Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies: Concentration in Natural Resource Management and Conservation
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Natural Resource Management and Conservation provides students with the theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in ecology, conservation biology, and natural resources they need to address natural resource management and conservation issues. Required courses provide knowledge in ecology, conservation biology, statistics, and natural resource management and provide students with a solid background in both quantitative and qualitative problem-solving techniques. Students choose additional coursework in ecology, biodiversity studies, applied methods, and management of specific resources.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate understanding of the relationships between social justice and environmental problems in local, national, and global contexts.
- Demonstrate understanding of chemical, biological, and social processes related to environmental problems and the ability to integrate these with the understandings and critical evaluations of descriptive statistics commonly used in environmental literature.
- Communicate clearly and accurately both orally and in writing and be able to conduct research appropriate to the area of emphasis.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of civic activities and processes, and of methods of engagement in those processes.
- Demonstrate readiness to enter the professional job market by preparing/training students in developing appropriate job market skills (e.g., resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, writing well and engagingly, acquiring professional experience via internship).
- Demonstrate understanding of ecological and conservation biology theories and how they relate to natural resource management and conservation decisions.
- Demonstrate understanding of natural resource management techniques and approaches.
Environmental Studies (B.S.): Concentration in Natural Resource Management and Conservation — 65 units minimum
Required Courses (35-40 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 230 | Introductory Biology I | 5 |
| BIOL 240 | Introductory Biology II | 5 |
| Select One: | 3-4 | |
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Natural Resource Management: Biotic Resources | ||
| Select One: | 3-4 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Chemistry for Energy and the Environment | ||
| ENV 500GW | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR | 3 |
| ENVS 130 | Environmental Studies | 3 |
| Select One: | 3-4 | |
| Our Environment Through Data | ||
| Research Methods for Environmental Studies | ||
| ENVS 450 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 680 | Environmental Studies Internship | 1-3 |
| ENVS 690 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| GEOG 603 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
Elective Courses (30-41 units)
Students should consult with a faculty advisor prior to selection of elective courses to determine which courses are most appropriate for the student's particular interests and/or career path. Choose course(s) from each elective category to meet the total units indicated on the right. No course can be used to fulfill more than one core or elective category requirement.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Environment | 3-4 | |
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Our Physical Environment | ||
| Sustainability and Social Justice | 3-4 | |
| Energy, Justice, and Sustainability | ||
| Climate Change Adaptation and Justice | ||
| Applied Local Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Sustainable Development in Cities | ||
| Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment | ||
| Global/International | 3-4 | |
| Global Environmental Crisis | ||
| Climate Politics and Policy | ||
| Climate Change Adaptation and Justice | ||
| International Political Economy of Food and Hunger | ||
| Tools and Techniques | 3-4 | |
| Biometry | ||
| Field Methods in Environmental Science & Physical Geography | ||
| Environmental Data Science | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment I | ||
| Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Analysis | ||
| Environmental Impact Analysis | ||
| Ecology and Biodiversity | 6-9 | |
| General Entomology | ||
| Natural History of Vertebrates | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Wetland Ecology | ||
| Plant Biodiversity and California Field Botany | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Future of the Forests | ||
| Ecosystem Interactions | 3-4 | |
| Chemistry Behind Environmental Pollution | ||
| Global Warming | ||
| Climate and Ecological Interactions | ||
| Bioclimatology | ||
| Watershed Assessment and Restoration | ||
| Water Quality | ||
| Resources | 6-8 | |
| Energy, Justice, and Sustainability | ||
| Soils | ||
| Agriculture and Food Supply | ||
| Geography of Water Resources | ||
| Natural Resource Management: Biotic Resources | ||
| Geography of Garbage: Recycling and Waste Reduction | ||
