This cluster offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the intersection of environmental science and economics. Students will study Earth processes shaping the environment, explore general chemistry principles, and engage in hands-on lab work. The cluster also includes an introduction to environmental economics, focusing on resource, agricultural, and environmental issues. This combination fulfills the Physical Sciences and Social & Behavioral Science breadth requirements, and allows students to make progress towards majors including Neuroscience, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Public Health.
Course Descriptions
Click on the courses below for more detail.
EPS 80: Environmental Earth Sciences (3 Units)
This course focuses on the processes on and in the earth that shape the environment. Humanity’s use of land and oceans is examined based on an understanding of these processes.
CHEM 1A: General Chemistry (3 Units)
Stoichiometry of chemical reactions, quantum mechanical description of atoms, the elements and periodic table, chemical bonding, real and ideal gases, thermochemistry, introduction to thermodynamics and equilibrium, acid-base and solubility equilibria, introduction to oxidation-reduction reactions, introduction to chemical kinetics.
CHEM 1AL: General Chemistry Lab (2 Units)
An experimental approach to chemical sciences with emphasis on developing fundamental, reproducible laboratory technique and a goal of understanding and achieving precision and accuracy in laboratory experiments. Proper use of laboratory equipment and standard wet chemical methods are practiced. Areas of investigations include chemical equilibria, spectroscopy, nanotechnology, green chemistry, and thermochemistry. Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in 1A is required.
ENVECON C1: Introduction to Environmental Economics & Policy (4 Units)
Introduction to microeconomics with emphasis on resource, agricultural, and environmental issues.
Meeting Schedule
- EPS 80: T/Th 11-12:30 PM
- CHEM 1A: MWF 1-2 PM; Discussion T 1-2 PM
- CHEM 1AL: F 10-11 AM; Discussion T 2-5 PM
- ENVECON C1: MWF 12-1 PM; Discussion M 11-12 PM & T 9-10 AM
Major Prerequisites and L&S Breadth/General Requirements
| Course | Major Prerequisite | Major Lower Division | L&S Breadth/General Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPS 80 | N/A | N/A | Physical Sciences |
| CHEM 1A | MCB Neuroscience |
IB Atmospheric Science* Planetary Science* Enviro Earth Sci* Geophysics* Marine Science* |
Physical Sciences CHEM 1A/1AL may be substituted for CHEM 4A |
| CHEM 1AL | MCB Neuroscience |
IB Atmospheric Science* Planetary Science* Enviro Earth Sci* Geophysics* Marine Science* |
CHEM 1A/1AL may be substituted for CHEM 4A |
| ENVECON C1 | Public Health* Analytics* |
N/A | Social & Behavioral Science |
* = one of several classes that can satisfy requirement
+ = recommended, not required
^ = lower division requirement, not required for declaration
