chemistry is required to take Sustainable Development or Microeconomics (EV 141 or EC 151); Environmental Policy (EV 271 or PS 321); General Chemistry I & II (CH 107 and 108); Organic Chemistry I  (CH 250); Analytical Chemistry (CH 241); Calculus I and II (MA 126 and 129); Classical Physics I and II (PC 241 and 242) and any three of the following: Organic Chemistry II  (CH 251); Organic Chemistry III (CH 351); Instrumental Analysis (CH 342); Biochemistry I (CH 382), Biochemistry II (CH 383),  Physical Chemistry I (CH 366); Physical Chemistry II (CH 367); Inorganic Chemistry (CH 475); Air: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry (EV 431). Students are encouraged to take the three advanced classes as a concerted sequence that can lead to graduate studies or careers in areas such as toxicology: CH 251, CH 382, CH 383 with CH 345 or atmospheric chemistry: CH 366, CH 367, and EV 431.   Research in Environmental Chemistry and a field biology or geology course are also recommended.

Physics Concentration Requirements (12 units)

A student interested in a major in environmental science with emphasis in physics is required to take Sustainable Development or Microeconomics (EV 141 or EC 151); Environmental Policy (EV 271 or PS 321); Environmental Inquiry (EV 221); Environmental Management (EV 321); Calculus (MA 126, 129, and 204); Introductory Physics (PC 241, 242, and 251); Electronics (PC 261); Techniques of Experimental Physics (PC 361); two additional advanced physics courses (Mechanics I (PC 341), Thermal Physics (PC 349), Solid State Physics (PC 320), or Quantum Mechanics 1 (PC 441) are recommended); and Air: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry (EV 431). Students must also take a capstone course, either PC 450, EV 421, or EV 499.  A field biology or geology course is recommended. A student interested in graduate school or an environmental science career in fields such as Atmospheric Physics, Meteorology, Geophysics, and Oceanography should take additional courses, such as differential equations, computer science, chemistry, and more physics.

Recommended Course Sequence for the Environmental Science Major 

First Year

EV 128:  Introduction to Global Climate Change (1 unit)

MA 126:  Calculus 1  (1 unit)
OR
MA 127:  Calculus 1 & 2 Review may substitute for MA 126 

GY 140:  Physical Geology (1 unit)
OR
GY 130:  Introductory Geology
PR:  No credit after GY 140

EV 141:  Sustainable Development (1 unit)
PR:  No Economics credit after EC 150 (EC151 and EC 152) or EC 160 and May not be counted toward Economics or Political Economy majors
OR
EC 151:  Principles of Microeconomics (1 unit)

Also recommended: an introductory biology class (esp. BY 105:  Biology of Plants) for students with a weak preparation in high school biology and/or CH107 for students with a weak preparation in high school chemistry.

Second Year

EV 212:  Energy:  Environmental Thermodynamics and Energetics (1 unit)
OR
CH 108 Introductory Chemistry II AND PC 241 Intro Classical Physics I may substitute for EV 212
EV 228:  Analysis of Environmental Data (1 unit)
PR:  MA 126 Calculus 1 or MA 125 Pre-Calculus and Calculus or MA 127 Calculus 1 and 2 Review
OR
MA 217 Probability and Statistical Modeling or BY 220 Biostatistics and Experimental Design or MA 117 Probability and Statistics may substitute for EV 228

EV 211:  Human Impacts on Biogeochemical Cycles (1 unit)
PR:  EV128 and (MA126 or MA125 or MA127)
OR
CH 107 AND MA 129 may substitute for EV 211

EV 271:  Environmental Policy (1 unit)
PR:  EV128
OR
PS 321 Public Policymaking may substitute for EV 271

EV 221:  Environmental Inquiry  (1 unit)
PR:  Either (1) EV128 and EV228 or (2) EV141 and EV271 and declared EV Chem or EV Physics track or (3) consent of instructor.

