Discover the Environmental and Ocean Sciences Curriculum
The Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences at USD offers students intellectually challenging conceptual training coupled with practical hands-on experience in the field and lab to prepare them for graduate school and diverse environmental career opportunities.
Students can select from the following pathways or programs below:
- Major: Environmental and Ocean Sciences (EOS)
- Environmental Science Pathway, BA or BS
- Environmental Studies Pathway, BA
- Marine Ecology Pathway, BS + required Biology minor
- Minor: Environmental and Ocean Sciences (EOS)
- Minor: Sustainability
- Combined Degree Program, BS/MS or BA/MS
Faculty-student research collaborations may involve summer research programs, local or international field work, and the opportunity to participate in professional conferences or publications. Study abroad programs may satisfy some requirements of the major. Students work with their advisors in completing the checklist of EOS major/minor requirements.
Explore Environmental and Ocean Sciences Courses
Read descriptions of our EOS classes on our Courses page!
Program Requirements
Each student declares their major(s) and minor(s) under a single catalog of record that is identified on the student's degree audit (available on Degree Works).
The program requirements below are based on the current course catalog and may not be applicable if a student is declared in an earlier catalog.
Find all previous course catalogs on our Archived Catalogs of Record page.
Questions about our previous Environmental Studies and Policy minor?
Please review the Archived Catalogs of Record or contact us at eos@sandiego.edu.
56-58 units
Environmental Science Pathway (BA)
67-70 units
Environmental Science Pathway (BS)
61-62 units
Environmental Studies Pathway (BA)
60-62 units + 18 units
Marine Ecology Pathway (BS) + required Biology minor
18-19 units
Environmental and Ocean Sciences Minor
18-20 units
Sustainability Minor
Estimates include major preparation courses as well as major requirements.
- EOS Major (BA)
- EOS Major (BS)
- EOS Minor
- Sustainability Minor
- Environmental Studies and Policy Minor
- Combined Degree Program (BS/MS or BA/MS)
- Learning Outcomes
Introduction
The environmental and ocean sciences major, offered by the Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences, is intended for students interested in the natural world, with three distinct pathways that focus on marine ecology, environmental science or environmental studies. All pathways are designed with an interdisciplinary approach, either within the natural sciences (marine ecology and environmental science pathways) or across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities (environmental studies pathway). The curriculum trains students to apply the scientific method to study critical environmental issues while promoting ethical judgment and behavior as it relates to the scientific process, environmental awareness, and the role humans play within the dynamic earth system. The environmental and ocean sciences major offers students intellectually challenging conceptual training coupled with practical hands-on experience in the field and lab to prepare them for graduate school and diverse environmental career opportunities.
Structure
The environmental and ocean sciences major offers a common preparatory curriculum for all three pathways, designed to prepare students for both the core upper division environmental science classes and the suite of electives they will take as part of the major. Several of the courses in the preparation for the major satisfy core curriculum requirements. Following the common preparatory courses, all students take two gateway courses into the major: a) an in-depth critical analysis of contemporary environmental issues, and b) an introduction to field and research applications, in which students conduct interdisciplinary research in local ecosystems. During the junior and senior years, students take courses in one of three pathways and complete a capstone experience involving undergraduate research with faculty or experiential internships that culminate in a presentation of their findings. Faculty-student research collaborations may involve summer research programs, local or international field work, and the opportunity to participate in professional conferences or publications. In addition to research with faculty, certain courses offered through study abroad programs (such as the School for Field Studies or the Sea Education Association) may satisfy some requirements of the major, including the experiential portion of the capstone.
Degrees and Pathways
The environmental and ocean sciences major provides BS and BA degree options, each with two distinct interdisciplinary pathways. The BS major offers: environmental science pathway and marine ecology pathway. The BA major offers: environmental science pathway and environmental studies pathway. Students are encouraged to select an advisor as early as possible. A list of advisors is available from the chair of the Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences.
The environmental science and marine ecology pathways in the BS degree provide students with a rigorous science-based curriculum that is intended to prepare them to go on to either graduate studies or directly into any area in the rapidly developing industries related to environmental issues facing the world today. The marine ecology pathway requires a biology minor, which supplies additional breadth and depth in aspects of biology that complement the ecology and marine focus of the major. The BA degree in environmental science requires 11-12 fewer units than the BS degree and allows students more flexibility to add a minor or second major.
The environmental studies pathway is intended to provide students with a background in the natural sciences balanced by breadth in the social sciences and humanities. Students majoring in environmental studies will be well prepared to pursue graduate studies in environmental science, environmental policy, resource management, or law, or careers in a range of businesses and government agencies that deal with environmental assessment, planning, development and sustainability.
