Track Leader: Susan Ustin, slustin@ucdavis.edu
This track introduces students to computer-based analysis of geographic data and the theory and practice of aerial and satellite imagery, geographical information systems (GIS), and spatial analysis, applied to natural resource assessment and to monitoring human impacts on the environment. The major trains students to become GIS and remote sensing specialists for employment in government agencies, profit and non-profit organizations. In addition to course work, student internships with private and government agencies to gain practical experience are encouraged and we can assist with locating an appropriate program. All public and private programs that manage natural resources have needs for spatial information technology specialists. Graduates will be well equipped for land and resource management positions in industry, non-profit and government agencies, and for advanced studies in geography, ecology, environmental sciences and management.
Major Requirements
Preparatory Subject Matter Requirements
| Course IDs | Course Title | Quarters Offered | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written and Oral Expression | ||||
| UWP 101, 102A-G, 104A-F | Upper Division Writing | I, II, III, IV | 4 | May test out of requirement |
| CMN 1, 3, or DRA 10 | Public Speaking | I, II, III, IV | 4 | |
| Biological Sciences | ||||
| BIS 2A | Essentials of Life on Earth | I, II, III, IV | 5 | |
| BIS 2B | Principles of Ecology and Evolution | I, II, III, IV | 5 | |
| BIS 2C | Biodiversity and the Tree of Life | I, II, III, IV | 5 | |
| Geology (Choose one of the following) | ||||
| GEL 1 | The Earth | I, II, III | 4 | |
| GEL 50 | Physical Geology | I, II, III | 3 | (recommended) |
| Chemistry (Choose one of the following) | ||||
| CHE 2A or 2AH | General Chemistry | I, II, IV (CHE 2A, 2AH) | 5 | |
| CHE 2B or 2BH | General Chemistry | II, III, IV (CHE 2B, 2BH) | 5 | |
| CHE 2C or 2CH | General Chemistry | I, III, IV (CHE 2C, 2CH) | 5 | (recommended, not required) |
| Physics (Complete either 1AB or 7ABC) | ||||
| Physics 1A | General Physics | I, II, IV | 3 | |
| Physics 1B | General Physics | II, III | 3 | |
| Physics 7A | General Physics | I, II, III, IV | 4 | |
| Physics 7B | General Physics | I, II, III, IV | 4 | |
| Physics 7C | General Physics | I, II, III, IV | 4 | |
| Economics | ||||
| ECN 1A | Principles of Microeconomics | I, II, III, IV | 4 | |
| Mathematics | ||||
| MAT 16A, 17A, or 21A | Calculus | I, II, III, IV | 3-4 | Mat 17AB recommended |
| MAT 16B, 17B, or 21B | Calculus | I, II, III, IV | 3-4 | |
| Environmental Science and Policy | ||||
| ESP 1 | Environmental Analysis | I, IV | 4 | |
I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
Depth Subject Matter Requirements
NOTE: Students graduating with this major are required to attain at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses taken at the university in Depth Subject Matter and pass all coursework. See requirements of the College of Agriculture & Environmental Science in the UC Davis General Catalog.
| Course IDs | Course Title | Prerequisites | Quarters Offered | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Environment | ||||
| ESM 120 | Global Environmental Interactions | One college-level chemistry and biology course | II | 4 |
| Ecology (Choose one of the following) | ||||
| ESP 100 | General Ecology | BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; STA 13 recommended | I, II, IV | 4 |
| EVE 101 | Introduction to Ecology | BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; or equivalent | I, II, III, IV | 4 |
| Policy | ||||
| ESP 162 | Environmental Policy | ECN 1A | II | 4 |
| Statistics (Choose one of the following - Statistics 100 recommended) | ||||
| STA 13 | Elementary Statistics | Two years of high school algebra or equivalent in college | I, II, III, IV | 4 |
| STA 100 | Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences | MAT 16B or 17B or 21B | I, II, III, IV | 4 |
| Environmental Monitoring (Choose one of the following) | ||||
| ESM 108 | Environmental Monitoring | Entry level course in the environmental sciences | III | 3 |
| ESP 179 | Environmental Impact Assessment | ESP 1 or the equivalent | II, IV | 4 |
| GIS Technology | ||||
| ABT/LDA 150 | Introduction to GIS | None | I, III | 4 |
| Internship | ||||
| ESM/ESP 92 or 192 | Internship | Upper division standing, permission of instructor
Variable unit – must take at least 3 units of internship |
I, II, III, IV | 3 |
| Capstone | ||||
| ESM 195 | Integrating Env Science & Management | Senior standing; Environmental science major (e.g.: ESM, EPAP, ETX, WFC) | III | 2 |
| Honors Thesis (Optional) | ||||
| ESM 194H | Senior Honors Thesis | Senior standing, Overall GPA of 3.50 or higher
Consent of the master adviser |
2-6 | |
I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
Required Courses
NOTE: Courses taken for the depth subject matter or track cannot be used to fulfill more than one major requirement.
