Career development strategies and exploration of emerging environmental fields: Exploration of green jobs in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors, with hands-on training in interviewing and job application preparation..

Interdisciplinary study of the impact of human civilization on the earth’s major ecological systems: Issues examined in historic, contemporary, and future settings, including both Western and non-Western contexts; material presented from a theoretical point of view, with a focus on core concepts and methods related to ecology, sustainability, human population, natural resources, wastes and pollution; reflection of how human economic, political, and ethical behaviors are inextricably interwoven with the environment; and presentation of environmental career options.

Study of the social side of agriculture and sustainable food production/gardening: Investigation of social justice, food access, food security, and hunger issues on a local and national scale; current debates and conversations related to food systems (both industrial and alternative); and agricultural production and labor issues.

Food systems and food cultures of the Bay Area: Field trips and case studies of area gardens designed by people of different cultures, documenting the cultural diversity of food and gardens through multiple media.

Overview of nature/culture interpretation and education: Planning for age, theme, and place appropriate presentations leading towards employment opportunities in the environmental management field.

American and global environmental policy and ethics concentrating on their impact on minorities and people of color: Unequal environmental protection; the politics of pollution, race and waste dumping; and the intersection of the Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Movements with an emphasis on civil rights, social justice, white supremacy, and the impact of the Environmental Movement on people of color.

Introduction to, analysis, and writing of environmental impact reports, statements, assessments and reviews: Background, purposes, uses, and content of EIRs (Environmental Impact Reports); analyzing and commenting on EIR elements and tests of significance.

Introduction to the expanding production and distribution of healthy food and environmentally sustainable agriculture in and near cities: Organic and intensive agriculture, field methods, policy, economy, ecology, and equity.

Study of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) science and its applications to spatial data management: Identification and acquisition of GIS data; assessment of vector and raster systems, scale, resolution, map projection, coordinate systems, georeferencing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS); spatial analysis and modeling with GIS. Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in GEOG 14.

Principles and practices in the restoration and monitoring of creeks and watersheds: Global water cycle and atmospheric circulation; basic hydrological principles and processes including erosion, flooding, and deposition of sediment.

In-depth exploration of an area or problem of the student's choice not covered by regular catalog offerings in Environmental Management and Technology. Student must obtain approval from an appropriate faculty member. For more details, see the section on independent study in the college catalog.

Introduction to the history of, and current practices in, natural resource conservation and management of public lands at the federal, state, and local level.

Introduction to common practices in managing public parks and open spaces in the areas of Administration, Visitor Services, Resource Protection and Facilities Maintenance.

Survey of the natural history of the Bay Area: Climate, geology, geologic history, geomorphology, flora and fauna of selected Bay Area parks.

Survey of the natural history of Mt. Diablo State Park: Climate, geology, geologic history, geomorphology, flora and fauna; survey techniques for field studies and conservation strategies for the endangered species of the park; includes on-site field studies at Mt. Diablo State Park.

Survey of the natural history of reptiles and amphibians of the Bay Area; includes on-site field studies in various state and regional parks.

Exploration of the major habitat types of the Bay Area: Salt water, fresh water, coasts, tidelands, uplands, and mountain peaks, patterns in nature, the historical and ecological factors of the distribution of biodiversity over geological and contemporary timescales.

Survey of tide-pool life of the Greater Bay Area: Invertebrates and vertebrates as well as tide-pool flora.

Survey and overview of the butterflies and moths of the Bay Area: Identification, ecology, natural history, and evolution of our local butterflies and moths.

Identification of common mosses and liverworts of the greater San Francisco Bay Area: Slide preparation and microscopic examination including field identification.

Common Lichens of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area: Microscopic analysis and field study.

Biogeography of California’s islands: Botany, zoology, and geology of the Channel Islands, Farallon Islands, and San Francisco Bay Islands.

Introduction to the basic biology of birds with an emphasis on hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, owls, vultures and other raptors of Central California and the Bay Area: Identification, classification, evolution, migration and ecology of the raptors; field sessions in outstanding fall migration and overwintering areas presenting these birds in their natural habitats.

Introduction to the identification, classification, and ecology of birds in terms of how they communicate and use their songs: Emphasis on Central California and Bay Area birds, with special attention paid to birds such as passerines, hummingbirds, and parrots that memorize and learn their songs; concepts relating to how birds sing, learn their songs, mimic one another, and play duets together.

Fundamentals of ornithology: Study of habitats from the pelagic to the High Sierra and the birds found there.

Climate systems; historical records of Earth's ancient climate and environments; evidence of modern climate change; climate modeling; impacts on biodiversity, habitat shifts, and society; and movements and organizations that can mitigate the impact of climate change.

