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The program’s innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on the interactions among biological, physical, and social systems, and offers training in highly desired technical skill sets and policies, preparing you for a bright career in environmental science research, environmental resource management, environmental consulting, industry, non-profit agencies, government, and environmental education.

Educational Objectives

Our small class sizes and student-to-faculty ratio will enhance and personalize your overall learning experience, ensuring your academic success through opportunities for mentorship, research, independent studies, community service initiatives and internships.

Our emphasis on active, applied learning will add a unique, valuable dimension to your preparation and take you on engaging learning experiences in the superb natural habitats around Â鶹´å including at the Fort Ord National Monument, Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park, Elkhorn Slough, Pinnacles National Park, county parks,  and other nearby coastal habitats.

Our innovative curriculum and leading-edge technology will set your education and training apart, as you work with geospatial technologies like GIS and remote sensing, as well as data science methods using R and Python for collecting, analyzing, visualizing, and communicating scientific data.

Our strong community and regional partnerships with agencies like the U.S. Geological Service, California State Parks, National Park Service, U.S. fish and Wildlife Service, NASA, California Department of Water Resources, Resource Conservation Districts, Regional Park Districts, Bureau of Land Management, and Water Management Districts will position you to form valuable professional connections for after you graduate.

For information on courses, please visit the .

Your learning experience will unfold at the nexus of world-class research institutes, state and regional preserves, the Fort Ord National Monument, and the Monterrey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Our location will fuel an unparalleled experience where you’ll study the interconnection between terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems, as well as nearby habitats of the coastal oak woodland, maritime chaparral, redwood forest, Monterey pine and cypress forests, grasslands, streams and rivers, estuaries, and coastal dune habitats. 

You may find yourself conducting hydrologic and benthic macroinvertebrate surveys on the Carmel River, mapping populations of rare species at the Fort Ord Dunes State Park, studying the impacts of sheep grazing and goat browsing on native plants within the Fort Ord National Monument, and monitoring ground squirrel populations on the Â鶹´å campus.

The program will instill in you a broadened perspective, understanding, and value for using your knowledge and skills to improve lives and communities. You’ll gain practical experience in habitat restoration and community-based conservation, while also exploring and promoting a variety of issues related to environmental justice, where you’ll help expand opportunities for underrepresented communities to get involved with environmental issues and take advantage of outdoor opportunities for recreation, learning, and personal growth.