Environmental Studies

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The Environmental Studies Program offers two undergraduate majors, Environmental Studies (ENVS) and Environmental Science and Health (ENSH). Each of these majors leads to either the BA or BS degree. Each of the Environmental Studies degrees are built on specialized natural science and social science courses and a set of interdisciplinary courses focusing on sustainability. The social science core courses focus on environmental problems from political, legal, economic and international perspectives. Specially designed one-semester surveys of biology, earth science and chemistry provide the natural science competency for subsequent policy or science advanced course work in environmental studies. Two concentrations are available in the Environmental Studies BA degree: Science and Management; and Policy and Management. Four concentrations are available in the Environmental Studies BS degree: Sustainability and Society; Oceans and People; Climate and Environment; and Environmental Policy. Both the Environmental Studies BA and BS culminate in the capstone experience of a senior seminar focusing on environmental problem-solving by interdisciplinary teams. A single 24-unit environmental studies minor is derived from the core major curriculum.

The Environmental Science and Health degrees combine the interdisciplinary courses on sustainability described above and some of the environmental social science content with traditional biology and chemistry content to provide options for students preparing for one of the health professions with an undergraduate emphasis on environmental sustainability. The Environmental Science and Health BS degree incorporates recommended preparation for medical schools. The Environmental Science and Health BA degree may be appropriate for students preparing for other graduate or professional training as well as students pursuing double majors. The Environmental Studies courses common to both majors emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems. A number of opportunities are provided for field studies from the urban Los Angeles environment to marine protected areas on the coasts of the California Channel Islands. More intensive field study opportunities include “Problems Without Passports” courses with international components. Note that some of the field studies opportunities require travel to remote, rural locations and study under sometimes physically and mentally demanding conditions. These trips require a willingness to conform to the announced guidelines for conduct and safety.

College Academic Services 116
(213) 740-7770
FAX: 740-8566
Email: environ@dornsife.usc.edu
dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies

Director: Jill Sohm, PhD

Faculty

Harold Quinton Chair in Business Policy and Professor of Management and Organization, Environmental Studies, and Sociology: Paul Adler, PhD (Management and Organization)

Professors: William M. Berelson, PhD (Earth Sciences); David J. Bottjer, PhD (Earth Sciences); William F. Deverell, PhD (History); John F. Heidelberg, PhD (Biological Sciences); Steven Lamy, PhD (Political Science and International Relations); Joshua West, PhD (Earth Sciences)

Associate Professors: Robert English, PhD (Political Science and International Relations); Eric Webb, PhD (Biological Sciences)

Professor (Teaching): Karla B. Heidelberg, PhD (Biological Sciences)

Professor of the Practice: Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias, PhD

Associate Professors (Teaching): Shannon Gibson, PhD (Political Science and International Relations); David Ginsburg, PhD*; Jill Sohm, PhD

Assistant Professors (Teaching): Scott Applebaum, PhD; Douglas Becker, PhD (Political Science and International Relations); Victoria Campbell-Arvai, PhD; Monalisa Chatterjee, PhD; Victoria Petryshyn, PhD

Lecturer: Audra Bardsley, PhD

Emeritus: Thomas Flood, PhD (Chemistry)

Undergraduate Programs

Catalina Sustainability Semester

The Environmental Studies Program in collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences and the Wrigley Marine Science Center offers a Catalina sustainability semester focusing on California marine, coastal and island sustainability. This semester-long program is offered during the Spring. The 16 units of course work in this program is taught in a block format (sequential) and are designed to take advantage of the unique facilities and settings of Catalina Island. Enrolled students are provided with food and lodging at the Wrigley Marine Science Center at rates comparable to the services offered to students on the University Park Campus.

Suggested preparation for the Catalina sustainability semester includes completion of either ENST 100 , BISC 120Lg or comparable experience. Prospective applicants are urged to contact the Environmental Studies Office in CAS 116 early in the fall semester prior to enrollment and no later than October 15 for consideration.

Graduate Programs

The Master of Arts degree program in Environmental Studies is interdisciplinary and focuses on environmental science, planning and public policy. Those who graduate with an MA in Environmental Studies are well prepared to pursue careers in policy, planning or management in the public, private or nonprofit sector in either this country or abroad. In addition, the curriculum provides students with a foundation for acquiring a PhD in Environmental Studies or a related field, or a professional degree such as a JD. Upon completion of the graduate program, students will possess extensive knowledge of environmental science, environmental statistics and economics, law and regulation, policy and planning, development and economic growth, and global issues and problems.

The Master of Science degree program in Environmental Data Science is a joint program between the Environmental Studies Program and the Viterbi School of Engineering. Students will learn core environmental science principles and receive training in data science skills. The curriculum is designed to prepare individuals to develop and use sophisticated analytical and computer-based methods to assess and protect the Earth’s natural resources and is designed to be accessible to students with any background.

The Master of Science degree in Environmental Risk Analysis focuses on providing advanced professional training for students with a BS degree in natural sciences or engineering. Students will pursue a core program encompassing science, engineering and finance supplemented with important skills courses in risk assessment, statistics and computer modeling and simulations. Those who graduate with the MS degree will be well prepared to pursue professional careers in business and industry, which build on their degrees in the natural sciences. This degree will produce individuals with the analytical and problem-solving skills of natural scientists combined with the necessary training in finance and management needed in the business world.

Progressive Degree Program in Environmental Studies

This progressive degree program allows advanced USC undergraduates completing a bachelor’s degree in a related natural science or environmental policy area to also complete a master’s degree in environmental studies in as little as five years. An overall GPA of 3.2 or higher in all courses taken at USC is preferred. A 3.2 GPA does not guarantee acceptance. For more information about progressive degrees, see here .

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

Minor

• Environmental Studies Minor

Master’s Degree

Courses

Environmental Studies