Saint Mary's College of California
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Environmental Science (BS), Earth Science (BS) and Environmental Studies (BA) degree programs provide students with foundational knowledge from many disciplines. This knowledge is then applied to the study, management, and conservation of the environment and living systems around us. Students examine the structure, function and dynamics of ecosystems, the interaction between biotic and abiotic systems, and explore how human enterprise is adversely affecting our global environment. Students examine how environmental degradation and pollution can be lessened or prevented by the application of conservation and management principles derived from ecological theory. Our students work towards a deep understanding of the natural world around them, while at the same time acquiring practical skill sets useful for addressing the serious environmental issues with which we as a society are faced. Our degree programs foster deep critical thinking and scientific understanding and offer a range of heuristic approaches to addressing environmental issues that span from the natural sciences to aspects of the social sciences and humanities.

The Environmental Science (BS), Earth Science (BS) and Environmental Studies (BA) degree programs provide students with foundational knowledge from many disciplines. This knowledge is then applied to the study, management, and conservation of the environment and living systems around us. Students examine the structure, function and dynamics of ecosystems, the interaction between biotic and abiotic systems, and explore how human enterprise is adversely affecting our global environment. Students examine how environmental degradation and pollution can be lessened or prevented by the application of conservation and management principles derived from ecological theory. Our students work towards a deep understanding of the natural world around them, while at the same time acquiring practical skill sets useful for addressing the serious environmental issues with which we as a society are faced. Our degree programs foster deep critical thinking and scientific understanding and offer a range of heuristic approaches to addressing environmental issues that span from the natural sciences to aspects of the social sciences and humanities.

The mission of Justice, Community and Leadership is to prepare students through a social justice framework to be leaders who address critical challenges of our times. Justice, Community and Leadership is an interdisciplinary program in which students learn how to analyze and engage with some of the most pressing social, educational and environmental justice issues of our times. Through training in critical theory, leadership studies, policy and education, and emphasis on humility and self-reflection, we prepare our students to participate in and lead collective endeavors to make the world a better place. Many of our courses include working with community members and organizations to learn from their expertise on both the impact of and ideas for addressing structural inequity. Together with these community experts, we grapple with the complexity of policies, laws, and cultural practices that disadvantage some groups of people, while benefiting others and consider how we can be a part of leading for social change. Students in our program go on to work in diverse fields—such as education, the non-profit sector, law, social entrepreneurship, government, and public health—yet they share a common aim to make the world more socially just.

Economics is a social science which centers around the utilization of limited resources to provide the goods and services society desires. Economists study how business and personal decisions are made in various kinds of markets under conditions of scarcity, as well as uncertainty and incomplete information. They also provide insight into solving both short- and long-term problems, including those involving investment and savings decisions, and stability of the economy. Students of economics receive a strong grounding in both theoretical and applied aspects of economics which allows them to use their knowledge to understand economic behavior and provides them a basis for evaluating economic policy.

Because of the exposure to understanding how our economy works, economics courses are suitable for students of any major. After graduation, students who major or minor in economics often find themselves with many opportunities ranging from graduate study to careers in business, teaching, research, consulting and civil service.

The Bachelor of Arts major with a concentration in Sustainability Studies is aimed at students interested in the environmental and social impacts of growing economies. Students choosing this concentration should consult their advisor as early as possible, and normally no later than the beginning of their junior year, to discuss their academic and career plans.

Students with a minor in Environmental Science will learn to understand the natural systems around us, acquire the skills needed to solve serious environmental problems, and engage in the search for rational, sustainable forms of ecosystem management.

Students with a minor in Environmental Studies take a number of interdisciplinary course dealing with issues critical to the earth's environment and human society. These courses are valuable to those with environmental or earth science topics that will increase their basic understanding of the earth and its environment, for those whose careers would benefit from such understandings.