Subject abbreviation: ENSC
The Department of Environmental Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Sciences. Students can choose to concentrate their studies in one of four options: the Natural Science option, the Social Science option, the Soil Science option, or the Environmental Toxicology option.
The necessity of maintaining an acceptable level of environmental quality is placing increasing demands upon governments, businesses, and industries locally, nationally, and worldwide. In order to help meet those demands, the Environmental Sciences Program is designed to provide training for students intending to engage in environmental professions or for students preparing for graduate study in law, research, or teaching in a capacity that utilizes a background in the science of the human environment.
The structure of the Environmental Sciences curriculum provides a broad scope of instruction which enables students to explore the various disciplines and professions involved with solving environmental problems as well as opportunities for students to focus their training in accordance with their own educational and career objectives. All students majoring in Environmental Sciences must complete a set of "core requirements" consisting of courses which provide a basic understanding of the physical, biological, and social sciences and their application to the analysis of environmental processes and issues. In addition to the core requirements, students must complete the required courses and an appropriate number of elective courses as designated in the options which they select. Students are not expected to select an option during the freshman year so that they can be introduced to dimensions of the environmental sciences about which they may have no previous knowledge. Those wishing to change their selection of an option may do so at any time as long as they are able to complete the requirements for the Bachelor's degree within the 216-unit limit specified by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
The Environmental Internship Program offers students opportunities to work with government agencies, private firms, and nonprofit organizations involved in environmental affairs. As excursions into professional life, internships provide "hands-on" experience in applying the principles presented in courses. Beyond the highly specialized training associated with on-the-job activities, students participating in the Environmental Internship Program can gain insights into their aptitudes, aspirations and work habits which enable them to clarify their academic and career objectives. Professional acquaintances established during internships can continue to serve as important contacts for students after the internship is completed.
Although most internships are part-time (12-15 hours per week) positions in the Riverside area, organizations which host student interns are located throughout the United States and in Washington, D.C. Students working as interns may receive stipends, hourly wages, or serve as volunteers, depending upon the specific appointment. Up to 16 units of credit toward the bachelor's degree may be earned by developing an academic component of the internship in consultation with a faculty supervisor and enrolling in ENSC 198-I.
Undergraduate Research
Students interested in enhancing the status of knowledge about environmental processes or seeking new solutions to environmental problems may gain training and experience as part-time employees in the Department's research laboratories and other research facilities, such as the Air Pollution Research Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil and Water Research Service, located on campus. Those wishing to conduct their own research under faculty supervision may earn academic credit by enrolling in ENSC 197. Expenses for both laboratory and field experiments are eligible for funding by the campus mini-grant program which supports undergraduate research and creative activity.
Natural Science Option
As a general curriculum emphasizing the natural sciences, this option is suitable for students wishing to maintain a broad range of choices in technically oriented environmental professions such as air and water pollution control, hazardous materials management, public health, natural resource management, and environmental impact analysis. The Natural Science option is also appropriate as background for graduate study in such disciplines as ecology, forestry, air and water science, and environmental engineering. Students may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree by completing the requirements specified by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
Social Science Option
Developed for students whose interests are oriented toward the social context of the environmental sciences, this option is appropriate preparation for careers dealing with environmental regulation, land use planning, environmental impact analysis and administration of environmental protection programs. The Social Science option is also suitable for those intending to continue their education in such areas as natural resource economics, urban planning, and environmental law. Both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees are available to students in the Social Science option.
Soil Science Option
The Bachelor of Science in the Soil Science option provides specialized training needed by students whose professional interests require a detailed understanding of the soil environment in such areas as agriculture, hazardous waste site cleanup, groundwater quality control, eco-system restoration, and forest and range management. Qualified students completing this option are able to enter UCR's graduate program in Soil and Water Sciences without significant deficiencies in their undergraduate curriculum.
