Comprehensive Requirement (B.S.)
All students must satisfy the senior comprehensive requirement. The intent of this requirement is to synthesize knowledge and skills from a student’s undergraduate career. Students should consult an adviser if they have any questions about the timing of their proposed comprehensive requirement activity.
Other capstones will not be considered unless they also satisfy the DC requirement.
Courses that are used to satisfy the capstone may not also count toward fulfilling the upper-division elective requirement.
Satisfactory completion of one of the following capstone course offerings:
Senior Thesis
| ESCI 195 | Senior Thesis | 5 |
ESCI 195 requires original research performed by the student. Approval from a faculty sponsor is required prior to embarking on a senior thesis. Completion of the senior thesis is necessary to pass ESCI 195.
ESCI 195 also satisfies the DC requirement.
Capstone Seminar
| ESCI 191 | Capstone Seminar | 5 |
Enrollment in ESCI 191 is limited to environmental science majors with senior standing.
ESCI 191 also satisfies the DC requirement.
Planners
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
Students planning a professional career in environmental sciences should take more than the minimum number of courses required for the major, if possible. Four-year students have ample flexibility to take additional electives if they begin with the required courses in their second year. Junior transfers also have flexibility if they have taken most of their lower-division preparatory courses before entry. Further advice can be obtained from the undergraduate adviser and from faculty members.
Sample Four-Year Planner
Note: CHEM 3A is offered in fall and winter. CHEM 3B is offered in winter and spring, and CHEM 3BL is offered every quarter. CHEM 3C is offered every quarter, but CHEM 3CL is offered in fall and spring only. CHEM 4A and CHEM 4AL are offered in fall, and CHEM 4B and CHEM 4BL are offered in winter. MATH 11A and MATH 11B are offered every quarter. PHYS 6A and PHYS 6L are offered every quarter, but PHYS 6B and PHYS 6M are not offered in fall.
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer (optional) |
| Entering | College 1A | |||
| Summer Edge (optional) | ||||
| 1st (frosh) | College 1 | MATH 11A | MATH 11B | |
| CHEM 3A | CHEM 3B & CHEM 3BL | CHEM 3C & CHEM 3CL | ||
| *EART 10 & EART 10L | ||||
| WRIT 1/WRIT 1E (if needed) | ||||
| 2nd (soph) | ESCI 30 | ESCI 100A | ESCI 100B | |
| PHYS 6A & PHYS 6L | PHYS 6B & PHYS 6M | Upper-division elective | ||
| WRIT 2** | ||||
| 3rd (junior) | ESCI 160 | ENVS 25 | Upper-division elective | |
| Upper-division elective | ||||
| 4th (senior) | Upper-division elective | Upper-division elective | ESCI 191 or ESCI 195*** | |
* EART 5, EART 10, EART 20 and corresponding labs are interchangeable.
** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
***Students expecting to write a senior thesis (ESCI 195) for their comprehensive requirement should contact the department at least three quarters before graduation to identify the intended project and faculty adviser. Senior theses usually require at least three quarters for completion.
In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student must complete courses satisfying the CC, ER, IM, SR, TA, PE, and PR general education requirements.
Sample Transfer (Two-Year) Planner
This planner assumes that students have completed all lower-division requirements other than ESCI 30, ENVS 25, and EART 20 and EART 20L.
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer (optional) |
| Entering | KRSG 1T | |||
| Summer Edge (optional) | ||||
| 3rd (junior) | ESCI 30 | ENVS 25 | ESCI 100B | |
| ESCI 160 | ESCI 100A | EART 20 & EART 20L | ||
| 4th (senior) | Upper-division elective | Upper-division elective | ESCI 191 or ESCI 195* | |
| Upper-division elective | Upper-division elective | Upper-division elective | ||
*Students expecting to write a senior thesis (ESCI 195) for their comprehensive requirement should contact the department at least three quarters before graduation to identify the intended project and faculty adviser. Senior theses usually require at least three quarters for completion.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students fulfill the Disciplinary Communication general education requirement through successful completion of either (i) one of the environmental sciences senior capstone seminars (any course in the ESCI 191 sequence) or (ii) a senior thesis based on original research performed by the student (enrollment in ESCI 195 is required).