Oct 31, 2024  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Biology, B.S.: 120 units


Offered by: College of Science, Biological Sciences Department

The Environmental Biology major is designed for students who want to help solve the environmental problems threatening the organisms and life support systems of our planet. Students are able to specialize by selecting most of their upper-division courses from one of two emphases: 1) Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity and 2) Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. The Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity emphasis prepares students to identify and protect critical habitat, manage rare and endangered species, and design ecological preserves. The Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology emphasis emphasizes laboratory research to assess water and air quality, transport and fate of pollutants, and environmental health in general. All students conduct an independent research project or complete an internship with a participating agency or private organization. This provides practical problem-solving experience to complement classroom, laboratory, and field studies.

Major Required Core: 61-62 units


Ecology Conservation and Biodiversity (ECB) Emphasis


Upper Division Electives:


Environmental Microbiology (EM) Emphasis


Unrestricted Electives: 0-3 units


Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Required Major Core”, Major Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 120 units.

General Education Requirements: 48 units


Students should consult the Academic Programs website https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/general-education-course-listings.shtml for current information regarding this requirement. Unless specific courses are required, please refer to the list of approved courses under General Education Requirements, Areas A through E.

  Course Term Taken Grade
Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units)
1. Oral Communication      
2. Written Communication      
3. Critical Thinking      
Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (12 units)
1. Physical Sciences      
2. Life Sciences      
3. Laboratory Activity      
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning      
5. Science and Technology Synthesis      
Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units)
1. Visual and Performing Arts      
2a. Philosophy and Civilization      
2b. Literature and Language Other than English      
3. Arts and Humanities Synthesis      
Area D. Social Sciences (12 units)
1. U.S. History and American Ideals      
2. U.S. Constitution and California Government      
3. Social Sciences: Principles, Methodologies, Value Systems, and Ethics      
4. Social Science Synthesis      
Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)      

For an alternative and interdisciplinary way to complete some of their GE requirements, students may choose the Interdisciplinary General Education program, see below. 

Interdisciplinary General Education: 21 units


An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, and D available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program.  Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major.  Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.

How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:

GE Area Courses
A2 IGE 1100  and IGE 1200 
C1 IGE 2100  or IGE 2200 
C2 IGE 1100 , IGE 1200 , IGE 2100 , or IGE 2200 
D1 IGE 2300  or IGE 2400 
D3 IGE 2300  or IGE 2400 
C3 IGE 3100  
D4 IGE 3100 

 revised 07/17/2024

American Institutions: 6 units


Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Area D1 and D2.

American Cultural Perspectives Requirement: 3 units


Refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for a list of courses that satisfy this requirement.  Course may also satisfy major, minor, GE, or unrestricted elective requirements.

Graduation Writing Test


All persons who receive undergraduate degrees from Cal Poly Pomona must pass the Graduation Writing Test (GWT).  The test must be taken by the semester following completion of 60 units for undergraduates.