OverviewTransfer Sign

Transfer-related resources provided below consist of:

Background on Transferring

Transferring to a 4-year college or university can unfortunately be tricky and complex, especially when majoring in a broad, interdisciplinary field like Environmental Studies. Luckily, as set forth below, there are a lot of resources – both live (human) resources and online resources – to help you in your quest to successfully transfer to a 4-year school.

Probably the best piece of advice one can offer is that it’s never too early to start exploring your options and associated requirements to successfully transfer.

To start off with, the two basic questions one needs to think about (and explore/investigate) are:

  • What 4-year college(s) do I want to transfer to?
  • What aspect(s) of environmental studies do I like most (and want to pursue/focus on) at a 4-year college?
    • The “studies” (social science, policy, planning, etc.) side or the “hard science” (traditional science) side?
    • Focus on: Nature/wildlife? Natural resources (water, etc.)? Pollution & public health? Energy & climate? Environmental justice? Farming/agriculture? City/regional planning? Something else?

These two questions go hand-in-hand as, due to the broad nature of environmental studies, no college offers all possible options, but instead focuses in on certain aspects that they specialize in (labeled as “tracks”, “concentrations”, “emphases”, “options”, or “focus areas” in their degree descriptions). In that regard, the specific environmental degree offerings of select local 4-year colleges and universities are outlined below.
(Note that you can also use the “Explore Majors” option on the state-run Assist.org website to see specific degree offerings available at all UC and CSU schools.)

Now once you identify your target 4-year college(s), it is critically important to fully understand their transfer requirements, both in terms of their:

  • General Education (GE) requirements (which vary depending upon whether it’s a UC, a CSU, or some other school – click here for more on GE requirements).
  • Preparation for the major requirements (all the other coursework that the school is looking for/requiring for transfer).

DeAnza's Transfer Center and the state-run Assist.org website can help you in terms of those specific transfer requirements, but it is also highly recommended that you directly contact the 4-year college(s) that you’re interested in to find out those requirements first-hand, as well as the anticipated availability of transfer slots at a given time (some schools may limit the number of available slots and/or only allow transfers in the Fall, for instance).

Lastly, some advice about earning your Associates (AA/AS) degree. In some instances, you may be able to transfer without meeting all the requirements to earn your AA/AS.
PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!
Earning your AA/AS is extremely valuable to you from two perspectives:

  • If, for whatever reason, you are unable to earn a BA/BS degree in the end, you will still have an earned AA/AS degree that you can fall back on and include on your resume.
  • When the going gets tough in pursuing your BA/BS degree (which unfortunately inevitably happens at some point), you can draw inspiration from that AA degree diploma that you have posted up on your wall!

With that, here’s wishing you the best of luck in your transfer journey!

Key Transfer Planning Websites

  • Transfer Center: This office on the De Anza campus offers transfer-related events and services to assist students in researching options, making sound choices and planning a smooth transition between institutions.
  • ASSIST.org: This online student-transfer information system shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another.

Selected Local Four-Year Schools

NOTE: The listings provided below are not meant to be comprehensive in terms of all local four-year colleges offering environmentally-related programs and/or their specific degree offerings, but rather are provided as selective listings for reference. To explore more schools, you can use the “Explore Majors” option on the state-run Assist.org website to see specific degree offerings in environmental studies/environmental science available at all UC and CSU schools.

CSU Environmental Programs/Majors

All CSU Majors: https://www.calstate.edu/attend/degrees-certificates-credentials/

San Jose State University

All majors: https://catalog.sjsu.edu/content.php?catoid=14&navoid=5107

College of Science, https://www.sjsu.edu/science

Biological Sciences Dept, https://www.sjsu.edu/biology
  • BS, Ecology and Evolution
  • BS, Marine Biology
Geology Dept, https://www.sjsu.edu/geology
  • BS, Geology
  • BS, Earth System Science
Meteorology and Climate Science Dept, https://www.sjsu.edu/meteorology
  • BS, Meteorology
  • BS, Climate Science

