Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies Program is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary course of study that presents a broad overview of ecological issues from a variety of perspectives. The coursework examines the interplay between natural and social systems, and the ideological foundations of humankind's attitudes and behaviors with respect to their ever-changing environments. This program is designed to prepare students to research, analyze, and propose solutions to the myriad environmental challenges facing the world today.

For additional career possibilities, visit the Career Services Center on the main campus to utilize computerized career information systems and other valuable career resources.

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Programs Offered

Degrees and Certificates

Associate Degree

Environmental Studies

Certificates of Achievement

Environmental Studies

Associate Degree Requirements

An Associate degree is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) in degree applicable coursework and a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units, including:

Completion of the area of emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher;
Completion of one of the following general education patterns: SMC GE, CSU GE, or IGETC;
Completion of the SMC Global Citizenship graduation requirement.

Certificate of Achievement Requirements

A Certificate of Achievement is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) and a designated minimum number of units, including:

Completion of the area of emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher;
Completion of at least 50% of area of emphasis units at Santa Monica College. Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis. All major coursework must be completed with a “C” or better grade.

Catalog Rights

Transfer Preparation

Many colleges/universities offer baccalaureate degrees in this field. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should complete the lower-division major requirements and the general education pattern for the specific transfer institution. SMC has articulation agreements with the many UC and CSU campuses, as well as several private and out-of-state institutions.

Exact major requirements for UC and CSU campuses can be found online at assist.org.

A listing of private, nonprofit California colleges and universities can be found online at aiccu.edu. For articulation agreements between SMC and some of these institutions see smc.edu/articulation.

Environmental Science, Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate through oral and written work a familiarity with both governmental and non-governmental efforts focused on environmental issues and be prepared to pursue further study in an Environmental Studies program (or related field of study) at the baccalaureate level. In addition, students will be proficient in the research, analytical, and communication skills necessary to present a critical analysis of the interplay between natural and social systems, the attitudes and behaviors that impact and affect the environment, and proposed solutions to the myriad environmental challenges facing the world today.

Area of Emphasis: (24 units)

Required Core Courses: (6 units)

BIOL 9,Environmental Biology(3)

ENVRN 7,Introduction to Environmental Studies (same as GEOG 7)(3)

GEOG 7,Introduction to Environmental Studies (same as ENVRN 7)(3)

Select 1 course from the following: (3 units)

ENVRN 14,US Environmental History (same as HIST 14)(3)

ENVRN 20,Environmental Ethics (same as PHILOS 20)(3)

ENVRN 22,Environmental Politics and Policies (same as POL SC 22)(3)

ENVRN 32,Global Environmental History (same as HIST 32)(3)

ENVRN 40,Environmental Psychology (same as PSYCH 40)(3)

HIST 14,U.S. Environmental History(3)

HIST 32,Global Environmental History(3)

PHILOS 20,Environmental Ethics (same as ENVRON 20)(3)

POL SC 22,Environmental Politics and Policies (same as ENVRN 22)(3)

PSYCH 40,Environmental Psychology (same as ENVRN 40)(3)

Field Studies/Applied; Select at least 3 units from the following:

BIOLOGY 45A-Z,Field Studies in Natural History(1)

BIOLOGY 46A-Z,Field Studies in Natural History(1)

BOTANY 3,Field Botany(4)

GEOG 20,Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (same as GIS 20)(3)

GEOG 35F,Field Study: California(1)

GEOG 35s,Geography Field Studies(1)

GIS 20,Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (same as GEOG 20)(3)

Ecology/Physical Science/Natural Science; Select at least 3 units from the following:

BIOL 3,Fundamentals of Biology(4)

BIOL 15,Marine Biology with Laboratory(4)

BIOL 15N,Marine Biology (No-Laboratory)(3)

BIOL 21,Cell Biology and Evolution (4)

BOTANY 1,General Botany(4)

CHEM 9,Everyday Chemistry(5)

CHEM 10,Introductory General Chemistry(5)

CHEM 19,Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry(5)

PHYSCS 6,General Physics 1 with Lab(4)

PHYSCS 8,Calculus-based General Physics 1 with Lab(4)

PHYSCS 14,Introductory Physics with Lab(4)

ZOOL 5,Introductory Zoology(4)

Earth Science: Select at least 3 units from the following:

GEOG 1,Physical Geography(3)

GEOG 3,Weather and Climate(3)

GEOG 5,Physical Geology with Lab(4)

GEOL 1,Physical Geology without Lab(3)

GEOL 3,Introduction to Environmental Geology(3)

GEOL 4,Physical Geology with Lab(4)

GEOL 31,Introduction to Physical Oceanography(3)

Social Science: (6 units required as specified)

GROUP A: Select 1 course from the following:

ECON 1,Principles of Microeconomics(3)

ECON 2,Principles of Macroeconomics(3)

ECON 4,Environmental Economics (same as ENVRN 4)(3)

ENVRN 4,Environmental Economics (same as ECON 4)(3)

POL SC 1,American and California Politics(3)

GROUP B: Select 1 course from the following not used to satisfy other requirements of the program: (3 units)

ANTHRO 2,Cultural Anthropology(3)

BUS 7,Introduction to Sustainability in Business(3)

ENVRN 14,US Environmental History (same as HIST 14)(3)

ENVRN 20,Environmental Ethics (same as PHILOS 20)(3)

ENVRN 22,Environmental Politics and Policies (same as POL SC 22)(3)

ENVRN 32,Global Environmental History (same as HIST 32)(3)

ENVRN 40,Environmental Psychology (same as PSYCH 40)(3)

GEOG 2,Introduction to Human Geography (3)

GEOG 8,Introduction to Urban Studies (same as URBAN 8)(3)

GEOG 11,World Geography: Introduction to Global Studies (same as GLOBAL 11)(3)

GEOG 14,Geography of California (3)

GLOBAL 11,World Geography: Introduction to Global Studies (same as GEOG 11)(3)

HIST 14,U.S. Environmental History (same as ENVRN 14)(3)

HIST 32,Global Environmental History (same as ENVRN 32)(3)

PHILOS 20,Environmental Ethics (same as ENVRN 20)(3)

POL SC 22,Environmental Politics and Policies (same as ENVRN 22)(3)

PSYCH 1,General Psychology(3)

PSYCH 40,Environmental Psychology (same as ENVRN 40)(3)

SOCIOL 1,Introduction to Sociology(3)

SOCIOL 1s,Introduction to Sociology – Service Learning(3)

SOCIOL 2,Social Problems(3)

SOCIOL 2s,Social Problems – Service Learning(3)

URBAN 8,Introduction to Urban Studies (same as GEOG 8)(3)