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Environmental Science Minors/Concentrations

Overview of the eight minors/concentrations in the Environmental Science major

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Conservation Biology
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Health
Environmental Systems and Society
Geography/Environmental Studies
Geology
Geophysics and Planetary Physics

If you enroll in the new Environmental Science B.S. degree program, you must also choose one of these eight minors/concentrations, each associated with a particular UCLA department. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.

Students will normally choose their Minor/Concentration by the end of their second year. Students choosing one of the seven minors must, with assistance from Institute of the Environment staff, apply to the associated department to be accepted into the Minor program.

A maximum of two courses from this requirement may be applied towards the Environmental Science Major or any other College Major or Minor. In the course lists below an * indicates those courses that are also included in the Major.

For consideration of courses outside the regular curriculum, please contact the department of your Minor.

Note: The two additional math and/or science preparation courses for each Minor are specified below (see also Preparation for Major section).

  • Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Minor

    Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
    The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences minor provides a formal vehicle for students specializing in other science fields to pursue interest in the atmospheric and oceanic environment.
    Note: The courses listed here are a subset of those officially listed for the Minor, Environmental Science majors must follow these specific course requirements:
    • Additional preparation required: Mathematics 3C or 32A and Physics 6C or 1C
    • Minor requirements: (7 courses, 28-31 units, two course overlap possible)
      • At least two from Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 101*, 102*, 103*, 104*, M105*
      • Up to five from Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences C110, C115, 130*, 145, C160, C170, Chemistry and Biochemistry 110

    Entry Requirements: To enter the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better and must make an appointment with a departmental undergraduate adviser for approval in selecting a coordinated program of courses from within the department and related disciplines. For further information, contact the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department at (310) 825-1217. One course may be taken on a Passed/Not Passed basis, all other courses must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better.

  • Conservation Biology Minor

    Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    The Conservation Biology minor is designed for students who wish to augment their major program of study with courses addressing issues central to the conservation and sustainability of biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes. The minor seeks to provide students with a greater depth of experience and understanding of the role that science can play in developing conservation policy.
    • Additional preparation required: Chemistry 14C or 30 A and Life Science 3
    • Minor requirements (7-9 courses, minimum 28 units, two course overlap possible)
      • Life Science 1*
      • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 100* and 116* (or Environment 121*)
      • Four to six from Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 101, 103, 105, 109, 111, 112, 114A, 122, 129, 151A*, 154*, 176, 180 

    • Entry Requirements:To enter the Conservation Biology minor, students must (1) be in good academic standing (2.0 grade-point average or better), (2) have completed Life Sciences 1, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 100, and 116 (or Environment 121) with minimum grades of C or better, and (3) file a petition in the Undergraduate Advising Office, 2325 Life Sciences. All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each and an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

  • Environmental Engineering Minor

    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Research in environmental engineering focuses on the understanding and management of physical, chemical, and biological processes in the environment and in engineering systems.
    • Additional preparation required: Mathematics 3C or 32A and Physics 6C or 1C
    • Concentration requirements (6 courses, 24 units, one course overlap possible)
      • Civil and Environmental Engineering 153*
      • Five from Civil and Environmental Engineering 151, 154*, 155, 156A, M166*, Chemical Engineering C118*, Environmental Health Sciences C125, C164

    • Entry Requirements: To enter the Environmental Engineering minor, students must be in good academic standing (2.0 grade-point average or better) and file a petition in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall. All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better.

  • Environmental Health Concentration

    Department of Environmental Health Sciences
    Research in Environmental Health Sciences focus on the effects of biological, chemical and physical hazards in the environment on human and ecosystem health, and the means of managing these hazards.
    • Additional preparation required: Chemistry 14C or 30 A and Life Science 3
    • Concentration Requirements (6 courses, 22-24 units, one course overlap possible)
      • Environmental Health Sciences 100* and C135
      • Epidemiology 100
      • Three from Chemistry and Biochemistry 153A; Environmental Health Sciences 203, C125*, C140, C152D*, C157, C164*

