Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences

The UCSC Environmental Sciences (ESCI) major is an interdepartmental, undergraduate-only degree program. The purpose of the ESCI major is to educate students interested in environmental science problems and issues, with a focus on issues within the physical sciences (versus focusing on biological sciences).

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program is designed for students who intend to pursue professional careers in environmental sciences, engineering, policy, law, teaching, or business or who otherwise desire the broad, quantitative training available at UCSC. In addition to providing comprehensive preparation in the basic physical sciences, and particular breadth and depth in environmental sciences, the curriculum is structured to prepare students for the competitive graduate school and career marketplace

Learning Experience
The core of the major includes calculus, physics, chemistry, and core foundational upper-division environmental sciences courses. Students also select at least five additional courses from a diverse list of upper-division electives. These electives provide the student with expertise in one or more subdisciplines within environmental sciences. A senior comprehensive experience is required of all majors. Students may choose from an intensive senior seminar capstone course or completion of a senior thesis to satisfy this requirement.

Study and Research Opportunities
The major specializes primarily in the following areas of study:

Climate and climate change: Earth's past, present, and future climate
Global biogeochemical cycles: Cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, mercury, etc.
Atmosphere: Meteorology, air quality, and atmospheric chemistry
Oceans: Physical, chemical, and biological oceanography
Fresh Water: Water resources and water quality
Pollution: Water pollution, air pollution, pollutant transport

They require all applicants who attend a school in a country where English is not the native language or whose language of instruction in high school secondary school was not English to adequately demonstrate English competency as a part of the application process In most cases if less than three years of your secondary schooling was with English as the language of instruction you must meet UCSCs English proficiency requirement.
Freshmen may demonstrate competency by submitting scores from one of the following tests Please note that TOEFL IELTS or DET exam scores are preferred but the score from ACT English Language Arts or SAT Writing and Language can also be used to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Earn a grade point average GPA of 3.00 or better 3.40 or better for a non-resident of California in these courses with no grade lower than a C.
TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test iBT or iBT Home Edition Minimum score of 80 or better Paper-delivered test Minimum score of 60 or better.
IELTS International English Language Testing System Overall band score of 6.5 or higher includes IELTS Indicator Exam.
SAT March 2016 or later Writing Language Test 31 or higher.
SAT prior to March 2016 Writing Exam 560 or higher.
ACT combined English Writing or English Language Arts portion 24 or higher.
AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition 3 4 or 5.
IB Standard Level examination in English Literature or Language and Literature 6 or 7.
IB Higher Level examination in English Literature or Language and Literature 5 6 or 7.