Supervised employment in Environmental Management and Technology or a related field: Extension of classroom learning to the job site. The employment must be related to the student’s educational or occupational goals. Each 75 hours of paid work equals one unit, while each 60 hours of non-paid work equals one unit.

Introductory study of botany: Structure, physiology, genetics, ecology, and uses of plants. Laboratory work emphasizes microscopy, physiology experiments, and field identification.

Introduction to the natural history of marine organisms: Basic concepts of biology and environmental science with some local focus on Northern California marine ecosystems.

Study of the relationships between living things and their environment: Natural selection and speciation, the organism and its environment, population ecology, the ecosystem, and a survey of ecosystems.

Introduction to biology emphasizing chiefly the evolution, adaptations, and classification of life forms from bacteria to animals: Identification of groups of organisms and the most common species; lesser emphasis on cellular and molecular biology and genetics.

Identification and culture of trees used in Bay Area landscapes: Climate, soil, and water preferences; garden culture; pest and disease problems; and pruning and propagation.

Identification and culture of trees used in Bay Area landscapes: Climate, soil, and water preferences; garden culture; pest and disease problems; and pruning and propagation. Slide presentations substituted for lab.

Identification and culture of fall native plants used in the landscape: Climate, soil, and water preferences; garden culture; pest and disease problems; and pruning and propagation. The lab includes classroom demonstrations and field trips to prominent Bay Area landscapes.

Identification and culture of spring native plants used in the landscape: Climate, soil, and water preferences; garden culture; pest and disease problems; and pruning and propagation. The lab includes classroom demonstrations and field trips to prominent Bay Area landscapes.

Identification and culture of fall native plants used in the landscape: Climate, soil, and water preferences; garden culture; pest and disease problems; and pruning and propagation. Slide presentations substituted for lab.

Identification and culture of spring native plants used in the landscape: Climate, soil, and water preferences; garden culture; pest and disease problems; and pruning and propagation. Slide presentations substituted for lab.

Identification and management of local arthropod pests and beneficial populations particular to ornamental plants: Emphasis on non-chemical methods of control; integration of methods used, and development of approaches best suited to controlling pests.

Origin of soils, rocks, and minerals: Physical and chemical properties, water relations of plants and soils, soil fertility and fertilizers, organic matter, soil amendments for clay and for acid and alkali soils, and the cycling of nutrients in nature.

Terminology used in identification of plants: Terms relating to roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit used in all plant identification courses and in Introduction to Landscape Horticulture.

Strategies and techniques of applied ecology/permaculture design and application for designing livable human communities: Observation of natural patterns, gardening in urban settings, water and nutrient recycling in the landscape, and an introduction to the Bay Area bioregion; emphasis on permaculture ethics and principles, soil fertility, composting, and synergistic plant associations.

Observation of nature’s effect on natural rock-garden formation and application of these principles in the design and installation of local artificial rock gardens: Discussion of native and exotic alpine species, natural rock-garden environments, and plant habitat composition.

Use of food-producing plants in the constructed landscape for homeowners, renters, school gardens, community gardens, senior centers, and micro-farms.

Fundamentals of equipment used in the arborist trade: Chain saws, chippers, plant health care equipment, and aerial lift; truck driving and bucket truck operations; equipment maintenance; equipment safety and safe work practices.

Basic elements of the earth’s physical systems and processes: Earth sun relations, weather, climate, water, plate tectonics, landforms, soils, and ecosystems and their interrelationships and global distribution patterns.

Practical application of the basic concepts and principles of physical geography: Earth-sun relationships, weather, climate, geologic processes, landforms, and field observations.

Survey of materials and structures comprising the outer portion of the earth, and geologic processes responsible for sculpturing the earth: Plate tectonics and mountain building; formation of minerals and igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; deformation of rocks by folding and faulting; and erosion of the land surface.

Introduction to the geologic aspects of environmental science: Natural hazards, human effects on geologic processes, energy and mineral resources, and global environmental change.

In-the-field introduction to the richness of the geologic environment: Emphasis on the basic geologic processes that shape the earth’s surface.

Native American relationships to the California Central Coast: PreIndian environment; abundance; human-environment interactions; adaptations; challenges; environmentally situated lives; ethnoecology of specific tribal groups; beliefs and worldviews; norms and practices; ecological knowledge bases; resource management.

The functions of institutional food-service production: Menu development and standardization; forecasting, purchasing, storage, preparation and service; staffing, equipment selection and maintenance; evaluation of the food-service system; medical diets including texture and nutrient modifications; information technology in food service settings including budgeting, cost/inventory control, nutritional analysis, recipe development, production forecasting, menu production; selecting or upgrading systems software.

Exploration through drawing of basic plant structures: Recording details of various plant forms; emphasis on rendering form and texture with graphite pencils, graphite powder, white drawing pencils and ink pens.