| Environmental Management and Policy | 3-4 | |
| Climate Politics and Policy | ||
| Climate Change Adaptation and Justice | ||
| Environmental Impact Analysis | ||
| Land-Use Planning | ||
| Management of National Parks and Protected Areas | ||
| Grassroots Organizing for Change in Communities of Color | ||
General Education Requirements
| Requirement | Course Level | Units | Area Designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Composition | LD | 3 | 1A |
| Critical Thinking | LD | 3 | 1B |
| Oral Communication | LD | 3 | 1C |
| Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning | LD | 3 | 2 |
| Arts | LD | 3 | 3A |
| Humanities | LD | 3 | 3B |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | LD | 6 | 4 |
| Physical Science | LD | 3 | 5A |
| Biological Science | LD | 3 | 5B |
| Laboratory | LD | 1 | 5C |
| Ethnic Studies | LD or UD | 3 | 6 |
| Science or Math/Quantitative Reasoning | UD | 3 | 5UD or 2UD |
| Arts or Humanities | UD | 3 | 3UD |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | UD | 3 | 4UD |
| SF State Studies | |||
| Courses certified as meeting the SF State Studies requirements may be upper or lower division in General Education (GE), a major or minor, or an elective. | |||
| American Ethnic and Racial Minorities | LD or UD | 3 | AERM |
| Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action | LD or UD | 3 | ES |
| Global Perspectives | LD or UD | 3 | GP |
| Social Justice | LD or UD | 3 | SJ |
Note: LD = Lower-Division; UD = Upper-Division.
First-Time Student Roadmap (4 Year)
The roadmaps presented in this Bulletin are intended as suggested plans of study and do not replace meeting with an advisor. For a more personalized roadmap, please use the Degree Planner tool found in your Student Center.
Transfer Student Roadmap (2 Year)
For students with an AS-T in Biology.
BIOL ADT Roadmap
General Advising Information for Transfer Students
- Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
- The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
- a course in U.S. History
- a course in U.S. & California Government
For information about satisfying the requirements described in (1) and (2) above at a California Community College (CCC), please visit http://www.assist.org. Check any geographically accessible CCCs; sometimes, options include more than one college. Use ASSIST to determine:
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy any lower-division major requirements for this major;
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy CSU GE, US History, and US & CA Government requirements.
Remedial courses are not transferable and do not apply to the minimum 60 semester units/90 quarter units required for admission.
Additional units for courses that are repeated do not apply to the minimum 60 units required for upper-division transfer (for example, if a course was not passed on the first attempt or was taken to earn a better grade).
Before leaving the last California Community College of attendance, obtain a summary of completion of lower-division General Education units (IGETC or CSU GE Breadth). This is often referred to as a GE certification worksheet. SF State does not require delivery of this certification to Admissions, but students should retain this document for verifying degree progress after transfer.
Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program courses: AP/IB/CLEP credit is not automatically transferred from the previous institution. Units are transferred only when an official score report is delivered to SF State. Credit is based on the academic year during which exams were taken. Refer to the University Bulletin in effect during the year of AP/IB/CLEP examination(s) for details regarding the award of credit for AP/IB/CLEP.
Students pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines often defer 6-9 units of lower-division General Education in Areas C and D until after transfer to focus on preparation courses for the major. This advice does not apply to students pursuing associate degree completion before transfer.
Transferring From Institutions Other Than CCCs or CSUs
Review SF State's lower-division General Education requirements. Note that, as described below, the four basic skills courses required for admission meet GE Areas 1A/A2, 1B/A3, 1C/A1, and 2/B4 in the SF State GE pattern. Courses that fulfill the remaining areas of SF State’s lower-division GE pattern are available at most two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Of the four required basic skills courses, a course in critical thinking (1B/A3) may not be widely offered outside the CCC and CSU systems. Students should attempt to identify and take an appropriate course no later than the term of application to the CSU. To review more information about the 1B/A3 requirement, please visit bulletin.sfsu.edu/undergraduate-education/general-education/lower-division/#AAEL.
Waiting until after transfer to take a single course at SF State that meets both US and CA/local government requirements may be an appropriate option, particularly if transferring from outside of California.