Environmental Studies (ES) offers three undergraduate degrees. The two majors in Environmental Studies (B.A. and B.S.) addresses the interdisciplinary relationships needed to understand today's complex environmental problems. Both focus on understanding the interrelationships between the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical science disciplines with the B.S. degree offering additional STEM preparation. Offering two options affords students the opportunity to choose a major that will most appropriately fit their individual environmental interests and goals. A summary of the differences between the B.A and B.S. degree is available here (.pdf).
A third major in Hydrological Sciences and Policy (B.S.) provides students with the scientific training and a fundamental background in policy needed to understand and solve complex hydrologic (water related) problems at local, regional, and global levels.
Below are detailed descriptions of each degree along with the major requirements and related worksheets for each. Questions about majoring in any of these degrees should be directed to the ES Academic Advising team.
Environmental Studies, B.A.
The Environmental Studies B.A. is our most flexible and popular degree offering many options for students to explore the social, cultural, and scientific issues pertaining to the environment and provides interdisciplinary training to help students understand and address today's complex environmental challenges. Students begin with the Preparation in the Major where they enroll in our introductory courses (ENV S 1, 2, 3, and 40) accompanied by fundamental and foundational lower-division prerequisites from the social sciences, humanities, and introductory natural and physical sciences.
The Upper-division requirements reinforce interdisciplinary thinking. Majors take one course from each of three core clusters (Area A)—Ecology and Society, Energy/Water/Climate, and The Built Environment—all of which emphasize environmental problem-solving through multiple academic lenses. Depending on their area(s) of interest, students then pursue either a specific or multidisciplinary environmental emphasis by choosing a combination of environmental electives from over 90 courses offered within Environmental Studies (Area B). The last part of the major (Area C) is a 16 unit upper-division outside concentration where students complete courses from one or more UCSB departments or programs from across campus relating to their educational goals. Many students use this requirement to pursue a minor, double major, field studies, or study abroad program.
B.A. Major Requirements:
- Official ES B.A. Requirements (UCSB General Catalog)
- B.A. Requirement Worksheets (use year declared major):
2026-27, 2025-26, 2024-25, 2023-24
Other ES B.A. Worksheets & Videos:
Environmental Studies, B.S.
The B.S. in Environmental Studies trains students in the natural and physical sciences while grounding them in the social and cultural dimensions of environmental problems. The B.S. begins with preparatory introductory environmental courses (ENV S 1, 2, 3 and 40) and interdisciplinary classes in the social sciences and humanities. It also requires a significant number of lower-division coursework in the natural and physical sciences including a statistics course, two courses of calculus, and a year each of introductory biology, chemistry, and physics to assure students are proficient in these areas.
At the upper-division level, students take one course from each of three interdisciplinary clusters—Ecology and Society, Energy/Water/Climate, and The Built Environment—all focused on key environmental issues and solutions. B.S. students then deepen their scientific expertise by completing 32 ES environmental elective units in Environmental Studies (Area B) and an outside concentration (Area C), both centered on the natural and physical sciences. Like the B.A. degree, many students use the outside concentration to pursue a minor or double major in a STEM department or pursue a field studies or study abroad program.
B.S. Major Requirements:
- Official ES B.S. Requirements (UCSB General Catalog)
- B.S. Requirement Worksheets (use year declared major):
2026-27, 2025-26, 2024-25, 2023-24
Other B.S. Major Worksheets & Videos:
Hydrological Sciences & Policy, B.S.
The focus of the hydrologic sciences and policy major is to provide students with the scientific training needed to understand and solve complex hydrologic problems at local, regional, and global levels. The goal of the hydrologic sciences curriculum is to provide a rigorous framework for students to examine the hydrologic process in our environment. It provides a rigorous framework of courses in biology, chemistry, math, geography, physics, and geology necessary for students to understand the hydrologic process and the impacts humans have upon it. Introductory courses concentrate on physical & natural sciences to prepare majors for demanding upper-division required courses in rivers, environmental hydrology, water pollution, and water policy. Students then select one course from six hydrology themed clusters of courses and take three elective courses from a broad list that includes an internship class, a senior thesis, the Environmental Leadership Incubator (ELI), or participation in the UC Education Abroad Program or an affiliated field studies program with projects located on six continents.
Other Hydro B.S. Major Worksheets & Videos:
Ready?
Join the thousands of other students at UCSB pursuing an Environmental Studies degree. Visit our webpage on declaring the major to learn more about the process.
Questions?
Have questions about which degree is right for you? Visit the Environmental Studies Academic Advisor in Bren 4313 or email advising@es.ucsb.edu to have all your questions answered.