<p>Hello, I was just accepted into UCSB's honor program and I've heard that their Env studies program is very strong. I would love it if someone could give me any information they have on the program. Also, if anyone is aware of the quality of the program compared to Davis, I would greatly appreciate it!</p>
<p>I’m an Environmental Studies major. UCSB’s ES program is definitely one of the best. </p>
<p>What kinds of information are you looking for? The ES website has almost everything you need, because the ES program has one of the most awesome undergraduate advisors at UCSB. You absolutely won’t feel miserable about the ES program after you give a look at the website. Let me know if you have any more questions. [Environmental</a> Studies](<a href=“http://es.ucsb.edu/]Environmental”>http://es.ucsb.edu/)</p>
<p>Also, if you’re more interested in agriculture/food, I would say maybe Davis would be a better fit for you.</p>
<p>That’s great to hear! I’ve looked through the site and it looks great. I think it would be awesome to hear a student’s point of view. How do you like your professors, do you get enough face time with them, how are the internship possibilities, and do you spend time focusing on the practical as well as the theoretical? Thanks for responding by the way =).</p>
<p>Oh awesome! I got accepted to the environmental program (: Is SB hands-on as in does the class go to an actual environment rather than study off books? I’m just curious on SB’s tactics of approaching environmental science.</p>
<p>We have great professors. They’re among the best of their fields. I enjoy my ES classes more than classes from any other majors, because of the passions and teaching skills. You need to be actively going to office hours to get to know them. And this is true for whichever school you choose. If you utilize their office hours, then you’ll have more time with them. If you don’t, then you won’t get enough face time with them. </p>
<p>There’re a lot of internship possibilities in the local area, whether it’s restoration, policy, field trips, or other types. The ES advisor sends out newsletters weekly with all sorts of information. Look out for them. It’s also about yourself being actively engaging in looking for internships instead of having them handed to you. </p>
<p>Practical vs. Theoretical. Like I have already mentioned, it’s all about what you can get out of your own education. If you’re doing a BS (bachelor of science), then there’re definitely a lot hands on experience surrounding your subject area. Semester at Sea, field trip programs, internships, research,…, are highly recommended by the department. Even if you’re doing a BA (bachelor of arts), those experiences would vastly enhance the quality of your education here.</p>
<p>Wow thanks for all the insights Ryan! Only reason I applied to privates is to get close with professors and have professors who actually care about their teaching(rather than being focused on independent study - such as UCB/ UCLA) That’s great to hear! </p>
<p>What courses do I take? Do I have to take all three general sciences then move on to my major focused classes?</p>
<p>No. You understood private schools wrong. Even professors at HYPMS are hired for their research skills instead of teaching abilities. A lot of professors at those elites don’t care about students, either. The only colleges that really concentrate on undergraduate education are the underrated liberal arts colleges. </p>
<p>Here are the major requirements. [UC</a> Santa Barbara General Catalog - Environmental Studies](<a href=“UC Santa Barbara General Catalog - Environmental Studies”>UC Santa Barbara General Catalog - Environmental Studies)
And course listings [UC</a> Santa Barbara General Catalog - Environmental Studies](<a href=“UC Santa Barbara General Catalog - Environmental Studies”>UC Santa Barbara General Catalog - Environmental Studies)
General requirements [UC</a> Santa Barbara General Catalog - General Education Program](<a href=“http://my.sa.ucsb.edu/Catalog/Current/UndergraduateEducation/GEProgram.aspx]UC”>UC Santa Barbara General Catalog - General Education Program)</p>
<p>Freshman, Envi. Studies major and absolutely love the curriculum as well as the majority of the classes that I’ve taken here. Also the Bren building where you often go for TA office hours is gorgeous. The head of the department, Eric Zimmerman, is the man as well and sends out a VERY useful newsletter to all ES majors about once a week. </p>
<p><a href=“https://lists.lsit.ucsb.edu/archives/esmail/[/url]”>https://lists.lsit.ucsb.edu/archives/esmail/</a></p>
<p>The cool thing about ES at UCSB to is that you can major in ES and do an emphasis like Resource Conservation/Biotic Management: Wildlife and Ecosystems
Food, Sustainable Agriculture, and the Environment
Developing Nations and International Environmental Studies</p>
<p>You can find them all at the link on the very bottom here:
[B.A</a>. Degree Requirements in Environmental Studies | Environmental Studies](<a href=“http://es.ucsb.edu/ba-degree-requirements-environmental-studies]B.A”>http://es.ucsb.edu/ba-degree-requirements-environmental-studies)</p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend coming to UCSB if your a prospective ES major. Once you get past Chem 1A, this major is absolutely amazing.</p>
<p>Wow this all sounds really great, thanks for taking the time to comment. Also downtown, does a 5 on the AP Chem test make me exempt from Chem 1A or is it still necessary</p>
<p>I believe it is still necessary. Because it’s not listed as an equivalent on the AP credit sheet. But I might be wrong.</p>
<p>How strong is SB’s environmental program compared to UC Davis?</p>
<p>I just got accepted to UCSB with an undeclared major. I’m pretty sure that I want to major in ES, but I thought I would take a quarter or two to explore some other areas just to make sure. So, if I do decide that I want to major in ES, will it be difficult to get into that major, or is it just as simple as signing up for the ES classes?</p>
<p>ES courses overlap GE requirements, no? I think it’s not that hard cause you do general sciences then work up to it</p>
<p>ES Four year plan and GE Worksheet
<a href=“http://es.ucsb.edu/sites/es.ucsb.edu/files/content/academics/BA_4Year_Worksheet_10-11.pdf[/url]”>http://es.ucsb.edu/sites/es.ucsb.edu/files/content/academics/BA_4Year_Worksheet_10-11.pdf</a></p>
<p>@Helpme: Depends if you eventually want to get into more of the agro-es side of things i’d go to Davis…any other sort of es i’d pick SB in a heartbeat. ES is def. one of the better majors on campus.</p>