Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies Roadmap
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 43
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 | 3 |
| ENVS 130 | Environmental Studies (Major Core, ES) | 3 |
| GE Area A 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Core): | 3-4 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Chemistry for Energy and the Environment (B1, B3, ES) | ||
| Physical Environment - Select One (Major Elective): | 3 | |
| Environmental Geology (B1, B3, ES) | ||
| Our Physical Environment (B1, ES) | ||
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area E | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ENVS 224 | Research Methods for Environmental Studies (Major Core) | 4 |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| GE Area C - Take Two | 6 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| CHEM 380 | Chemistry Behind Environmental Pollution (Major Core, UD-B, ES) | 3 |
| ENVS 450GW | Environmental Law and Policy - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| ENVS 680 | Environmental Studies Internship (Major Core) | 1-3 |
| Guided Electives (11-12 units total) - Take One 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| Units | 13-15 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| BIOL 313 | Principles of Ecology (Major Core) | 3 |
| Sustainability and Social Justice - Select One (Major Elective) 6 | 3 | |
| Global/International - Select One (Major Elective) 7 | 3 | |
| Guided Electives (11-12 units total) - Take One 5 | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| Guided Electives (11-12 units total) - Take One 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| ENVS 690 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies (Major Core) | 3 |
| Guided Electives (11-12 units total) - Take One 5 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Three 4 | 10 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Total Units | 120-123 | |
- 1
ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.
- 2
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
- 3
To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
Complementary Studies
Bachelor of Arts students must complete at least 12 units of Complementary Studies outside of the primary prefix for the major. (Note: Students may not use an alternate prefix that is cross-listed with the primary prefix for the major.)
Students who complete two majors or a major and a minor automatically complete the Complementary Studies requirement. Additional ways for students in the Environmental Studies B.A. program to satisfy the requirement is with one or more languages other than English, partial completion of a minor, partial completion of a certificate, or a coherent group of courses approved by a major advisor as complementary to the major.
All Complementary Studies units must be approved by an advisor and all of the units must be separate from the units used to satisfy major requirements. Courses that fulfill Complementary Studies units may be lower- or upper-division units, resident or transfer units, or units taken in approved study abroad programs.
- 5
Guided Electives (11-12 units)
Select 11-12 units not used to satisfy the other major requirements. Electives should be organized into a coherent area of study. The three suggested pathways are: Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice, The Urban Environment, and Humanities and the Environment. These pathways are not mandatory; students interested in alternative routes through the elective portion of the major should consult with an advisor. A full list of the possible guided elective options can be found in the degree requirements.
- 6
Sustainability and Social Justice
ENVS 460 Energy, Justice, and Sustainability (3 units)
ENVS 480 Climate Change Adaptation and Justice (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)
- 7
Global/International
ENVS 470 Climate Politics and Policy (3 units) (ES, GP)
ENVS 480 Climate Change Adaptation and Justice (3 units)
I R 331/ENVS 331 Global Environmental Crisis (4 units) (ES, GP, SJ)
I R 428/GEOG 428 International Political Economy of Food and Hunger (4 units)
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.