Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate Degrees
Environmental Studies (ENVS)
| Required core courses (48 units) |
Units |
| BISC 103Lx |
General Biology for the Environment and Life |
4 |
| CHEM 103Lx |
General Chemistry for the Environment and Life |
4 |
| ENST 100 |
Introduction to Environmental Studies |
4 |
| ENST 320ab |
Water and Soil Sustainability; Energy and Air Sustainability |
4-4 |
| ENST 387 |
Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment |
4 |
| ENST 495 |
Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies |
4 |
| GEOL 160L |
Introduction to Geosystems |
4 |
| IR 323 |
Politics of Global Environment |
4 |
| MATH 118x* |
Fundamental Principles of the Calculus, or |
4 |
| MATH 125* |
Calculus I |
4 |
| POSC 270 |
Introduction to Environmental Law and Politics |
4 |
| PSYC 274L* |
Statistics I |
4 |
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
Concentration in Sustainability, Energy and Society (56 units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| two of the following COURSES |
UNITS |
| ENST 370 |
Marine and Coastal Environmental Policy |
4 |
| ENST 410 |
Water and Energy Management in the Asia-Pacific Region |
4 |
| ENST 442 |
Global Climate Change: Policy and Society |
4 |
| ENST 485 |
Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Societies |
4 |
| MOR 466 |
Business and Environmental Sustainability |
4 |
Concentration in Oceans, Life and People (56 units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| TWO OF THE FOLLOWINg courses |
UNITS |
| BISC 427 |
The Global Environment |
4 |
| ENST 310 |
Sustainable Fisheries Management |
4 |
| ENST 370 |
Marine and Coastal Environmental Policy |
4 |
| ENST 410 |
Water and Energy Management in the Asia-Pacific Region |
4 |
| ENST 480** |
Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia |
4 |
Concentration in Climate, Earth and Environment (56 Units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES |
UNITS |
| ENST 442 |
Global Climate Change: Policy and Society |
4 |
| ENST 445 |
Earth Climate: Past, Present, and Future |
4 |
| GEOL 470L |
Environmental Hydrogeology |
4 |
| ENST 480** |
Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia |
4 |
Concentration in Environmental Public Policy (56 Units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| required COURSES |
UNITS |
| PPD 420 |
Environmental Impact Assessment |
4 |
| PPD 461 |
Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning |
4 |
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
Concentration in Sustainability, Energy and Society (72 units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES |
UNITS |
| ENST 370 |
Marine and Coastal Environmental Policy |
4 |
| ENST 410*** |
Water and Energy Management in the Asia-Pacific Region |
4 |
| ENST 442*** |
Global Climate Change: Policy and Society |
4 |
| ENST 485*** |
Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Societies |
4 |
| MOR 466 |
Business and Environmental Sustainability |
4 |
| FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING ELECTIVE COURSES |
UNITS |
| BISC 427 |
The Global Environment |
4 |
| ENST 410*** |
Water and Energy Management in the Asia-Pacific Region |
4 |
| ENST 442*** |
Global Climate Change: Policy and Society |
4 |
| ENST 445 |
Earth Climate: Past, Present, and Future |
4 |
| ENST 485*** |
Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Societies |
4 |
| GEOG 360 |
Environmental Disasters |
4 |
| GEOL 450L |
Geosystems |
4 |
| GEOL 470L |
Environmental Hydrogeology |
4 |
| IR 422 |
Ecological Security and Global Politics |
4 |
| POSC 436 |
Environmental Politics |
4 |
| PPD 461 |
Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning |
4 |
Concentration in Oceans, Life and People (72 units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES |
UNITS |
| BISC 427 |
The Global Environment |
4 |
| ENST 310*** |
Sustainable Fisheries Management |
4 |
| ENST 410*** |
Water and Energy Management in the Asia-Pacific Region |
4 |
| ENST 370 |
Marine and Coastal Environmental Policy |
4 |
| ENST 480** |
Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia |
4 |
| FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING ELECTIVE COURSES |
UNITS |
| BISC 315L |
Introduction to Ecology |
4 |
| BISC 320L |
Molecular Biology |
4 |
| BISC 447L |
Island Biogeography and Field Ecology |
4 |
| BISC 456L |
Conservation Genetics |
4 |
| BISC 469L |
Marine Biology |
4 |
| ENST 310*** |
Sustainable Fisheries Management |
4 |
| ENST 410*** |
Water and Energy Management in the Asia-Pacific Region |
4 |
| ENST 480** |
Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia |
4 |
| ENST 485 |
Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Societies |
4 |
| GEOL 320L |
Surficial Processes and Stratigraphic Systems |
4 |
| GEOL 412 |
Oceans, Climate, and the Environment |
4 |
| GEOL 450L |
Geosystems |
4 |
| GEOL 470L |
Environmental Hydrogeology |
4 |
Concentration in Climate, Earth and Environment (72 units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES |
UNITS |
| ENST 442*** |
Global Climate Change: Policy and Society |
4 |
| ENST 445 |
Earth Climate: Past, Present, and Future |
4 |
| GEOL 470L |
Environmental Hydrogeology |