College of Social Sciences, https://www.sjsu.edu/socialsciences

Environmental Studies Dept: https://www.sjsu.edu/envs/
  • BS in Environmental Studies
  • BA in Environmental Studies
  • BA in Environmental Studies, Preparation for Teaching
  • BA in Global Studies (interdisciplinary program)
Urban & Regional Planning Dept, https://www.sjsu.edu/urbanplanning
    • BS in Geographic Information Science (GIS)
    • BS in Geography

College of Engineering, https://www.sjsu.edu/engineering

Civil & Environmental Engineering Dept, https://www.sjsu.edu/cee
  • BS in Civil Engineering

San Franciso State University

All majors: https://future.sfsu.edu/areas-study

School of the Environment: https://environment.sfsu.edu/
  • BS in Environmental Studies with Concentrations offered in:
    • Natural Resource Management and Conservation
  • BA in Environmental Studies with Emphases offered in:
    • Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice
    • Humanities and the Environment
    • The Urban Environment
  • BS in Environmental Science
  • BS In Earth Science
  • BA in Earth Science
  • BA in Geography
Biology Dept, https://biology.sfsu.edu/
  • BS in Biology: Concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology
  • BS in Biology: Concentration in Marine Science
Urban Studies & Planning Program, https://pace.sfsu.edu/usp
  • BA in Urban Studies & Planning
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Department, https://rpt.sfsu.edu/
  • BA in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration
  • BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Sonoma State University

All Majors: https://sonoma.edu/academics/degree-programs

Geography, Environment & Planning Dept: http://gep.sonoma.edu/
  • BS in in Environmental Science, Geography, and Management with Focal Areas offered in:
    • Environmental Management and Policy
    • Environmental Systems
    • Energy Management and Design
    • Geospatial Science
  • BA in Environmental Studies, Geography and Planning with Focal Areas offered in:
    • Society, Environment and Development
    • Environmental Systems
    • Urban Studies & Planning
    • Energy Management and Design
    • Geospatial Analysis
Biology Dept, http://biology.sonoma.edu/
  • BA in Biology, Zoology Concentration
  • BS in Biology with concentrations offered in
    •     Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    •     Marine Biology
Geology Dept, https://geology.sonoma.edu
  • BS in Geology
  • BA in Earth Science

Cal State East Bay

All majors: https://www.csueastbay.edu/futurestudents/majors

Anthropology, Geography & Environmental Studies Dept: https://www.csueastbay.edu/ages/
  • BA in Environmental Studies
  • BS in Geography with a Concentrations Offered in
    • Resources and Sustainability
Earth & Environmental Sciences Dept: https://www.csueastbay.edu/earth/
  • BS in Environmental Science (General)
  • BS in Environmental Science with Concentrations offered in:
    • Environmental Health
  • BS in Geology
  • BA in Geology
Biological Sciences Dept, https://www.csueastbay.edu/biology/
  • BS in Biological Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration

Cal State Monterey Bay

All Majors: https://csumb.edu/academics/

Applied Environmental Science Dept: https://csumb.edu/aes/
  • BS in Environmental Science, Technology & Policy with Concentrations offered in:
    • Applied Ecology
    • Environmental Data Analysis
    • Watershed Systems
  • BA in Environmental Studies with Concentrations offered in:
    • Sustainable Communities
    • Environmental Education & Community Outreach
Biology & Chemistry Dept, https://csumb.edu/biologychemistry
  • BS in Agricultural Plant and Soil Sciences B.S
Marine Science Dept, https://csumb.edu/marinescience/
  • BS in Marine Science

