University of Southern California

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
ENST 480** Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia 4
GEOL 470L Environmental Hydrogeology 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 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
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
ENST 480** Integrated Ecosystem Management in Micronesia 4
GEOL 470L Environmental Hydrogeology 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

*MATH 118x is not available as an alternative to MATH 125 for the concentration in Climate, Earth, and the Environment since this concentration requires MATH 125 and MATH 126. MATH 125 has a prerequisite of either the math placement exam or MATH 108. MATH 114 is a prerequisite for PSYC 274L.

**ENST 298abL is a corequisite for ENST 480. ENST 480 cannot be double-counted for B.S. ENVS degree credit.

***ENST 310, ENST 410, ENST 442, and ENST 485 cannot be double-counted for B.S. ENVS degree credit.

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

*Prerequisite or recommended preparation

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

*Prerequisite or recommended preparation

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 387 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
Total units: 24

*ENST 100 is a corequisite for GEOL 160L.