Environmental and Ocean Sciences BA Major
Environmental Science Pathway
Prep for Major (31 units) | ||
EOSC 110 | The Dynamic Earth | 4 |
or EOSC 104 | Natural Disasters | |
or EOSC 105 | Natural Disasters with Lab | |
EOSC 123 | Organisms and Ecosystems | 4 |
EOSC 220 | Introduction to Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences | 4 |
EOSC 222 | Environmental Data Analysis | 3 |
CHEM 151 | General Chemistry I | 4-5 |
CHEM 152 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
MATH 150 | Calculus I | 4 |
PHYS 136 | General Physics I | 4 |
Additional recommended courses for students going to graduate school include: MATH 151, PHYS 137/PHYS 137L, CHEM 301/ CHEM 301L and CHEM 302/CHEM 302L.
Upper Division Core (15 units) | ||
EOSC 300 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
or EOSC 303 | Environmental Issues Abroad | |
EOSC 301 | Research Applications in Environmental and Ocean Sciences | 4 |
EOSC 314 | Introduction to GIS | 4 |
Capstone | ||
At least two units from: | 2 | |
EOSC 496 | Research | |
EOSC 497 | Research Projects | |
EOSC 498 | Internship | |
EOSC 499 | Independent Study | |
EOSC 492 | Advanced Research Synthesis | 1 |
EOSC 495 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
Upper Division Electives (9-12 units) | ||
Choose three courses: One from the Ecological group and the other two from the Geo/Physical group. At least two of the three courses must include labs. One of the geo/physical electives can be interdisciplinary between geo/physical and biological or non-science topics. No more than one of the geo/physical electives can be taken abroad or transferred to USD. | ||
Geo/Physical Courses: | ||
EOSC 355 | Environmental Chemistry # | 3 |
EOSC 402 | Topics in Marine Geo/Physical/Chemical Science | 3-4 |
EOSC 403 | Topics in Geo/Physical/Chemical Science | 3-4 |
EOSC 415 | Advanced GIS # | 4 |
EOSC 420 | Introduction to Remote Sensing # | 4 |
EOSC 450 | Geological Oceanography # | 4 |
EOSC 452 | Environmental and Ocean Geochemistry # | 4 |
EOSC 473 | Climatology # | 4 |
EOSC 474 | History of the Earth and Climate with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 475 | History of the Earth and Climate | 3 |
EOSC 476 | Coral Reefs, Sea-level, and Climate change with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 477 | Coral Reefs, Sea-level, and Climate change | 3 |
EOSC 478 | Soils and Society with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 480 | Geology and Human Health | 3 |
EOSC 481 | Natural Resources of Death Valley # | 3 |
EOSC 482 | Coastal Processes # | 4 |
EOSC 485 | Environmental Geology # | 4 |
EOSC 487 | Surface Water Hydrology # | 4 |
EOSC 488 | Geomorphology # | 4 |
Ecological Courses: | ||
EOSC 400 | Topics in Ecology | 3-4 |
EOSC 430 | Human Impacts on the Coastal Environment with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 431 | Human Impacts on the Coastal Environment | 3 |
EOSC 433 | Plankton Ecology # | 4 |
EOSC 434 | Wetlands Ecology with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 435 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
EOSC 436 | Marine Community Ecology with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 437 | Marine Community Ecology | 3 |
EOSC 438 | Animal Behavioral Ecology with Lab # | 4 |
EOSC 439 | Animal Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
EOSC 451 | Biological Oceanography # | 4 |
EOSC 454 | Mathematical Modeling in Ecology # | 4 |
Interdisciplinary Courses with Geo/physical Component: | ||
EOSC 380 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
EOSC 406 | Topics in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science | 3-4 |
EOSC 479 | Soils and Society | 3 |
Or approved study abroad courses. | ||
#Courses with lab
Upper Division units for Environmental Science Pathway, 24-27 units
Total units for Environmental Science Pathway, 55-58 units
Environmental Studies Pathway
Lower Division Prep for the Major (31 units) | ||
EOSC 110 | The Dynamic Earth | 4 |
or EOSC 104 | Natural Disasters | |
or EOSC 105 | Natural Disasters with Lab | |
EOSC 123 | Organisms and Ecosystems | 4 |
EOSC 220 | Introduction to Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences | 4 |
EOSC 222 | Environmental Data Analysis | 3 |
CHEM 151 | General Chemistry I | 4-5 |
ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
POLS 150 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
POLS 120 | Introduction to American Politics ^ | 3 |
or POLS 170 | Introduction to International Relations | |
or SOCI 101 | Introduction to Sociology | |
or ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
MATH 115 | College Algebra | 3 |
or MATH 130 | Survey of Calculus | |
or MATH 150 | Calculus I | |
Note that: ECON 102 is required for some upper-division non-science electives in the School of Business.
