Environmental Science

• Department Information
• Program Description
• Career Opportunities
• Advanced Placement
• Major Requirements (B.S.)
• Other Degree Requirements
• Certificate in Foundational Level General Science
• Undergraduate Courses

Department Information

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
College of Science
Office: North Science 329
Phone: (510) 885-3486
Email: geology@csueastbay.edu
Website: http://www20.csueastbay.edu/csci/departments/earth/index.html 

Professors
James L. J. Houpis, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley
Michael Lee (Geography and Environmental Studies), Ph.D. London School of Economics (England)
Susan Opp (Biological Sciences), Ph.D. University of Massachusetts
Jeffery C. Seitz (Chair) (Earth and Environmental Sciences), Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Associate Professors
Mitchell Craig (Earth and Environmental Sciences), Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology
Danika LeDuc (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley
Luther M. Strayer (Earth and Environmental Sciences), Ph.D. University of Minnesota

Assistant Professor
Jean E. Moran (Earth and Environmental Sciences), Ph.D. University of Rochester

Environmental Science Program Coordinator: Jean E. Moran

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Program Description

Environmental scientists study and analyze the physical and biotic components of the environment; determine the impact of humans on ecosystems; develop strategies and plans to mitigate negative natural and human impacts; protect human and natural environments, and restore natural systems. The Environmental Science program provides interdisciplinary scientific preparation for students wishing to pursue knowledge and employment in the fields of environmental research, consulting, and oversight. Additional objectives of the program include provision of sufficient preparation for graduate studies in environmental sciences and allied fields and partial satisfaction of the Single Subject Matter Preparation Program for a teaching credential in science. The Bachelor of Science degree major in Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary program of study in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences with faculty participation from the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Geography and Environmental Studies. In contrast to the B.A. degree major in Environmental Studies, the B.S. degree major in Environmental Science requires students to take a structured core of science courses from a variety of physical and life science disciplines, as well as a specialized upper division option in life science, physical science or environmental systems and resource management.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Science from Cal State East Bay will:

1. demonstrate literacy of the principles of form, function and organization of organisms at the levels of molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems;
2. demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of chemistry, chemical structure, bonding, equilibrium, dynamics, and reactions, as well as classes of organic compounds and reactions;
3. understand the nature and distribution of earth materials, the processes by which the materials are formed and altered, the nature and development of the landscape, and interpretation of earth history;
4. demonstrate knowledge of the major components of the physical environment, including landforms, climate, vegetation, and soils;
5. demonstrate scientific literacy and ability to engage in scientific inquiry concerning environmental issues through the evaluation and analysis of scientific literature, and presentation of results in written and oral form.

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Career Opportunities

• Air Quality Controller
• Atmospheric Scientist
• Biological Consultant
• Bioremediation Consultant
• Chemical Consultant
• Ecosystem and Habitat Restoration
• Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Field or Lab Technician
• Environmental Health Scientist
• Environmental Manager
• Environmental Policy Developer
• Environmental Protection and Regulation Manager
• Geochemist
• Hazardous Waste Manager
• Industrial Hygienist
• Pollution Control Technician
• Risk Manager
• Soils Scientist
• Solid Waste Manager
• Technical Writer
• Urban Planner
• Waste Water Treatment Manager
• Water Manager
• Wildlife Manager

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Advanced Placement

Students who earn a grade of 3 or higher on the College Entrance Examination Board's Advanced Placement Test in Environmental Science will be given 4 units of credit equivalent to ENSC 2800.

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Major Requirements (B.S.)

It is important to consult an advisor in your major program for clarification and interpretation of your major requirements. The major in Environmental Science consists of 105-114 units; the B.S. degree requires a total of 180 units.

