ESRM Program

Today’s environmental problems call for individuals who are educated in more than one discipline, highly trained in technical skills, and aware of the political, economic, and social dimensions of environmental decisions.  The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Resource Management (ESRM) provides solid training in basic physical, biological, and social sciences, and application of management science to reduce adverse impacts of human activity on the environment and to maximize the benefits that accrue from environmental resources.

In the narrowest sense, Environmental Science is the study of the impact of human systems on physical and biological systems, and the dependence on natural resources by human systems.  In a broader sense, Environmental Science is the study of the interaction and co-evolution of human, physical, and biological systems.  Resource Management is concerned with the most effective means of avoiding damage to environmental assets and extracting beneficial uses of environmental resources, within the context of social institutions.  Effective Resource Management considers benefits and costs, uncertainties and risks, limits of knowledge, institutional constraints, and social and political forces.

The B.S. program has two emphases: Environmental Science and Resource Management.  Historically these two disciplines have been poorly integrated and taught as distinct endeavors with their own traditions to serve somewhat different constituencies.  Our program here at CSU Channel Islands prepares graduates specializing in Environmental Science who understand both the basic principles of Resource Management, and graduates specializing in Resource Management who understand basic principles of Environmental Science. Most required courses are those offered in related disciplines with 72% of the requirements for the major occurring in other programs (Chemistry, Economics, etc.).  Our curriculum fosters cross-disciplinary communication in the several required courses common to both emphases and particularly in our upper division ESRM courses.

Our curriculum prepares students for professional careers in either Environmental Science or Resource Management and for subsequent graduate study.  Graduates completing the B.S. program can expect to work on environmental problems in industry, government, and non-profit organizations.  Potential employers include the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, federal or state Environmental Protection Agencies, state and local Water Conservation Districts, county Land Use Planning Departments, Environmental Divisions of various local and national corporations, and a variety of environmental consulting firms, and environmental education/outreach programs.

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Resource Management with either a focus on Environmental Science or Resource Management
• Minor in Environmental Science and Resource Management