4 |
| ENST 480** |
Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia |
4 |
| required COURSES |
UNITS |
| MATH 126 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| PHYS 151L |
Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics |
4 |
| TWO OF THE FOLLOWING ELECTIVE COURSES |
UNITS |
| BISC 427 |
The Global Environment |
4 |
| ENST 442*** |
Global Climate Change: Policy and Society |
4 |
| ENST 480** |
Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia |
4 |
| ENST 485 |
Role of the Environment in the Collapse of Human Societies |
4 |
| GEOL 315L |
Minerals and Earth Systems |
4 |
| GEOL 412 |
Oceans, Climate and the Environment |
4 |
| GEOL 425L |
Data Analysis in the Earth and Environmental Sciences |
4 |
| GEOL 450L |
Geosystems |
4 |
Concentration in Environmental Public Policy (72 Units)
In addition to the 48-unit core:
| REQUIRED COURSES |
UNITS |
| PPD 420 |
Environmental Impact Assessment |
4 |
| PPD 461 |
Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning |
4 |
| FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING ELECTIVE COURSES |
UNITS |
| PPD 314 |
Public Policy and Law |
4 |
| PPD 315 |
Analytic Foundations for Public Policy |
4 |
| PPD 353 |
Introduction to Philanthropy and Grant-writing |
4 |
| PPD 382 |
International Development |
4 |
| PPD 410 |
Comparative Urban Development |
4 |
| PPD 427L |
Geographic Information Systems and Planning Applications |
4 |
| PPD 478 |
Social Innovations |
4 |
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Health (52 units)
| REQUIRED COURSES |
UNITS |
| BISC 120L |
General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution, and |
4 |
| BISC 220L |
General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology, or |
4 |
| BISC 121L |
Advanced General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution, and |
4 |
| BISC 221L |
Advanced General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology |
4 |
| CHEM 105aLbL |
General Chemistry, or |
| CHEM 115aLbL |
Advanced General Chemistry |
4-4 |
| ENST 320ab* |
Water and Soil Sustainability: Energy and Air Sustainability |
4-4 |
| ENST 387 |
Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment |
4 |
| ENST 495 |
Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies |
4 |
| HP 340L |
Health Behavior Statistical Methods |
4 |
| HP 408 |
Environmental Health in the Community |
4 |
| IR 323 |
Politics of Global Environment |
4 |
| MATH 125* |
Calculus I |
4 |
| PHYS 135aL |
Physics for the Life Sciences, or |
| PHYS 151L |
Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics |
4 |
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Health (72 units)
| REQUIRED COURSES |
UNITS |
| BISC 120L |
General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution, and |
4 |
| BISC 220L |
General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology, or |
4 |
| BISC 121L |
Advanced General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution, and |
4 |
| BISC 221L |
Advanced General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology |
4 |
| BISC 320L |
Molecular Biology |
4 |
| BISC 330L |
Biochemistry |
4 |
| CHEM 105aLbL |
General Chemistry, or |
| CHEM 115aLbL |
Advanced General Chemistry |
4-4 |
| CHEM 322abL |
Organic Chemistry, or |
| CHEM 325abL |
Organic Chemistry |
4-4 |
| ENST 320ab* |
Water and Soil Sustainability; Energy and Air Sustainability |
4-4 |
| ENST 387 |
Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment |
4 |
| ENST 495 |
Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies |
4 |
| HP 340L |
Health Behavior Statistical Methods |
4 |
| HP 408 |
Environmental Health in the Community |
4 |
| IR 323 |
Politics of Global Environment |
4 |
| MATH 125* |
Calculus I |
4 |
| PHYS 135abL |
Physics for the Life Sciences, or |
|
| PHYS 151L |
Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics, and |
4 |
| PHYS 152L* |
Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism |
4 |
Progressive Degree Program in Environmental Studies
This progressive degree program allows superior USC undergraduates completing a bachelor’s degree in a related natural science or environmental policy area to also complete a master’s degree in environmental studies in as little as five years. An overall GPA of 3.2 or higher in all courses taken at USC is preferred. A 3.2 GPA does not guarantee acceptance. For more information about progressive degrees, see this page.
Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Studies
| Required core courses |
Units |
| ENST 100 |
Introduction to Environmental Studies |
4 |
| ENST 320ab |
Water and Soil Sustainability; Energy and Air Sustainability |
4-4 |
| Two elective SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSES CHOSEN FROM: |
units |
| ENST 370 |
Marine and Coastal Environmental Policy |
4 |
| ENST 387x |
Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment |
4 |
| IR 323 |
Politics of Global Environment |
4 |
| MOR 466 |
Business and Environmental Sustainability |
4 |
| One elective course chosen from: |
Units |
| BISC 103Lx |
General Biology for the Environment and Life |
4 |
| CHEM 103Lx |
General Chemistry for the Environment and Life |
4 |
| GEOL 160L* |
Introduction to Geosystems |
4 |
