Undergraduate Minor in Environmental Systems and Society

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.

Students in the Environmental Science B.S. degree program who want to choose this minor should follow the course requirements listed here.

Required Lower-Division Courses (minimum 8 units)
Completion of at least two of the following:

• ASTRO 3 - Astronomy: Nature of the Universe
• A&O SCI 2 - Air Pollution
• A&O SCI 3 - Introduction to Atmospheric Environment
• A&O SCI 1 - Climate and Climatic Change
• ESS 1 - Introduction to Earth Science
• ESS 15 - Introduction to Oceanography
• ESS 16 - Major Events in History of Life
• ESS 20 - Natural History of Southern California
• EE BIOL 10 - Plants and Civilization
• EE BIOL 13 - Evolution of Life
• EE BIOL 25 - Marine Biology
• ENVIRON M1A/B/C - Global Environment: Multidisciplinary Perspective I, II and Special Topics
• ENVIRON M10 - Introduction to Environmental Science
• ENVIRON 14 - Ocean Environment
• GEOG 1 - Physical Environment
• GEOG 2 - Biogeography: Spatial Dynamics of Biological Diversity in a Changing World
• GEOG 5 - People and the Earth's Ecosystems

Required Upper-Division Courses (minimum 20 units):
Completion of at least five of the following:

• ENVIRON M109 - Human Impact on Biophysical Environment
• ENVIRON M111 - Earth and Its Environment
• ENVIRON 121 - Conservation of Biodiversity
• ENVIRON 122 - International Integrated Coastal Management
• ENVIRON M132 - Environmentalism: Past, Present and Future
• ENVIRON M133 - Environmental Sociology
• ENVIRON M134 - Environmental Economics
• ENVIRON M135 - California Sustainable Development: Economic Perspective
• ENVIRON M137 - Historical Geography of American Environment
• ENVIRON 138 - Effective Methods of Social Change
• ENVIRON M153 - Introduction to Sustainable Architecture and Community Planning
• ENVIRON M161 - Global Environment and World Politics
• ENVIRON M164 - Environmental Politics and Governance

To enter the minor, students must be in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 grade-point average), and file a petition at the Institute of the Environment (La Kretz Hall, Suite 300, 310-825-5008). All degree requirements, including the specific requirements for this minor, must be fulfilled within 216 units.

A minimum of 20 units applied toward the minor requirements must be in addition to units applied toward major or minor requirements in any other department or program, and at least 16 units applied toward the minor must be taken in residence at UCLA. Transfer or substitution of credit for any of the above is subject to institute approval; consult an academic adviser at the institute before enrolling in any courses for the minor.

All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each and an overall C average. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.

For more information contact:

Sigrid Rian, Student Affairs Officer srian@ioe.ucla.edu, (310) 206-9193 Please call or email to schedule a counseling appointment.

For quick questions (max 15 minutes): Drop-in hours 2 - 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday


For questions regarding your General Education requirements and University requirements, please go to your counseling unit:

College Academic Counseling, A-316 Murphy
Honors Programs, A-311 Murphy.
AAP counseling, Campbell Hall

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