University of California, San Diego
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The environmental engineering major focuses on conveying an understanding and awareness of the fundamental processes associated with human industrial activity that have environmental implications, and on equipping the next generation of engineers with the tools to develop technologies that enable sustainable economic growth.

Environmental Systems – 4 majors
• Environmental Policy
• Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
• Environmental Chemistry
• Earth Science

There can be little doubt that in the twenty-first century the global human community is facing a substantial growth in the environmental consequences of providing food, energy, materials, and basic services to a population of more than six billion inhabitants. The Environmental Systems Program recognizes the growing demand for environmental specialists and is designed to prepare undergraduates to enter a broad spectrum of environmental careers and graduate programs in, for example, the natural sciences, the social sciences, public policy, law, and business.

This interdisciplinary program recognizes that local, national, regional, international, and global environmental problems do not fit neatly into traditional academic departments. A measurable part of society’s inability to effectively manage complex environmental problems stems from the lack of specialists who can apply analytical tools that cross disciplinary boundaries. Many environmental specialists possess little training in the natural sciences including both the fundamental ideas and methodologies of the earth and environmental sciences. The environmental systems major was created to address both of these shortcomings.

This is an innovative major in climate change solutions that will give students the knowledge and skills needed to help the world meet the challenges of climate change. It combines the unique ability of anthropology to work with people to collaborate on climate solutions with training in designing and technology that provide essential hands on skills, while bridging the local and global parts of the problem.

Environmental Chemistry Major – http://www-chem.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/majors-minor/environmental-chemistry.html
Urban Studies and Planning Major – http://usp.ucsd.edu/
Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Major –http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/majors/ecology-behavior-evolution.html
Earth Sciences Major – https://scripps.ucsd.edu/undergrad/earth-sciences-bs
Marine Biology Major - https://scripps.ucsd.edu/undergrad/curriculum/marine-biology
Public Health Major with Concentration in Climate and Environmental Sciences - https://ph.ucsd.edu/undergrad/undergrad/new-major-req/climate-and-environmental-sciences.html
Global Health Major - https://globalhealthprogram.ucsd.edu/undergraduate-program/major.html
Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences - https://scripps.ucsd.edu/undergrad/curriculum/ocean-and-atmospheric-sciences
Mechanical Engineering with a Specialization in Renewable Energy and Environmental Flows - https://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/curric/MAE-ug.html#:~:text=Mechanical%20Engineering%20with%20a%20Specialization%20in%20Renewable%20Energy%20and%20Environmental%20Flows&text=Students%20can%20choose%20from%20a,chemistry%2C%20and%20various%20engineering%20disciplines.

The Environmental Studies minor offers students from every major a basic grounding in the scientific, technical, social, and cultural issues presented by the interaction of human beings with their environment and the need to build a more environmentally sustainable future.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography offers an undergraduate minor program in Marine Science. The minor curriculum is designed to complement the strong disciplinary training of UC San Diego basic science majors by providing a broad interdisciplinary perspective with an environmental focus. Ocean-related science is relevant to many contemporary environmental issues and problems and central to understanding earth-system evolution, dynamics, climate and sustainability.

This interdisciplinary minor curriculum highlights UC San Diego’s broad campus expertise in understanding and responding to the challenges of climate change. The minor covers an understanding of the scientific, social, political and economic dimensions of climate change, and involves students in developing solutions such as greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, climate adaptation projects and educational approaches.

Urban Studies and Planning Minor –
https://usp.ucsd.edu/undergraduate-programs/usp/minor.html
Environmental Systems Minor –
https://scripps.ucsd.edu/esys
Earth Sciences Minor -
https://scripps.ucsd.edu/undergrad/curriculum/earth-sciences-minor