Environmental Toxicology Option
As a curriculum which emphasizes the chemistry and biochemistry of toxic substances in the environment, this option prepares students for careers dealing with the control of toxics in the environmental media of air, water, soil, and ecosystems and in such related fields as public health and industrial hygiene. Qualified students completing the Bachelor of Science degree in the Environmental Toxicology option may enter UCR's graduate program in Environmental Toxicology without significant deficiencies in their undergraduate curriculum.
Degree Requirements
University Requirements
See the Undergraduate Studies section for requirements that all students must satisfy.
College Requirements
See Degree Requirements, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Undergraduate Studies Section, of this catalog for requirements that students must satisfy.
Some of the following requirements for the major may also fulfill some of the College's breadth requirements. Consult with a department advisor for course planning.
Major Requirements
The major requirements for both the B.A. and the B.S. degrees in Environmental Sciences are as follows. Students must fulfill the courses listed under the lower-division and upper-division requirements and choose one of the options.
Note: With proper justification and the approval of the advisor, for any of the four options, students may substitute ENSC 197 or ENSC 198-I for one of the upper-division elective courses listed.
1. Lower-division requirements (29 units)
2. Upper-division requirements (15 units)
Social Science Option (85-92 units)
Soil Science Option (89-90 units)
Environmental Toxicology Option (80-92 units)
The Minor in Environmental Sciences consists of:
1. Lower-division requirements (20 units)
2. Upper-division requirements (21 units)
No more than 8 of the 21 upper-division units may be in courses required by the student's major.
See Minors under the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Undergraduate Studies section of this catalog for additional information on minors.
Concentration Areas
a) ENSC 001, ENSC 002
b) CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C
c) MATH 005
d) POSC 010
a) ENSC 100, ENSC 101, ENSC 102, ENSC 191
Natural Science Option (78-89 units)
b) ENSC 100L or SWSC 100L
a) At least one course from the following group:
(1) BIOL 005C
(2) CHEM 005, CHEM 112C
(3) MATH 009C
b) A total of at least five courses from the following group (at least three must be Environmental Sciences or Soil and Water Sciences)
(1) ENSC 127, ENSC 131, ENSC 135/CHEM 135/ENTX 135, ENSC 136/CHEM 136/ENTX 136/SWSC 136, ENSC 140/SWSC 140, ENSC 141, ENSC 142, ENSC 144/ENVE 144, ENSC 155, ENSC 163, ENSC 170, ENSC 174, ENSC 176/SWSC 176
(2) BIOL 117, BIOL 121A/MCBL 121A, BIOL 121B/MCBL 121B, BIOL 160, BIOL 163
(3) BPSC 130/BIOL 130
(4) CHEM 109
(5) ENTX 101
(6) GEO 157, GEO 160, GEO 162, GEO 167, GEO 168A, GEO 168B
(7) BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134, ENSC 104/SWSC 104, ENSC 107/SWSC 107, ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138, SWSC 111, SWSC 124
a) At least one course from the following group:
(1) ENSC 140/SWSC 140, ENSC 141, ENSC 142, ENSC 144/ENVE 144, ENSC 155, ENSC 163, ENSC 176/SWSC 176
(2) BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134, ENSC 104/SWSC 104, ENSC 107/SWSC 107, ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138, SWSC 111, SWSC 124
b) A total of at least six courses from the following group:
(1) Economics: ECON 102A, ECON 102B, ECON 146, ECON 148, ECON 156, ECON 160/BSAD 160
(2) Society and culture: ANTH 132, ANTH 134, ANTH 135, ANTH 186/LNST 186, PHIL 117, SOC 137, SOC 143/URST 143, SOC 182/HMDV 182/URST 182, SOC 184
(3) Regulation and law: BSAD 182/POSC 182, POSC 101, POSC 166, POSC 181, POSC 183
(4) Management: BSAD 121/STAT 121, BSAD 122, GEO 157, GEO 167, MATH 120
a) A total of at least four courses from the following group:
(1) ENSC 127, ENSC 131
(2) BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134, ENSC 104/SWSC 104, ENSC 107/SWSC 107, ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138, SWSC 111, SWSC 124
b) At least one course from the following group:
(1) CHEM 005, CHEM 112C
(2) MATH 009C
c) A total of at least two courses from the following group:
(1) ENSC 136/CHEM 136/ENTX 136/SWSC 136, ENSC 140/SWSC 140, ENSC 141, ENSC 142, ENSC 155, ENSC 163, ENSC 176/SWSC 176
(2) BPSC 103, BPSC 130/BIOL 130, BPSC 143/BIOL 143, BPSC 146
(3) GEO 030, GEO 157, GEO 160, GEO 162
Minor
a) At least one course from the following group:
(1) ENSC 127, ENSC 131, ENSC 135/CHEM 135/ENTX 135, ENSC 136/CHEM 136/ENTX 136/SWSC 136, ENSC 140/SWSC 140, ENSC 141, ENSC 142, ENSC 144/ENVE 144, ENSC 155, ENSC 163, ENSC 176/SWSC 176