Sacramento State University

All Majors: https://www.csus.edu/college/

Environmental Studies Dept: https://www.csus.edu/college/social-sciences-interdisciplinary-studies/environmental-studies/
  • BS in Environmental Studies
  • BA in Environmental Studies
Biological Science Dept, https://www.csus.edu/college/natural-sciences-mathematics/biology/
  • BS in Biological Science (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation)
Geology Dept, https://www.csus.edu/college/natural-sciences-mathematics/geology/
  • BA in Earth Science
  • BA in Geology
  • BS in Geology
  • BS in Geology (Hydrogeology)
Geography Dept, https://www.csus.edu/college/natural-sciences-mathematics/geography/
  • BA in Geography (Geographic Information Science)
  • BA in Geography (Human Geography)
  • BA in Geography (Metropolitan Area Planning)
  • BA in Geography (Physical Geography)
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration Dept, https://www.csus.edu/college/health-human-services/recreation-parks-tourism-administration/
  • BS in Recreation Administration

Humboldt State University

All Majors: https://www.humboldt.edu/academics/programs

Environmental Science & Management Dept: https://environment.humboldt.edu/
  • BS in Environmental Science and Management with Options offered in:
    • Ecological Restoration
    • Energy & Climate
    • Environmental Education & Interpretation
    • Environmental Planning & Policy
    • Geospatial Science
  • BA in Environmental Studies (interdisciplinary program - see https://enst.humboldt.edu/)
Biology Dept, https://biosci.humboldt.edu/
  • BS in Biology, Ecology Concentration
  • BS in Botany
  • BS in Marine Biology
  • BS in Zoology
Fisheries Biology Dept, https://fisheries.humboldt.edu/
  • BS in Fisheries Biology
Forestry, Fire and Rangeland Management Dept, https://ffrm.humboldt.edu
  • BS in Forestry with concentrations offered in
    • Forest Hydrology
    • Forest Operations
    • Forest Restoration
    • Forest Soils
    • Tribal Forestry
    • Wildland Fire Management
Geography, Environment, & Spatial Analysis Dept, https://geography.humboldt.edu
  • BA in Geography
  • BS in Geospatial Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Management Concentration
Geology Dept, https://geology.humboldt.edu
  • BS in Geology
  • BA in Geology – Geosciences Concentration
Oceanography Dept, https://oceanography.humboldt.edu 
  • BS in Oceanography
Wildlife Dept, https://wildlife.humboldt.edu
  • BS in Wildlife (Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management Concentration)
School of Engineering, https://engineering.humboldt.edu
  • BS in Energy Systems Engineering
  • BS in Environmental Resources Engineering

UC Environmental Programs/Majors

All Majors: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses-majors/

UC-Santa Cruz

All Majors: https://admissions.ucsc.edu/find-your-program

Environmental Studies Dept: https://envs.ucsc.edu/
  • BA in Environmental Studies with Concentrations offered in:
    • Conservation Science & Policy
    • Global Environmental Justice
    • Geographic Information Systems
  • BA offered in the following Combined Majors:
    • Environmental Studies & Biology
    • Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences
    • Environmental Studies & Economics
  • BA in Agroecology
  • BS in Environmental Sciences (interdisciplinary program - see https://esci.ucsc.edu/ )
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Dept, https://www.eeb.ucsc.edu 
  • BS in Ecology & Evolution
  • BS in Marine Biology
  • BS in Plant Sciences
Earth & Planetary Sciences Program, https://eps.ucsc.edu
  • BS in Earth Sciences with optional concentrations offered in:
    • Geology
    • Geophysics
    • Ocean Sciences
    • Planetary Sciences
  • BS in Environmental Sciences

UC-Berkeley

All Majors: https://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/

Environmental Science, Policy & Management Dept: https://ourenvironment.berkeley.edu/
  • BS in Conservation and Resource Studies (an individualized interdisciplinary program)
  • BS in Environmental Sciences with Concentrations offered in
    • Biological Science
    • Physical Science
    • Social Science
  • BS in Ecosystem Management and Forestry with Specializations offered in:
    • Forestry
    • Natural Resource Management
  • BS in Molecular Environmental Biology with Emphases offered in:
    • Animal Health and Behavior
    • Biodiversity
    • Ecology
    • Environment and Human Health
    • Global Change Biology
    • Insect Biology
  • BS in Society & Environment with Concentrations offered in:
    • U.S. Environmental Policy and Management
    • Global Environmental Politics
    • Justice and Sustainability
Agricultural and Resource Economics Dept https://are.berkeley.edu/eep

