Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies Associate Degree for Transfer Roadmap
This is a sample pathway for students who transfer to San Francisco State University in the current Bulletin year with an AS-T in Environmental Science. Eight units in the major (CHEM 115 and GEOG 101) and all lower-division GE requirements have been satisfied. Check with a major advisor about the most appropriate course sequence. Degree completion guaranteed in 60 units; see the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) section for more information.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 380 | Chemistry Behind Environmental Pollution (Major Core, UD-B, ES) 1 | 3 |
or BIOL alternative |
||
| ENVS 130 | Environmental Studies (Major Core, ES) | 3 |
| ENVS 224 | Research Methods for Environmental Studies (Major Elective) | 4 |
| US History | 3 | |
or Complementary Studies or University Elective if US History met before transfer |
||
| Complementary Studies or University Elective | 2 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL 313 | Principles of Ecology (Major Elective) | 3 |
| ENVS 450GW | Environmental Law and Policy - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| Emphasis Electives (11-12 units total) - Take One 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ENVS 680 | Environmental Studies Internship (Major Core) | 1-3 |
| Global/International - Select One (Major Elective): | 3-4 | |
| Global Environmental Crisis | ||
| Climate Politics and Policy | ||
| International Political Economy of Food and Hunger | ||
| Emphasis Elective (11-12 units total) - Take Two 2 | 6 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
or Complementary Studies or University Elective if US/CA Government met before transfer |
||
| Units | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ENVS 690 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies (Major Core) | 3 |
| Emphasis Electives (11-12 units total) - Take One 2 | 3 | |
| Sustainability and Social Justice - Select One (Major Elective) 3 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
| 1 | CHEM 380 offered in spring semesters only. Approved alternatives: BIOL 300, BIOL 310, BIOL 317, BIOL 318. |
| 2 | Emphasis Electives (11-12 units) Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice Emphasis (11–12 units) The Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice emphasis provides students with a theoretical and applied understanding of the issues of sustainability and the connections between social justice and environmental problems and solutions. Students study the roles that values and social, political, and economic structures play in contributing to the environmental crisis. With the help of an advisor, students obtain depth by selecting elective courses from political science, American Indian studies, sociology, philosophy and religion, economics, urban studies and planning, geography, women and gender studies, and other related fields. Take 11-12 units. Courses used to meet other requirements of the major cannot also be used to meet the Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice emphasis requirements. ENVS 470 Climate Politics and Policy (3 units) (ES, GP) ENVS 530 Environmental Leadership and Organizing (3 units) ENVS 570 Applied Local Sustainability (3 units) (ES) GEOG 421 Future Environments (3 units) (UD-D, ES, GP, SJ) PLSI 354 Politics, the Environment, and Social Change (4 units) (UD-D, ES, SJ) USP 514 Sustainable Development in Cities (4 units) (ES, SJ) USP 515/GEOG 667 Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment (4 units) (ES, GP, SJ) The Urban Environment Emphasis (11–12 units) The Urban Environment emphasis provides students with a strong interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical understanding for dealing with environmental issues in urban settings. With the help of an advisor, students obtain depth by selecting elective courses focusing on sustainable urban development, environmental justice, land-use planning, environmental policy, and the urban environment in a global perspective. Take 11-12 units. Courses used to meet other requirements of the major cannot also be used to meet the Urban Environment emphasis requirements. GEOG 433/USP 433 Urban Transportation (4 units) GEOG 652/USP 652 Environmental Impact Analysis (4 units) GEOG 658/USP 658 Land-Use Planning (4 units) GEOG 667/USP 515 Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment (4 units) (ES, GP, SJ) USP 514 Sustainable Development in Cities (4 units) (ES, SJ) Humanities and the Environment Emphasis (11–12 units) The Humanities and the Environment emphasis explores the varied and complex ways that different cultures—past and present—view and communicate about the environment. With an advisor, students choose coursework in disciplines dealing with verbal or visual communication, such as communication studies, creative writing, technical and professional writing, ethnic studies, journalism, photography, design, electronic media, and cinema. Take 11–12 units. Courses used to meet other requirements of the major cannot also be used to meet the Humanities and the Environment emphasis requirements. BECA 502 Environmental Communication on Electronic Media (3 units) (ES, SJ) ENG 535 Literature and Ecology (3 units) (UD-C, ES) JOUR 580 Environmental Journalism (3 units) PHIL 470 Environmental Ethics (3 units) (UD-C, ES, SJ) PLSI 354 Politics, the Environment, and Social Change (4 units) (UD-D, ES, SJ) WGS 593 Gender, Health, and the Environment (3 units) (UD-D, ES, GP) |
| 3 | Sustainability and Social Justice - Select One ENVS 306/ECON 306 Economics and the Environment (3 units) ENVS 460 Energy, Justice, and Sustainability (3 units) ENVS 570 Applied Local Sustainability (3 units) (ES) PHIL 470 Environmental Ethics (3 units) (UD-C, ES, SJ) USP 514 Sustainable Development in Cities (4 units) (ES, SJ) USP 515/GEOG 667 Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment (4 units) (ES, GP, SJ) |
To Do at SF State:
Enough total units to reach 120 minimum for graduation; 30 units minimum at the upper-division level; to include the following:
University-Wide Requirements: 9-15 units
- American Institutions (0-6 units): US History, US Government, California State and Local Government if not taken before transfer.
- Upper-Division GE Areas B, C, and D (9 units) – Upper-division GE (9 units): Courses required for the major may double-count if approved for UD GE.
- Students entering the major with the AS-T in ENVS are not required to fulfill SF State Studies requirements.
- Complementary Studies: Students must take at least 12 units with a prefix other than ENVS (includes courses cross-listed with ENVS). Consult with a major advisor.
Environmental Studies major: 37-42 units
- Core (13-15 units) - CHEM 115 met in ADT.
- Core/Electives (13-15 units) – one course from each of four categories (Physical Environment met in ADT: GEOG 101).
- Emphasis (11-12 units) – select courses from a single emphasis.
University Electives: 3 or more units
Units depending on course choices made at the community college, how transferred units are applied to the requirements above, and course choices at SF State - some courses may meet more than one requirement, e.g., in both UD GE and the major.