1. Course Prerequisites and Other Admission Requirements
   Students entering the Environmental Science program as first year students are expected to have the same high school preparatory courses as other science majors. Admission to the degree program is open to all students admitted to Cal State East Bay. Transfer students may have lower division course deficiencies that must be completed after entry to the program. Continuation in the program is contingent on satisfactory progress in the university as described in the catalog. Note: Students must meet with an Environmental Science advisor to discuss prerequisites and updates to course offerings.
2. Lower Division Core (52-61 units)
   • ENSC 2400 Environmental Biology (4) and ENSC 2401 Environmental Biology Laboratory (1)
     or BIOL 1402 Plant Biology (5) and BIOL 1403 Animal Biology (5)
     (Students choosing the Life Science option must complete BIOL 1402 and BIOL 1403) 
   • CHEM 1101, CHEM 1102, CHEM 1103 General Chemistry (5, 5, 5)
   • ENSC 2800 Environmental Problems of California (4)
   • ENSC 2900 Field Activity in Environmental Science (3)
   • GEOL 2101 Physical Geology (5) and GEOL 2102 Earth and Life Through Time (4)
     or GEOL/ENSC 2210 Environmental Geology (4) and GEOL/ENSC 2211 Environmental Geology Laboratory (1)
   • GEOL/GEOG 2600 Introduction to GIS (4)
   • MATH 1304 Calculus I (4)
   • PHYS 2701, PHYS 2702, PHYS 2703 Introductory Physics (4, 4, 4)
3. Upper Division Core (23 units)
   • BIOL 3110 Principles of Ecology (4)
   • ENSC/GEOL 3500 Environmental Hydrology (4) 
     or GEOL 4320 Hydrogeology (4)
   • ENSC 4800 Seminar in Environmental Science (3)
   • ENVT 4100 Environmental Impact Analysis (4)
   • GEOG 3000 Resource Management (4)
   • STAT 3010 Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences (4)
     or STAT 3031 Statistical Methods in Biology (4)
4. Electives (8 units)
   • Complete one elective from the following:
     • ECON 4306 Environmental Economics (4)
     • GEOG 4330 Sustainable Development (4)
     • HIST 3505 California Environmental History (4)
     • PHIL 3151 Environmental Ethics (4)
     • POSC 3460 Environmental Law (4)
     • POSC 4171 Public Policy and Environment (4)
   • Complete one elective from the following:
     • ENSC 3999 Issues in Environmental Sciences (4)
     • ENSC/GEOL 4140 Hazardous Waste Management (4)
     • ENSC 4200 Global Change (4)
5. Options
   A student must declare an option by the time he/she has completed 44 units of the Core courses. Students may elect to change their option with the notification of their advisor. Options are available in Life Science, Physical Science, and Environmental Systems and Resource Management, and are designed to provide in-depth study of a specific field. Each option requires 22 units within the discipline, in a combination of required courses and electives.
   1. Environmental Systems and Resource Management (22 units minimum)
      • Two or three courses from the following (8-15 units by advisement):
        • ENVT 3400 Environmental Resource Analysis (4)
        • ENVT 4910 Internship in Environmental Studies (2-4)
        • GEOG 3030 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (4)
        • GEOG 3410 Air-Photo Interpretation (4)
        • GEOG 3450 Literature and Research Methods (5)
        • GEOG 3605 Computer Cartography (5)
        • GEOG 4425 Remote Sensing of Earth Environments (4)
        • GEOG 4605 Applications of GIS (5)
      • Two or three courses from the following (7-13 units by advisement):
        • BIOL/GEOG 4130 Biogeography (4)
        • ENVT 4800 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies (3)
        • ENVT/GEOG 4320 Energy and Society (4)
        • ENVT/GEOG 4350 Water Resources and Management (4)
        • GEOL 3110 Principles of Geomorphology (4)
          or GEOG 3115 Physical Landscape Analysis (4)
        • One of: ENVT 4300 Environmental Field Studies (5)
          or GEOG 4125 Field Physical-Biotic Geography (4)
          or GEOG/ENVT 3480 Applied Field Studies (4)
   2. Life Science (22 units)
      
      • BIOL 4351 Biological Conservation (4)
      • Electives from the following courses or other approved courses (18 units by advisement):
        • BIOL 3215 Marine Biology (4)
          or MSC 4103 Marine Ecology (6)
        • BIOL 3216 Freshwater Environments (4)
        • BIOL 3898 Cooperative Education (2)
        • BIOL 4175 Population Biology (4)
        • BIOL 4200 Plant Taxonomy (4)
        • BIOL 4340 Environmental Microbiology (4)
        • BIOL 4516 Environmental Animal Physiology (4)       
        • BIOL 4517 Environmental Toxicology (4)
        • BIOL 4518 Animal Behavior (4)
        • BIOL 4530 Ecological Methods (4)
        • BIOL 4565 Ornithology (4)
        • BIOL 4583 Vertebrate Biology (4)
        • MSC 4104 Quantitative Marine Science (6)
        • MSC 4144 Biological Oceanography (6)
   3. Physical Science (22 units)
      Electives from the following courses and/or other approved courses (22 units by advisement)
      • CHEM 2200 Quantitative Analysis (5)
      • CHEM 2301 Survey of Organic Chemistry (4)
      • CHEM 2302 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4)
      • CHEM 3898 Cooperative Education (Internship) (2)
      • CHEM 4601 Environmental Chemistry I (4)
      • CHEM 4602 Environmental Chemistry II (4)
      • CHEM 4900 Independent Study (2)
      • GEOL 3110 Principles of Geomorphology (4)
      • GEOL 3601 Mineralogy and Optical Crystallography (5)
      • GEOL 3701 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (5)
      • GEOL 3801 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (5)
      • GEOL 3810 Structural Geology (5)
      • GEOL 3910 Geologic Field Methods (3)
      • GEOL 4010 Applied Geophysics (5)
      • GEOL 4130 Survey of Geochemistry (4)
      • GEOL 4320 Hydrogeology (4)
      • MATH 1305 Calculus II (4)

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Other Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University requirements for graduation which are described in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements chapter in the front of this catalog. These include the General Education-Breadth requirements; the second composition (ENGL 1002) requirement; the cultural groups/women requirement; the performing arts/activities requirement; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing Skills Requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.

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Certificate in Foundational Level General Science

The Foundational Level General Science certificate program is designed for students who would like to teach middle school science or would like to become K-5 science specialists. Credentialed teachers who complete this program and pass the Science CSET I and II exams qualify for the Foundational-level Added Authorization in Science.

Candidates for this program should have or plan to obtain their Multiple Subject teaching credential or a Single Subject teaching credential in a subject other than a science discipline. Students who complete this program will be well prepared to teach science at the K-8 level, will have completed the State required Methods Courses in Single Subject Science and will have the content knowledge required to pass the Science CSET I and II exams. The certificate consists of 20 units.

Required Courses

• BIOL 3011 Foundational Biology (4)
• BIOL 3012 Foundational Biology Laboratory (1)
• CHEM 3011 Foundational Chemistry (4)
• CHEM 3012 Foundational Chemistry Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 3011 Foundational Earth Science (4)
• GEOL 3012 Foundational Earth Science (1)
• PHYS 3011 Foundational Physics (4)
• PHYS 3012 Foundational Physics Laboratory (1)

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Undergraduate Courses

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