Third Year

EV 209:  Ecology (1 unit)
PR:  EV211
(BY208 may substitute for EV209)

EV 281:  Environmental Ethics (also PH 246 Environmental Ethics)  (1 unit)
OR
EV 275 Nature & Society OR EV 273 American Environmental History OR FG251 Ecofeminism OR EV 130 Environmental Sociology may substitute for EV 281

EV 311:  Water:  Hydrology, Aquatic Chemistry and Ecology (1 unit)
PR:  EV 212, GY140, and EV228; EV209 recommended

EV 321:  Environmental Management  (1 unit)
PR:  EV221 or consent of instructor

Fourth Year

EV 431:  Air:  Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry (1 unit)
PR:  EV212 and EV228; EV311 recommended

EV 421:  Environmental Synthesis (1 unit)
PR:  EV321   
OR
EV 499:  Senior Thesis

EV 490:  Senior Seminar  (0 units)

TOTAL:

15 units   

Recommended Course Sequence for the Environmental Science Chemistry Concentration

First Year

CH 108:  General Chemistry II (1 unit)
PR:  CH 107

MA 126:  Calculus I (2 units)
AND
MA 129:  Calculus 2
PR:  MA 125 or MA 126

EV 141:  Sustainable Development (also EC141/SW141) (1 unit)
PR:  No Economics credit after EC 150 (EC 151 and EC 152) or EC 160 and may not be counted towards Economics or Political Economy majors
OR
EC 151:  Principles of Microeconomics

Second Year

CH 250:  Structures of Organic Molecules (1 unit)
PR:  CH 108

EV 271:  Environmental Policy (1 unit)
PR:  100 or 200-level Environmental Science class or consent of instructor
OR
PS 321:  Public Policymaking (2 units)
PR:  Either PS 101 or PS 103 or consent of instructor

EV 221:  Environmental Inquiry (1 unit)
PR:  EV 128 and EV 228 (or MA 117 or BY 220) or EV 271 and EV 141 or EC 151

Third Year

CH 241:  Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (1 unit)
PR:  CH 108 and CH 250
OR
CH 345:  Bioanalytical Chemistry (1 unit)
PR:  CH 382

PC 241:  Introductory Classical Physics I, II (1 unit)
PR:  Consent of Instructor or MA 129:  Calculus 2
AND
PC 242:  Introductory Classical Physics I, II (1 unit)
PR:  Consent of instructor or PC 241

EV 321:  Environmental Management (1 unit)
PR:  EV 221 or consent of instructor

Fourth Year

EV 421:  Environmental Synthesis (1 unit)
PR:  EV 321 or consent of instructor
OR
EV 499:  Senior Thesis (1 unit)
PR:  Consent of instructor and an appropriate research experience        

EV 490:  Senior Seminar (0 units)

Any 3 of the following:

CH 251:  Reactions of Organic Molecules (3 units total)
PR:  CH 250
OR
CH 210:  Environmental Chemistry
PR:  CH 250 or CH 108 and (BY 208  or GY 130 or GY 140)
OR
CH 351:  Synthesis of Organic Molecules
PR:  CH 251
OR
CH 342:  Introduction to Instrumental Methods
PR:  CH 241
OR
CH 382:  Biochemistry I
PR:  CH 251
OR
CH 383:  Biochemistry II
PR:  CH 382
OR
CH 366:  Physical Chemistry I
PR:  CH 241 and PC 241 and MA 129 and knowledge of computer programming
OR
CH 367:  Physical Chemistry II
PR:  CH 366
OR
CH 475:  Inorganic Chemistry I
PR:  Consent of Instructor or CH 367
OR
EV 431:  Air:  Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry
PR:  Either (1) EV 212 or (2) CH 108 and PC 241

TOTAL:

16 units
*If taking PS 321, the total is 17 units.

Students are encouraged to take the three advanced classes as a concerted sequence that can lead to graduate studies or careers in areas such as toxicology: CH 251, CH 382, CH 383 with CH 345 or atmospheric chemistry:  CH 366, CH 367, and EV 431.  Research in Environmental Chemistry and a field biology or geology course are also recommended.         

Recommended Courses for the Environmental Science Physics Concentration