BA Environmental Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara

Programme overview

Environmental Studies (ES) trains and prepares students to be world-class leaders in multidisciplinary analysis, problem solving for environmental health and sustainability, and transformative social change in the 21st century. The program is highly interdisciplinary, and as a student in the program you’ll be able to explore a wide variety of environmental topics, drawing on concepts, theories, and research methods from the natural and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: Environmental Studies Program | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, United States

What you will study

Major requirements are organised as Preparation For The Major: ECON 1, ECON 2, ECON 9, EARTH 2, EARTH 4, EARTH 20, GEOG 3, GEOG 4, ENGL 37, FEMST 50, PHIL 4, ANTH 2, FAMST 46, GLOBL 1; Upper-Division Major. MAJOR REGULATIONS PREREQUISITES Check the General Catalog for the prerequisites to all listed courses.

Career pathways

Graduate and professional pathways include Government; International corporations; Nonprofit organizations; Law and Public Policy; Urban, Regional, Recreation, and Landscape Planning and Architecture; Education. Top employers include Santa Barbara County Planning and Development, Environmental Defense Center, U.S. National Park Service.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to UCSB is to the university and a college (College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, College of Creative Studies), not to the individual major; applicants must meet the University of California subject requirements for first-year or transfer applicants and apply through the UC Application. Selective-major and second-choice-major rules are described by UCSB Undergraduate Admissions.

Entry term: fall. First-year and transfer applicants apply for fall 2027 through the UC Application.

First-year and transfer applications for fall 2027: UC Application filing period October 1 - November 30, 2026 (opens August 1). Application fee: $80 per campus for U.S. residents, $95 per campus for international students. Transfer applicants also submit the UCSB TAG Application September 1-30. First-year decisions mid-March; transfer decisions mid-April; Statement of Intent to Register May 1 (first-year) and June 1 (transfer).

SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarships; submission is optional and may be used for course placement. Students applying to College of Creative Studies majors submit a supplemental application; Dance and Music B.M. applicants complete an audition.

Graduate applicants apply through the UCSB online graduate application; the deadline is set by each department. Application fee: $135 for US citizens and permanent residents, $155 for all others, payable by credit card, check or money order. GRE required only by some programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/

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