Environmental Science and Management, Ecological Restoration Concentration, B.S.

Our Bachelor of Science degree program explores the interactions between the biological and physical world, human institutions, and human behavior. You’ll choose one of five concentrations that will allow you to discover the intricate balance of people and nature through multiple disciplines.

Graduates should find work with state, federal, and local governments, nonprofit conservation organizations, private sector consulting firms (particularly those dealing with environmental impact analysis, environmental planning, wetlands delineation, environmental restoration, geospatial applications in natural resources, energy technology and planning, and natural resource management), or go on to professional and graduate schools to study ecology, environmental law, environmental planning, human dimensions of natural resources, outdoor recreation management, geospatial science, natural resources management, wilderness management, public administration, or environmental policy.

High school students need strong academic preparation in math, writing, and the sciences.

Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill General Education & All-University Requirements , residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . This major includes a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course.

Requirements for the Major (78-79 Units)

Students must complete all courses in the major with a grade of C- or better. The major has 24 units that may double-count toward GE requirements.

Core Courses (42-43 Units)

BOT 105 - General Botany Units: 4
ESM 105 - Natural Resource Conservation Units: 3
GSP 101 - Geospatial Concepts Units: 3
ESM 200 - Inscape and Landscape Units: 3
or
SCI 100 - Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century Units: 3
MATH 101 - College Algebra Units: 3
or
MATH 101I - College Algebra with Integrated Support Units: 3 and
MATH 1 - Support for College Algebra Units: 1
or
MATH 102 - Algebra and Elementary Functions Units: 4
STAT 109 - Introductory Biostatistics Units: 4
ESM 230 - Environmental Methods Units: 3
ESM 303 - Applied Natural History and Ecology Units: 4
ESM 305 - Environmental Conflict Resolution Units: 3
ESM 309B - Environmental Communication Units: 3
ESM 325 - Environmental Law and Regulation Units: 3
ESM 435 - Grant Proposal Writing Units: 2

Capstone Options

Complete one of the following courses based on declared concentration.

ESM 410 - Geospatial Capstone Units: 4
ESM 411 - Energy and Climate Capstone Units: 4
ESM 453 - Environmental Education and Interpretation Capstone Units: 4
ESM 455 - Ecological Restoration Capstone Units: 4
ESM 475 - Environmental Planning and Policy Capstone Units: 4

Concentration Courses (36 Units)

Lower Division

CHEM 107 - Fundamentals of Chemistry Units: 4
GSP 270 - Geographic Information Science (GIS) Units: 3
SOIL 260 - Introduction to Soil Science Units: 3

Upper Division

BOT 350 - Plant Taxonomy Units: 4
ESM 355 - Principles of Ecological Restoration Units: 3
ESM 425 - Environmental Impact Assessment Units: 3
FOR 315 - Forest Management Units: 3 and
FOR 431 - Forest Restoration Units: 3
or
RRS 306 - Rangeland Management Principles Units: 3 and
RRS 430 - Rangeland Restoration and Improvement Units: 3
WSHD 310 - Hydrology and Watershed Management Units: 4

Approved Electives

Complete two courses for at least 6 units. Select in consultation with major advisor.

BOT 354 - Agrostology Units: 4
BOT 355 - Lichens and Bryophytes Units: 4
BOT 358 - Biology of the Microfungi Units: 2
BOT 359 - Biology of the Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes Units: 2
BOT 360 - Biology of the Fleshy Fungi Units: 2
ENGL 311 - Creative Writing for Environmental Justice Units: 4
ESM 301 - International Environmental Issues and Globalization Units: 3
ESM 420 - Ecosystem Analysis Units: 3
ESM 430 - Natural Resource Management in Protected Areas Units: 3
ESM 460 - Environmental Planning for Public Lands and Rural Communities Units: 3
ESM 462 - Coastal and Marine Planning Units: 3
ESM 469 - Field Course in Environmental Science and Management Units: 1-4
FISH 300 - Introduction to Fishery Biology Units: 3
FISH 310 - Ichthyology Units: 4
FISH 320 - Limnology Units: 3
FISH 476 - Ecology of Running Waters Units: 3
FIRE 321 - Fire Ecology Units: 3
FOR 374 - Wilderness Area Management Units: 3
FOR 430 - Forest Ecosystems Units: 3
GEOL 306 - General Geomorphology Units: 3
GSP 370 - Intermediate Geographic Information Science (GIS) Units: 3
NAS 304 - Native Tribes of California Units: 3
NAS 331 - Indigenous Natural Resource Management Practices Units: 3
NAS 332 - Environmental Justice Units: 3
NAS 366 - Tribal Water Rights Units: 4
SOIL 360 - Origin and Classification of Soils Units: 3
SOIL 363 - Wetland Soils Units: 3
SOIL 460W - Wildland Soil Management and Erosion Control Units: 3
SOIL 468 - Introduction to Agroforestry Units: 3
WSHD 424 - Watershed Hydrology Units: 3
WSHD 558 - Advanced Climate Change and Land Use Units: 3
WLDF 365 - Ornithology I Units: 3
WLDF 430 - Ecology and Management of Wetland Habitats for Wildlife Units: 3
WLDF 431 - Ecology and Management of Upland Habitats for Wildlife Units: 3
WLDF 460 - Conservation Biology Units: 3
ZOOL 316 - Freshwater Aquatic Invertebrates Units: 3
ZOOL 354 - Herpetology Units: 4
ZOOL 356 - Mammalogy Units: 3
ZOOL 358 - General Entomology Units: 4

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will:

Apply science to understanding ecosystems and natural resources.
Understand the policy and socio-cultural implications of environmental issues.
Analyze human impacts on the physical, biological, and/or cultural world, and propose appropriate management strategies.
Seek out original and secondary sources of information necessary to understand complex environmental issues.
Communicate with the public and professionals concerning the environmental sciences.
Use critical thinking skills to apply measurable criteria to evaluate contemporary environmental decision-making.