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Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies (ES) at San Diego State University includes courses from across the university for students interested in a broad, sophisticated understanding of the many serious environmental issues facing the nation and the world today.
The major and minor are designed to help students understand environmental issues such as pollution, wildlife and wilderness preservation, land use, biodiversity loss, resource competition, global warming and sustainable development in their political, cultural social and scientific contexts. Because the interrelations between humans and nature are so complex, the ES major emphasizes interdisciplinary course work, and humanities, social science and scientific perspectives.
Program Overview
Social Science Major, Emphasis in Environmental Studies
The Environmental Studies major is an emphasis within the Social Science major. The major consists of 33 units, including a 9-unit required core of courses, a 9-unit distribution requirement, and a 15-unit concentration.Three lower-division units in Environmental Science are required as preparatory course work for the major. In addition, students are encouraged to take a college-level biology course, and complete their GE Foundations in Natural Sciences and Quantitative Reasoning and in Humanities before undertaking the upper division courses for the major.
The upper division curriculum is designed to enable students to specialize in one area of the major while still maintaining a holistic view of environmental studies. Some possible concentrations include environmental geography, sustainable development, the urban environment, public policy, environmental and outdoor education, and water resources. Students are encouraged to design their own concentrations.
Environment and Society Minor
The minor consists of 15 units, including 6-unit required core of course. A minor in ES is strongly recommended for all students who are interested in environmental issues or who may wish to integrate the environment into their future careers.
Special Features
Environmental Studies is one of several options for students interested in sustainability, environmental quality and related fields. ES is for the student who wants to approach these issues from a social science or humanities perspective. Students who are deeply engaged by the scientific or engineering questions behind sustainability should also consider the Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering programs.
A number of student groups on campus are concerned with sustainability and the environment:
Career Opportunities
ES students find work in research, analysis, and enforcement activities in state, federal and local governments. Others work in environmental education, or for nonprofit organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. Some work as consultants to private firms, and some graduates have become primary schools, secondary schools and in universities, or interpreters at museums or parks. A few have created their own careers in such areas as organic farming, managing cooperatives and social action.
ES students often go on to professional and graduate schools in such fields as law, ecology, engineering, history, journalism, economics, public health, political science, public administration, environmental policy and human ecology.
Although San Diego State does not yet offer an ES internship as part of the major, students are encouraged to seek out internship or volunteer opportunities in their fields of interest. An internship or volunteer experience is very useful for almost all environmental careers. Internships and volunteering also give students a chance to put their education to work in the community.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site.
General Catalog
You can view more complete information regarding the Environmental Studies major in the General Catalog under the Social Sciences major, emphasis in Environmental Studies. Information regarding the Environment and Society minor can be found in the General Catalog under Interdisciplinary Studies. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the university. Catalogs are distributed at all New Student Orientation programs. To order a General Catalog, call (619) 594-7535.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Environmental Studies Program
Department of History
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6050
Co-Directors/Undergraduate Advisers:
Trent Biggs
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4493
Office: Storm Hall 317
Phone: (619) 594-0902
E-mail: tbiggs@mail.sdsu.edu
Adviser for students whose last names start with N-Z
Matthew Lauer
Department of Anthropology
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6040
Office: Arts and Letters 417
Phone: (619) 594-0978
E-mail: mlauer@mail.sdsu.edu
Adviser for students whose last names start with A-M