The Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Major is shared between the Ocean Sciences and Earth & Planetary Sciences Departments.

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Overview

The Ocean Sciences Department offers a range of undergraduate courses, but presently only confers graduate degrees (Master of Science—M.S. or Doctor of Philosophy—Ph.D.) However, the undergraduate major in Environmental Science (ESCI) is shared between our department and the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department (EPS). The ESCI curriculum includes elective courses in ocean sciences, and our faculty teach many of the required ESCI courses. In addition, the undergraduate major in Marine Biology, sponsored by the Biological Sciences departments, includes required and elective courses in Ocean Sciences. EPS also has a B.S. degree with an Ocean Sciences concentration. Students interested in ocean sciences could also major in a discipline such as Biology, Marine Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics and take Ocean Sciences-related electives. Students with a bachelor’s degree in one of these disciplines or equivalent coursework may apply directly for admission to the graduate program through the Division of Graduate Studies.

The Undergraduate Program

The UCSC Environmental Sciences (ESCI) major is an interdepartmental, undergraduate-only degree program. The purpose of the ESCI major is to educate students interested in environmental science problems and issues, with a focus on issues within the physical sciences (versus focusing on biological sciences). The major specializes primarily on the following areas of study:

Climate and climate change: Earth’s past, present and future climate
Global biogeochemical cycles: Cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, mercury, etc.
Fresh Water: Water resources and water quality
Pollution: Water pollution, air pollution, pollutant transport
Oceans: Physical, chemical, and biological oceanography
Atmosphere: Meteorology, air quality, and atmospheric chemistry

Courses in other areas are also available. The core faculty of the major are primarily from two departments, Earth and Planetary Sciences and Ocean Sciences. Faculty from other departments such as Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Environmental Studies may also be involved.

Graduates of the ESCI major will be prepared to continue on to a variety of careers, such as:

Graduate/professional school in areas such as science, engineering, teaching, law, public health, businessThis could be the title to a new point you want to highlight.
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Business and industry

Environmental consulting

Governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local level

Non-profit organizations

Research at universities, governmental research institutions, or other scientific agencies

Environmental Sciences – Areas of Study

ESCI Website

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Carl Lamborge, Director of the Environmental Sciences Major | clamborg@ucsc.edu

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