BS in Environmental Economics and Policy

Earth & Planetary Science Dept https://eps.berkeley.edu
  • BS in Atmospheric Science
  • BS in Environmental Earth Science
  • BS in Geology
  • BS in Geophysics
  • BS in Marine Science
  • BS in Planetary Science
Engineering Science Program, https://engineeringscience.berkeley.edu
  • Energy Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering Science
Geography Dept, https://geography.berkeley.edu
  • BS in Geography (Earth System Science)
City & Regional Planning Dept, https://ced.berkeley.edu/city
  • BA in Urban Studies
Institute of Urban & Regional Development, https://ced.berkeley.edu/iurd
  • BA in Sustainable Design (focus on the built environment)
Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning Dept, https://ced.berkeley.edu/land
  • BA in Landscape Architecture

UC-Davis

All Majors: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/degree-explorer

College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, https://caes.ucdavis.edu

Agricultural and Resource Economics Dept, https://are.ucdavis.edu/
  • BS in Managerial Economics, Environmental and Resource Economics Concentration
Animal Science Dept, https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Agricultural & Environmental Education
  • BS in Animal Science
  • BS in Animal Science & Management
Entomology and Nematology Dept, https://entomology.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Entomology (study of insects)
Environmental Science & Policy Dept:https://desp.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with Tracks offered in:
    • City & Regional Planning
    • Climate Change Policy
    • Conservation Management
    • Energy & Transportation Policy
    • Environmental Policy & Politics
    • Water Management
    • Integrative Policy (an individualized track)
  • BS in Environmental Science and Management with Tracks offered in:
    • Climate Change & Air Quality
    • Ecology, Biodiversity, & Conservation
    • Environmental Data Science
    • Natural Resource Management
    • Soils & Biogeochemistry
    • Watershed Science
Environmental Toxicology Dept, https://etox.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Environmental Toxicology
Human Ecology Dept, https://humanecology.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Landscape Architecture
  • BS in Sustainable Environmental Design
Land, Water, and Air Resources Dept, https://lawr.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Atmospheric Science
  • BS in Environmental Science and Management with optional tracks offered in
    • Climate Change & Air Quality
    • Ecology, Biodiversity, & Conservation
    • Environmental Data Science
    • Natural Resource Management
    • Soils & Biogeochemistry
  • BS in Watershed Science.
  • BS in Hydrology
  • BS in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Plant Sciences Dept, https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Plant Sciences
Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology Dept, https://wfcb.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology

College of Biological Sciences, https://biology.ucdavis.edu

Evolution & Ecology Dept, https://eve.ucdavis.edu/
  • BS in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity
  • BA in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity
Plant Biology Dept, https://www-plb.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Plant Biology

College of Letters & Science

Earth and Planetary Sciences Dept, https://eps.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Marine & Coastal Science
  • BS in Geology
  • BA in Geology

College of Engineering, https://engineering.ucdavis.edu

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept, https://bae.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Biological Systems Engineering
  • BS in Agriculture and Environmental Technology
Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, https://cee.engineering.ucdavis.edu
  • BS in Environmental Engineering

Private College Environmental Programs/Majors

Santa Clara University

All Majors: https://www.scu.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/

Environmental Studies & Sciences Dept: https://www.scu.edu/cas/ess/
  • BS in Environmental Science
  • BA in Environmental Studies

University of San Francisco

All Majors: https://www.usfca.edu/academics/find-your-program/undergraduate

Environmental Science Dept:
https://www.usfca.edu/arts-sciences/undergraduate-programs/environmental-science
  • BS in Environmental Science
Environmental Studies Program:
https://www.usfca.edu/arts-sciences/undergraduate-programs/environmental-studies
  • BA in Environmental Studies (General)
  • BA in Environmental Studies with Concentrations offered in:
    • Urban Studies
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