College of Health & Social Sciences
This interdisciplinary degree gives students a strong background in biology and conservation background, but also introduces them, via courses in law and policy, sustainability and justice, and global issues, to the social context in which decisions that affect habitat preservation and species survival are made.
ENVS is fortunate to have a dedicated scholarship, the George Feliz Memorial Scholarship in Environmental Studies.
Our students are very active on campus: many work with the Environmental Resources Center run by student government to educate their fellow students about sustainable living.
ENVS students have also been well represented at events such as the global Climate March in September 2018.
An internship is a graduation requirement for ENVS majors, and offers students a semester-long opportunity to learn new skills at a non-profit, business, or government office, and to apply what they've learned in their classes.
Access the list of the major requirements to better understand the structure of the major.
The roadmap puts all of your graduation requirements into an easy-to-follow semester-by-semester plan so you know what to take to stay on track. Whether you are a freshman or a transfer student, you'll be able to find a roadmap that best fits you.
Besides your major requirements, students must complete their GE and University requirements. Be sure to make sure you've completed all of these requirements for graduation.
To learn more about this major, check out the major department’s website below. You can also find out how you can access their faculty advisors who can assist you not just with course choices, but also answer questions about the field and discuss your career plans.
School of Public Affairs & Civic Engagment
HSS Building, Room 133
Phone: (415) 405-3483
Email: envs@sfsu.edu, PACE@sfsu.edu
Website: https://pace.sfsu.edu/envs
Associate Professor/Program Coordinator: Glenn Fieldman
Freshmen Student Advising Information
After choosing “Basic Subjects” GE courses in Steps 1-3 of your Orientation process (if you haven’t done so, log onto your Orientation Profile page to follow the “Pre-Orientation Advising Module”), STEP 4 Choosing Major Classes will show you if there are any classes you can take to satisfy major requirements for your first and/or second semester.
Once you have determined your Roadmap above, review the first section below and write down any course recommendations based on your corresponding major roadmap on your Freshmen Class Planner worksheet.
First Semester Course Recommendations — Roadmaps A, B, C & D
|
Major Class & Title |
Units |
Other Requirement Area(s) Met |
|
GEOG 101– Our Physical Environment#1 (Formerly GEOL-270) |
3 units |
GE – Area B1/B3 SF State Studies — ES |
|
ERTH 230– Environmental Geology #1
|
3 units |
GE – Area B1 SF State Studies — ES
|
|
CHEM 115 #2-General Chemistry I: Essential Concepts of Chemistry
CHEM 180 #3-General Chemistry for Energy and the Environment (recommended) |
5 units
3 units |
GE- Area B1/ B3 SF State Studies — ES |
|
ENVSC 130- Environmental Studies (Formerly ENVS 300) |
3 units |
SF State Studies — ES
|
|
ENVSC 224 #4- Research Methods for Environmental Studies |
4 units |
|
|
If there are any course(s) listed above, please enter this information onto “Step 4” of your Freshmen Class Planner. |
Advisor Footnotes:
-
#1Physical Environment requirement.
-
#2Prerequisites MATH 197 or AP scores 4/5 and CHEM 100 recommended.
-
CHEM-180 recommended
-
#3Prerequisites MATH 197
-
#4Prerequisites- restricted to Environmental Studies majors or permission of the instructor
-
ENVSC-130 must pass 130 with a grade C or better.
-
If any of the courses listed in this section are FULL by the time you are to enroll, see the section “Alternate Major Classes” below.
If the course or courses in the previous section are FULL by the time your register, consider choosing one (or perhaps two) major course electives from the following list...
|
Major Elective Class(es) |
Units |
Other Requirement Area(s) Met |
|
CHEM 180 #3-General Chemistry for Energy and the Environment
|
3 |
GE- Area B1/ B3 SF State Studies — ES |
|
Class 456 – insert title here |
3 |
Major Emphasis: Behavioral and Social Sciences |
|
Add courses as needed… |
# |
Continue pattern… |
Advisor Footnotes:
-
Taking CHEM 180 satisfies the lower division CHEM requirement is recommended
-
Community Colleges offer an alternative to CHEM 115 (refer to assist.org to see if the community college course is an exact alternative)
Once you have made your course choices for Steps 1-4, you may already have between 12-15 units chosen for your first semester—about 4 to 5 classes.
If more units are needed, you will proceed to "Step 5 - Choosing GE Courses" from your Orientation Advising Module after considering the following recommendations...
|
GE Area |
Advisor Notes |
|
A1 Oral Communication |
Covered in “Step 3” on Class Planner |
|
A2 Written English Communication |
Covered in “Step 1” on Class Planner |
|
A3 Critical Thinking |
Covered in “Step 3” on Class Planner |
|
B1 Physical Science |
Consider taking a B3 Lab if chosen |
|
B2 Life Science |
Consider taking a B3 Lab if chosen |
|
B3 Laboratory Science |
Make sure this includes a LEC component if chosen |
|
B4 Quantitative Reasoning |
Covered in “Step 2” on Class Planner |
|
C1 Arts |
There are major courses for this area |
|
C2 Humanities |
There are major courses for this area |
|
D Social Sciences |
There are major courses for this area |
|
D US History |
There are major courses for this area |
|
E Lifelong Learning & Self-Development (LLD) |
Covered in “Step 1” on Class Planner |
|
F Ethnic Studies |
There are major courses for this area |
|
US/CA Government |
Choose any |
BIOL 230 (4,5)
CHEM 115 (4,5)
- Field research
- Habitat management
- Government agencies
- Conservation-oriented non-profit organizations
- Local, state and national parks
Transfer Student Advising Information
Please see the box above labeled “Major Curriculum/Roadmaps & GE/University Requirements” for information on what courses to take in your first semester at SF State. View our Frequently Asked Questions for Transfers for helpful tips and additional information.