Investigate an environmental issue, design and execute independent research, and present your results.
The Bachelor of Science program in Environmental Sciences in the Rausser College of Natural Resources provides a broad, comprehensive education in the fundamentals of biology, chemistry, math, physics, and social sciences. The discipline involves the study of interactions between human activities and biological and physical environments on all scales, from the local to the global.
Offered by the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, the ES major is a top-rated interdisciplinary program that deals with the impact of human activities on natural systems. In order to address these problems, students are trained to apply tools and techniques from a variety of disciplines such as biology, ecology, chemistry, toxicology, geology, hydrology, meteorology, geography, engineering, statistics, behavioral science, policy analysis, economics, and law.
Highlights
- Get involved with the Environmental Sciences Student Association.
- Individualize your studies with one of three major concentrations.
- Investigate an environmental problem or issue in the senior research seminar.
Curriculum
Lower division coursework in the Environmental Sciences major emphasizes basic science in a rigorous curriculum drawn from a variety of departments including biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, economics, and environmental science. Students choose one of three major concentrations (biological, social, or physical science) based on intended research area.
Upper division ES courses blend core requirements with the flexibility to tailor coursework to students’ research interests. Students choose two electives, courses in modeling and social sciences, and also complete a sequence of courses focused on preparing to engage in research. Students finish with a year-long senior research project as they prepare for environmental careers, future research, or graduate/professional school.
Learn more at nature.berkeley.edu/advising/majors/environmental-sciences
About ESPM
The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management is a multidisciplinary program that recognizes the urgency of the challenges facing our environment, and the enormous opportunities that may lead to transformative change. We have award-winning faculty in climate science, biodiversity, environmental policy, land use, and community outreach—all driven by a collective interest in our environmental future.
Declaring the Major
First-year and transfer students accepted to UC Berkeley and who selected Environmental Sciences on their undergraduate admissions application will be admitted directly to the Rausser College of Natural Resources and the ES major (no declaration required).
If you are currently a Rausser student and wish to declare a new major within the college, you must meet with the advisor for your intended major after completing the requirements to declare. If you are a UC Berkeley student in another college, you must meet the requirements to change into Rausser and declare a new major.
Environmental Sciences students are well prepared for environmental work as well as careers in many different areas. Every year, ES graduates pursue a variety of opportunities including working for the government, working in non-government or non-profit agencies, and working in the private sector. Many students also attend graduate school in academia (MS or PhD programs) or in medicine, law, and other professional programs. The rigor and flexibility of the ES major allow students to adapt their coursework to best meet their career goals.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Environmental Sciences. Rausser College partners with Berkeley Career Engagement to help students access resources, events, and professional opportunities related to their studies. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Analyst Consultant
- Biological Technician
- Business Associate
- Consultant
- Data Analyst
- Environmental Scientist
- Forestry Technician
- GIS Data Specialist
- Naturalist
- Research Associate
- Software Operations Specialist
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Civil Engineering
- Coastal Science and Policy
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Forestry
- Geology
- Law
- Molecular Biology
- Public Health
- Public Policy Analysis
Anjika, class of 2022
Anjika Pai graduated with a BS in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Music. A University Medalist, she was a policy research intern for the California-China Climate Institute, taught a DeCal course about underrepresented female composers, and interned with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to oversee a racial equity plan.
“I’ve gotten involved in so many different things because Berkeley lets you explore whatever you want to explore….Nothing beats having an entire college where everyone is working on making the environment safer, and that’s where I wanted to be.”
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the ES major; check out the Major Snapshot and Sample Degree Plans.
- Meet with your college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Begin lower division chemistry and calculus; enroll in an ESPM core/breadth course as well as NATRES 76 How to Be a Rausser CNR Scientist.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Rausser Student Resource Center and Virtual Bulletin Board.
- Join a Rausser student group like ESSA.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Find support from the Student Learning Center and Biology Scholars Program
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Live and learn in the Global Environment Theme House.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out the ES Career Snapshot.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Start using Handshake to connect with career events and opportunities.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Focus on lower division requirements in biology, physics, and environmental economics; enroll in ESPM core/breadth courses and electives.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see options in Environmental Sciences abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Science, Technology, and Society.
- Decide on your major concentration.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Rausser and ESPM events like the Department Seminar Series.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities from Rausser and OURS; apply to SPUR or URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse programs from the Student Environmental Resource Center.
- Connect with student resources from the Berkeley Climate Change Network.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; apply for the Rausser Summer Internship Grant.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with electives and any lower division requirements; begin upper division statistics, human environment interactions, research methods (ESPM 100ES), and environmental modeling.
- Review your degree progress with your college advisor.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as Epsilon Eta.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Connect with alumni groups like Rausser Alumni.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in the senior research seminar and lab (ESPM 175A + 175L and ESPM 175B + 175L).
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Finish all requirements and electives, including general ES and ES concentration electives.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Present at a Rausser Research Showcase or outside conference with the Conference Travel Grant.
- Get published! Submit your work to Perennial or the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Nonprofit, Environment and Public Service Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like ESPM 152 Global Change Biology or ESPM 169 International Environmental Policy.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Conduct research with support from SPUR or UC Nature.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Data Science, Journalism, or Sustainable Business and Policy.
- Consider a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal.
- Familiarize yourself with the ES major; check out the Major Snapshot and Sample Degree Plans.
- Meet with your college advisor to discuss your academic plans and intended major concentration.
- Enroll in upper-division statistics, electives, and any needed lower division requirements.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Rausser Student Resource Center and Virtual Bulletin Board.
- Join a Rausser student group like ESSA.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Find support from the Student Learning Center and Biology Scholars Program.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out the ES Career Snapshot.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in research methods (ESPM 100ES), human environment interactions, and environmental modeling coursework; continue with electives.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see options in Environmental Sciences abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Science, Technology, and Society.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Rausser and ESPM events like the Department Seminar Series.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Explore research opportunities from Rausser and OURS; apply to SPUR or URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse programs from the Student Environmental Resource Center.
- Connect with student resources from the Berkeley Climate Change Network.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; apply for the Rausser Summer Internship Grant.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in the senior research seminar and lab (ESPM 175A + 175L), and electives including a general ES elective.
- Review your degree progress with your RCNR major advisor.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor or Transfer Student Center Leader.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as Epsilon Eta.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Complete the senior research seminar and lab (ESPM 175B + 175L).
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Finish all electives, including an ES concentration elective.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Present at a Rausser Research Showcase or outside conference with the Conference Travel Grant.
- Get published! Submit your work to Perennial or the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Connect with alumni groups like Rausser Alumni.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Nonprofit, Environment and Public Service Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like ESPM 152 Global Change Biology or ESPM 169 International Environmental Policy.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Conduct research with support from SPUR or UC Nature.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Data Science, Journalism, or Sustainable Business and Policy.
- Consider a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Environmental Sciences or the Rausser College of Natural Resources?
Rausser College provides undergraduate advising to prospective and current undergraduate students. College Advisors are available on a drop-in and appointment basis to assist students with course enrollment and academic planning, explain college and university policies and procedures, and connect students to faculty and other campus student resources. Peer Advising Leaders are trained in understanding college and University requirements, policies, and procedures, and offer personal viewpoints and experiences to current and prospective students.
Advising services are available in 260 Mulford Hall in the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs. For advising hours and contacts, visit nature.berkeley.edu/advising/undergraduate-advising or email advising.rcnr@berkeley.edu.
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