Environmental Studies
Associate of Arts (AA) Environmental Studies · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Overview
The Environmental Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program designed to develop an understanding of living and non-living earth processes and how they affect and are affected by the human population. Courses in biology, earth sciences and history provide a foundation in the functioning of living systems including population growth, ecology, and toxicology; geologic processes including energy resources, geologic hazards, and pollution; and human attitudes towards nature including historical perspective and context for our current situation.
Through these courses students will gain a better understanding of how humans are intimately connected with the environment and how human activities impact and are impacted by the environment.
An understanding of environmental matters is essential in today’s world. Careers in natural resources, land use planning, business, energy, waste management, pollution control, law and environmental administration all require knowledge of environmental issues and the functioning of ecosystems. Career opportunities may require more discipline-specific studies in biology, geology or political science.
Requirements
Associate Degree Graduation Requirements
Complete all of the following:
- All Major Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the major requirements must be completed through SBCC).
- One of the following General Education options:
- OPTION 1: SBCC General Education pattern OR
- OPTION 2: Cal-GETC pattern
- A minimum of 60 semester units of degree-applicable college credit (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher and C1000 and higher).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in degree-applicable coursework.
- A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Required Core | ||
| ENVS 110 | Humans And The Biological Environment | 3 |
| ENVS 111 | Environmental Field Studies | 1 |
| ENVS 115/ERTH 115 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| ENVS 115L/ERTH 115L | Environmental Geology Laboratory | 1 |
| ENVS 116/ERTH 116 | Energy and Natural Resources | 3 |
| HIST 112/ENVS 112 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| ENVS 200 | Projects In Sustainability | 2 |
| BIOL 100 | Concepts Of Biology | 4-5 |
| orBIOL 101 | Plant Biology | |
| orBIOL 102 | Animal Biology | |
| orBIOL 103 | Cell and Molecular Biology | |
| CHEM 155 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3-4 |
| orECON C2001H | Principles of Microeconomics - Honors | |
| orECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| orECON C2002H | Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors | |
| ENG 111 | Critical Thinking and Composition Through Literature | 3 |
| orENG 111H | Critical Thinking and Composition Through Literature, Honors | |
| ENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
| orENGL C1000H | Academic Reading and Writing - Honors | |
| PHIL 101 | Introduction to Ethics | 3-4 |
| orPHIL 101H | Introduction To Ethics, Honors | |
| orPHIL 205 | Introduction to Logic | |
| orPOLS 132 | Political Thinking | |
| STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| List A - Complete one combination from the following: | 3-5 | |
| ERTH 111 & ERTH 111L | Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology and Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology Laboratory | |
| ERTH 111H & ERTH 111L | Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology, Honors and Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology Laboratory | |
| ERTH 151 & ERTH 151L | Introductory Physical Oceanography and Introductory Physical Oceanography Laboratory | |
| ERTH 141 & ERTH 141L | Physical Geography and Physical Geography Laboratory 1 | |
| GEOG 101 & GEOG 101L | Physical Geography and Physical Geography Laboratory 1 | |
| ERTH 152/GEOG 152 | Weather and Climate | |
| List B - Complete two courses from the following: | 6-8 | |
| ANTH 103 | Introduction To Cultural Anthropology | |
| ANTH 109 | Comparative World Cultures | |
| ERTH 142/GEOG 105 | Economic Geography | |
| GEOG 102 | Human Geography | |
| GLST 101 | Introduction to Global Studies | |
| GLST 102 | Global Problems | |
| POLS 121 | International Politics | |
| orPOLS 121H | International Politics, Honors | |
| POLS 131 | Comparative Politics | |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | |
| orPSYC C1000H | Introduction to Psychology - Honors | |
| SOC 101 | Introduction To Sociology | |
| orSOC 101H | Introduction to Sociology, Honors | |
| List C - Complete one course from Cal-GETC Area 3A | 3-4 | |
| Total Units | 54.00-62.00 | |
- ERTH 141/141L are the same as GEOG 101/101L.
- Click here for a list of Cal-GETC Area 3A course options.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain how human activities impact the environment and how the environment impacts human society over time.
- Explain the interconnections among the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
- Apply critical thinking to establish connections and evaluate the extent to which human activities degrade, protect, or rehabilitate environmental health.
Recommended Sequence
Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.
How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.