    • Entry requirements: Not yet established

  • Environmental Systems and Society Minor

    Institute of the Environment
    The Environmental Systems and Society minor is designed for students who wish to augment their major program of study with courses addressing the relationships between environmental science and associated social and political issues. The minor seeks to impart a deeper understanding of environmental systems related to air, land, water and biological resources. A main goal of the program is to provide students with a foundation for sound decision making as a professional and a citizen.
    Note: The courses listed here are a subset of those officially listed for the Minor, Environmental Science majors must follow these specific course requirements:
    • Additional preparation required: Two from Chemistry 14C or 30 A, Mathematics 3C or 32A, Physics 6C or 1C, Life Science 3
    • Minor requirements (7 courses, 28-30 units, two course overlap possible)
      • Two from Astronomy 3, Earth and Space Sciences 15, 16, 20, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 13, 25, Environment M10*, 14
      • Five from Environment M111, 121*, 122, M132*, M134*, M135*, 138*, M153*, M155, 160* 163*, M164*, Geography M109, M137*, Political Science M122B*, Sociology M115*

    • Entry requirements: To enter the Environmental Systems and Society minor, students must be in good academic standing (2.0 grade-point average) and file a petition at the Institute of the Environment, La Kretz Hall, Suite 300, (310) 825-5008.  All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

  • Geography/Environmental Studies Minor

    Department of Geography
    The Geography/Environmental Studies minor is intended for students interested in environmental issues and emphasizes a systems approach to gaining a causal understanding of major environmental problems facing our society and the world at large. The uniqueness of the minor lies in its geographical perspective on the impact, at various geographical scales, of human activity on natural systems and on the implications of global environmental change on local, regional, and global human systems.
    • Additional preparation required: Two from Chemistry 14C or 30 A, Mathematics 3C or 32A, Physics 6C or 1C, Life Science 3
    • Minor requirements (7 courses, 30 units, two course overlap possible)
      • Geography 5
      • One from Geography 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
      • Three from Geography M106*, M107, M109, 110, 113, M115*, 116, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, M127*, M128*, 129, 131, 132, 135, 136, M137*, 159C, 159D, 159E
      • Two additional upper division Geography courses, excluding those from the preceding list and courses 190-199

    • Entry requirements: To enter the Geography/Environmental Studies minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better and file a petition in the Geography Department Advising Office, 1255 Bunche Hall, (310) 825-1166. Courses should be selected in consultation with the departmental adviser. At least three of the five upper division courses must be taken in residence at UCLA. All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade.

  • Geology Minor

    Department of Earth and Space Sciences
    Geology is the study of the surface of the Earth and the rocks and processes which created it. Field methods, interpretation of rocks, and modern plate-tectonic models are emphasized, with the goals of finding valuable or hazardous materials and inferring geologic history. The skills gained in this minor are valuable in helping to prepare for careers in engineering, urban planning, and environmental and resource studies.
    • Additional preparation required: Mathematics 3C or 32A and Physics 6C or 1C
    • Minor requirements (7 courses, 30 units, two course overlap possible)
      • Earth and Space Sciences 1*, 61, 112 and 119*
      • Three from Earth and Space Sciences C107, 116, 125, C132*, 133, 134, 139*, 150*

    • Entry requirements: To enter the Geology minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

  • Geophysics and Planetary Physics Minor

    Department of Earth and Space Sciences
    Classical physics, supported by field data, mathematics, and computing, is used to understand diverse processes from ocean circulation and earthquakes to the formation of planets and the flow of particles and electromagnetic fields in space. In this minor, students gain skills that are valuable in environmental, engineering, and resource studies and more broadly in any kind of career which requires quantitative analysis.
    • Additional preparation required: Mathematics 3C or 32A and Physics 6C or 1C
    • Minor requirements (8 courses, 33 units, two course overlap possible)
      • Earth and Space Sciences 1*, 8, 9, 134, and 135*
      • Three from Earth and Space Sciences M140, 152, 153*, 154, 155

    Entry requirements: To enter the Geophysics and Planetary Physics minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.