| Course IDs | Course Title | Prerequisites | Quarters | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select two GIS courses | ||||
| ABT 181N* | Concepts & Methods in GIS | LDA 150 or consent of instructor | II | 4 |
| ABT/HYD 182** | Environmental Analysis with GIS | ABT 150 or equiv GIS experience, biology and/or ecology courses rec. | II | 4 |
| ESM 185 | Aerial Photo Interp. & Remote Sensing | Upper division standing | I | 4 |
| ESM 186 | Environmental Remote Sensing | MAT 16B; PHY 7C or 9B; upper division standing; ABT 150 rec. | II | 5 |
| Select two environmental policy courses | ||||
| ESP 163** | Energy & Env Aspects of Transportation | ECN 1A or ENG 106 | I | 4 |
| ESP 165 | Climate Policy | ECN 1A, ESP 1, or consent of instructor | III | 3 |
| ESP 166** | Ocean & Coastal Policy | ESP 1 or consent of instructor | II | 3 |
| ESP 169** | Water Policy & Politics | ECN 1A or POL 1 recommended | III | 3 |
| ESP 171 | Urban & Regional Planning | ESP 1 recommended | III | 4 |
| ESP 172 | Public Lands Management | ECN 1A recommended | I | 4 |
| ESP 179 | Environmental Impact Assessment | ESP 1 or the equivalent | II, IV | 4 |
| SOC 160 | Sociology of the Environment | SOC 1 or 2 or 3 recommended | I | 4 |
| Select two quantitative analysis courses | ||||
| ESP 121 | Population Ecology | BIS 2B-C; MAT 16B or 17B or 21B or 21BH | II | 4 |
| STA 104 | Nonparametric Statistics | STA 13 or 32 or 100 | II, III | 4 |
| STA 106 | Analysis of Variance | STA 13 or 32 or 100 | I, II, III, IV | 4 |
| STA 108 | Regression Analysis | STA 13 or 32 or 100 | I, II, III, IV | 4 |
| STA 130A | Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | MAT 16B or 17C or 21B | I | 4 |
| STA 130B | Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | STA 130A or 131A or MAT 135A | II | 4 |
| STA 137 | Applied Time Series Analysis | STA 108 | I, III | 4 |
| Three environmental science courses, must select at least one from section A and one from section B | ||||
| A – Physical | ||||
| ATM 110 | Weather Observation & Analysis | ATM 60 | III | 4 |
| ATM 116 | Climate Change | None | I | 4 |
| ATM 133** | Biometeorology | One biological course; MAT 16B; or consent of instructor | II | 4 |
| SSC 100 | Principles of Soil Science | College-level course in each of CHE, PHY, BIS, and GEL recommended | I | 5 |
| B - Biomes | ||||
| ESP 124 | Marine and Coastal Field Ecology | Acceptance into the Bodega Marine Lab summer program | IV | 3 |
| ESP 150C | Biological Oceanography | Acceptance into the Bodega Marine Lab summer program | IV | 4 |
| ESP 151 | Limnology | Upper division standing; BIS 2A | III | 4 |
| ESP 152 | Coastal Oceanography | Acceptance into the Bodega Marine Lab summer program | IV | 3 |
| ESP 155** | Wetland Ecology | BIS 2A or equivalent; ESP 100 or EVE 101 recommended | I | 4 |
| GEL 136 | Ecogeomorphology of Rivers & Streams | Upper division standing; consent of instructor | III | 5 |
| PLS 101 | Agriculture & the Environment | PLS 2 or consent of instructor | II | 3 |
| PLB/EVE 117 | Plant Ecology | BIS 2A-C; PLB 111 recommended | I | 4 |
*Course is offered in odd years only (2015, 2017, etc.)
**Course is offered in even years only (2016, 2018, etc.)