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Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability

University of California, Irvine

Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.

On-line courses in Environmental Sciences, Conservation and Sustainability

The Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability teaches students about the changes that need to be made in order for the human population to live in a sustainable relationship with the resources available on Earth. Its goal is to provide broad, interdisciplinary training that will allow students to better understand and effectively deal with the serious environmental problems that they will face in the 21st century. The minor is open to all UCI students.

Requirements for the Minor: First year: Core sequence of three courses Second year: three relevant elective courses (12 units) Third year: Seminar, Directed Study, Independent Research 


Core Courses 
Fall quarter: 
Earth System Science 1 The Physical Environment (4 units; Dr. William Reeburgh).  The origin and evolution of the Earth, its atmosphere, and oceans, from the perspective of biogeochemical cycles, energy use, and human impacts on the Earth system.
 
Winter quarter: 
 
Biology 65 Biological Conservation (4 units; Dr. Peter Bryant).  A biological perspective on the current environmental crisis. The origin, evolution, and value of biological diversity. Extinction and depletion caused by overexploitation, habitat loss, and pollution. Conservation through habitat preservation and restoration, captive breeding, cryopreservation. Environmental law.

Spring quarter: 
Environ E8 Introduction to Environmental Analysis and Design (4 units; Dr. K. Dallaire) (also offered in other quarters). Overview of general concepts, theoretical principles, and analytical techniques for investigating environmental systems. Integrates tools from both natural and social sciences to analyze contemporary environmental challenges such as pollution, resource acquisition, facility and ecosystem design, impact assessments, the formulation of environmental policy.

  Enrollment summary

  Opportunities for Involvement in Non-government Organizations

  Uses of the World Wide Web in Environmental Education

For details contact the Program Co-directors: Dr. Peter A. Bowler, 321 Steinhaus Hall; ext. 6006 Dr. Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu)
School of Biological Sciences
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92717, USA
Phone (949) 824-4714 Fax (949) 824-3571