Upper Division Core (21 units) | ||
EOSC 300 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
or EOSC 303 | Environmental Issues Abroad | |
EOSC 301 | Research Applications in Environmental and Ocean Sciences | 4 |
EOSC 305 | Environmental Assessment Practices | 3 |
EOSC 314 | Introduction to GIS | 4 |
PHIL 338 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
or PHIL 344 | Environmental Justice | |
Capstone | ||
At least two units from: | 2 | |
EOSC 496 | Research | |
EOSC 497 | Research Projects | |
EOSC 498 | Internship | |
EOSC 499 | Independent Study | |
EOSC 492 | Advanced Research Synthesis | 1 |
EOSC 495 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
Upper Division Electives (9-11 units) | ||
Choose three courses: one science with lab with a focus on human-environment interactions, one non-science or interdisciplinary course, and one additional 3-4 unit course that can be chosen from the non-science list or any of the upper-division EOSC courses. | ||
Science with Lab Courses with a Focus on Human-Environment Interactions: | ||
EOSC 355 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
EOSC 415 | Advanced GIS | 4 |
EOSC 420 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 4 |
EOSC 430 | Human Impacts on the Coastal Environment with Lab | 4 |
EOSC 434 | Wetlands Ecology with Lab | 4 |
EOSC 436 | Marine Community Ecology with Lab | 4 |
EOSC 450 | Geological Oceanography | 4 |
EOSC 452 | Environmental and Ocean Geochemistry | 4 |
EOSC 473 | Climatology | 4 |
EOSC 474 | History of the Earth and Climate with Lab | 4 |
EOSC 476 | Coral Reefs, Sea-level, and Climate change with Lab | 4 |
EOSC 478 | Soils and Society with Lab | 4 |
EOSC 481 | Natural Resources of Death Valley | 3 |
EOSC 485 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
EOSC 487 | Surface Water Hydrology | 4 |
EOSC 488 | Geomorphology | 4 |
Non-Science Courses: | ||
ANTH 324 | Environmental Anthropology | 3 |
BSCM 305 | Sustainable Global Supply Chain Management | 3 |
CHEM 356 | Water Quality and Public Health in the Developing World | 3 |
ECON 308 | Environmental and Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
ELTW 403 | Sustainability and Business | 3 |
EOSC 404 | Topics in Environmental Studies | 3-4 |
HIST 370 | U.S. Environmental History | 3 |
POLS 329 | Marine Policy | 3 |
POLS 341 | Law and Society in a Changing Climate | 3 |
POLS 346 | Food and Politics | 3 |
POLS 347 | Culture & Environmental Politics | 3 |
POLS 348 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
POLS 349 | Politics and the Environment | 3 |
SOCI 315 | Health and Society | 3 |
SOCI 471 | Environmental Inequality and Justice | 3 |
SOCI 473 | Sustainability: Sociological Perspectives | 3 |
THRS 338 | Faith & Environmental Justice | 3 |
Other upper division courses by approval in ECON, ETHN, HIST, INST, PHIL, POLS, SOCI and THRS. | ||
And approved study abroad courses. | ||
Interdisciplinary EOSC Courses: | ||
EOSC 380 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
EOSC 383 | Cities and Urban Design Using GIS | 3 |
EOSC 405 | Topics in Interdisciplinary Environmental Biology/Studies | 3-4 |
EOSC 406 | Topics in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science | 3-4 |
EOSC 479 | Soils and Society | 3 |
Upper Division units for Environmental Studies, 30-32 units
Total units for Environmental Studies, 61-63 units
Number of units that also satisfy Core requirements, as many as 13 units + CQUR, CADW, CORL, DISJ
Combined Degree Program (BA/MS)
Undergraduates who are completing a degree in Environmental and Ocean Sciences can apply for admission to the MS program before finishing the BA. Students can apply up to 12 units of course work toward the requirements for both degrees. Applications are accepted during a student's junior or senior year as an undergraduate, following a process similar to the standard application procedure for admission to the Environmental and Ocean Sciences MS Program. Admitted students have undergraduate status until they complete their BA degree requirements, then become graduate students during the subsequent fall semester. Students need to complete a minimum of 18 units while they have graduate student status in order to satisfy the combined degree program requirements.
For students enrolled in the combined degree program, see the recommended program of study for the student’s first year solely in the graduate program. For the undergraduate years, see the recommended programs of study for each pathway in the undergraduate program in Environmental and Ocean Sciences.