(2) BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134, ENSC 104/SWSC 104, ENSC 107/SWSC 107, ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138, SWSC 111, SWSC 124
(3) ENTX 150/BIOl 150
a) ENSC 002 or ENSC 017; ENSC 006/ECON 006
b) CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C
a) ENSC 100, ENSC 100L, ENSC 101, ENSC 102
b) Eight (8) units of additional upper-division courses in Environmental Sciences, no more than 4 units of which are in courses numbered 190-198
ENSC 102. Introductory Atmospheric Science. (4) S
Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C. The structure of the atmosphere and man's impact upon it. The causes and consequences of air pollution. Air quality standards. Stratospheric and tropospheric ozone. Introduction to the chemistry of air pollution and air pollution control strategies. Arey
ENSC 104. Environmental Soil Chemistry. (5) F Lecture, three hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 005 or ENSC 100 or consent of instructor. A study of the chemistry of the solid, liquid, and gas phases in soils and soil-like materials. Topics include solid and solution equilibria, mineral solubility, clay mineralogy, ion exchange, surface chemistry, redox reactions, kinetics, and the chemistry of organic contaminants and toxic trace elements in soils. Cross-listed with SWSC 104. Amrhein ENSC 107. Soil Physics. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): MATH 009A or MATH 09HA, MATH 009B or MATH 09HB, PHYS 002A; or consent of instructor. Topics include physical properties of soils and methods of evaluation. Emphasis is on movement of water, heat, gases, and chemicals through soil. Cross-listed with SWSC 107. Wu ENSC 127. Transport Processes through Soils as Related to Environmental Contaminants. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s):CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C, ENSC 100, MATH 009B. Description of transport processes (indicating similarities in concepts and approaches) of water, heat, organic and inorganic chemicals and electricity through porous media such as soils. Application of these principles to the movement of environmental contaminants through soil will be made. Farmer ENSC 131. Biology of the Soil Environment. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A and BIOL 005B, CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B, ENSC 100, SWSC 100L; or consent of instructor. The inhabitants of soil and their interrelationships with environmental quality. Biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, including wetlands; anthropogenic compounds in soils and their fate, transformations, and food-chain transfer. Soil biotic effects on water and air quality. ENSC 134. Soil Conditions and Plant Growth. (4) W Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 130/BPSC 130, ENSC 100; or consent of instructor. A study of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils and their influence on plant growth and development. Topics include soil-plant water relations; fundamentals of plant mineral nutrition; soil nutrient pools and cycles; soil acidity, alkalinity, salinity, and sodicity; root symbioses and rhizosphere processes. Cross-listed with SWSC 134 and BPSC 134. Parker ENSC 135. Chemistry of the Clean and Polluted Atmosphere. (4) W Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B or consent of instructor; ENSC 102 is recommended. Structure of the troposphere and stratosphere; formation of atmospheric ozone; tropospheric NOx chemistry; methane oxidation cycle; phase distributions of chemicals; wet and dry deposition; chemistry of volatile organic compounds; formation of photochemical air pollution; modeling of air pollution and control strategies; stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming. Cross-listed with CHEM 135 and ENTX 135. Atkinson ENSC 136. Chemistry of Natural Waters. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 005 with a grade of "C-" or better or ENSC 104/SWSC 104 with a grade of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. Introduction to processes controlling the chemical composition of natural waters. Topics include chemical equilibria, acid-base and coordination chemistry, oxidation-reduction reactions, precipitation-dissolution, air-water exchange, and use of equilibrium and kinetic models for describing marine nutrient, trace metal, and sediment chemistry. Cross-listed with CHEM 136, ENTX 136, and SWSC 136. Ziemann ENSC 138. Soil Morphology and Classification. (4) S Lecture, three hours; laboratory, normally three hours; two one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100; GEO 001 or GEO 002; or consent of instructor. The study of soils as they occur in the field and their relations to current and past environmental conditions. Use of field and laboratory data to understand soil genesis, causes of soil variability, fundamentals of soil classification, and land use potentials. Laboratory emphasizes the description and interpretation of soils and landscapes in the field. Cross-listed with GEO 138 and SWSC 138. Graham ENSC 140. Limnology. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A or CHEM 01HA; CHEM 001B or CHEM 01HB; CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC; ENSC 101. Study of surface waters. Considers in detail the physical and chemical processes in surface waters, aquatic biology, ecosystem dynamics, and aspects of surface water quality and modeling. Cross-listed with SWSC 140. Anderson ENSC 141. Aquatic Microbiology. (4) F Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 002 or BIOL 005A; BIOL 003 or BIOL 005B; CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC-CHEM 01HB-CHEM 01HC; ENSC 101. Topics include microorganisms in natural and human-impacted waters; their distribution, enumeration, and activity; human pathogens in surface and ground water; transmission of disease via contaminated water; and regulations pertaining to microorganisms in water. Yates ENSC 142. Water Quality. (4) F Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HA-CHEM 01HB-CHEM 01HC; ENSC 101; upper-division standing or consent of instructor. Topics include principles and practices of water pollution control; basic concepts of water quality management; and the chemistry and physics of water purification processes. Chang ENSC 142L. Water Quality Laboratory. (1) F Laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 142 (may be taken concurrently). Laboratory exercises in water quality evaluation and water purification processes. Chang ENSC 143A. Environmental Economics. (4) F Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): ECON 003, MATH 022 or equivalent; or consent of instructor. Introduction to economic analysis of natural resources and the environment with emphasis on environmental quality. Topics include environment-economy interactions and social choice theory; source control costs, damage valuation, and efficient pollution control; and design of efficient and equitable environmental policy. Cross-listed with ECON 143A. ENSC 143B. Natural Resource Economics. (4) W Lecture, three hours, discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): ECON 143A/ENSC 143A or consent of instructor. Considers the extraction and use of natural resources. Topics include land use and natural capital economics and valuation; economics of mineral and nonrenewable resources including recycling; and managing biological and renewable resources, including common property, efficient usage, and regulation. Cross-listed with ECON 143B. ENSC 143C. Ecological Economics and Environmental Valuation. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): ECON 143A/ENSC 143A or consent of instructor. Survey of environmental valuation and economy-wide, long time-scale issues. Valuation methods covered include hedonic pricing, weak complements, contingent valuation, and ecosystem services. Environmental macroeconomic topics include population growth, biophysical constraints to economic growth, intertemporal welfare and sustainability, and sustainable development. Cross-listed with ECON 143C. ENSC 144. Solid Waste Management. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 002 or BIOL 005A; CHEM 001C (or CHEM 01HC); either both ENSC 001 (or ENSC 001H) and ENSC 002 (or ENSC 002H) or ENVE 171; MATH 009B (or MATH 09HB) or MATH 022; or consent of instructor. A study of the characterization, collection, transportation, processing, disposal, recycling, and composting of municipal solid waste. Emphasizes accepted management strategies and design procedures for recovering or disposing solid wastes while protecting public and environmental well-being. Cross-listed with ENVE 144. Crohn ENSC 155. Principles and Applications of Bioremediation. (4) W Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B; CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B; and ENSC 100. Principles, applications, and case histories of biological treatment in the cleanup of hazardous chemicals including remediation of contaminated soils, sediments, sludges, groundwater, and vapors. Frankenberger ENSC 163. Hydrology. (4) W Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 009A-MATH 009B or MATH 09HA-MATH 09HB, STAT 100A, STAT 100B; or consent of instructor. Introduction to the scientific study of the hydrologic cycle. Covers the measurement and evaluation of hydrologic phenomena, including the use of statistical methods. Explores computer techniques in hydrology with applications to water resource development and water quality problems, particularly those in California. The laboratory includes field and computer assignments. Meixner ENSC 170. Workshop in Environmental Management. (4) S Workshop, five hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing or consent of instructor. Training exercise in which students make decisions and interact to influence the simulated physical, political, social, and economic environments of a typical American metropolitan area. Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) only, but student may petition instructor for letter grade. Diage ENSC 172. Principles of Environmental Impact Analysis. (4) W,F Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): ECON 006/ENSC 006; ENSC 001 or ENSC 001H; ENSC 002 or ENSC 002H. Principles and theories of analyzing environmental interactions. Critical analysis of methodologies for assessing the physical, biological and social impacts on the environment by human activities. Synthesis of the subject matter through preparation of an environmental impact report. Diage ENSC 174. Law, Institutions, and the Environment. (4) W Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 001 or ENSC 001H; ENSC 002 or ENSC 002H; or consent of instructor. Introduction to the important and complex issues of natural resource ownership, protection, and regulation in the institutional environment of local, state, and federal laws, implementing agencies, and competing interests in environmental protection. Decision making is examined in the context of the rights and limits of both private parties and the broad public interest in the use and protection of natural resources. Kindschy ENSC 176. Acquisition and Analysis of Environmental Data. (5) Summer Lecture, two hours; discussion, one hour; laboratory, three hours; field, three hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100, ENSC 101, ENSC 102, either STAT 100A and STAT 100B or STAT 120A-STAT 120B; or consent of instructor. Explores general principles of environmental sampling. Field exercises cover sampling and analysis of air, water, and soil; hydrologic and limnological measurements; and biological characterization of soils and surface waters. Topics also include principles and use of geographic positioning systems (GPS); basic surveying and cartographic techniques for site characterization; and interpretation and presentation of field and laboratory data using computer software. Cross-listed with SWSC 176. Parker, Anderson, Bytnerowicz ENSC 190. Special Studies. (1-5) F,W,S Variable hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing and consent of instructor. Special studies as a means of meeting special curricular problems. Graded on Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) basis; however, students may petition the instructor for a letter grade. Course is repeatable. ENSC 191. Seminar in Professional Development in Environmental Sciences. (2) F,W,S Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing in Environmental Sciences or consent of instructor. Lectures and discussions on scientific writing, critical analysis in reading, public speaking, job interview and resume preparation, and professional conduct. Students make both written and oral presentations on topics in Environmental Sciences. ENSC 197. Research for Undergraduates. (1-4) F,W,S Variable hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing and consent of instructor. Individual research on a problem relating to environmental science to be conducted under the guidance of an instructor. Graded on Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) basis; however, students may petition the instructor for a letter grade. Course is repeatable. ENSC 198-I. Internship in Environmental Sciences. (1-12) F,W,S Field, three to thirty-six hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing; ENSC 001 or ENSC 001H or equivalent; ENSC 002 or ENSC 002H or equivalent. An academic internship, involving participation in a functional capacity in the enhancement or maintenance of environmental quality, conducted under the joint supervision of an off-campus sponsor and a faculty member in Environmental Sciences. A final written report based on the internship experience is required. One unit of credit for every three hours per week spent in internship. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC), but in exceptional cases student may petition for a letter grade. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 16 units.