The Environmental Systems Program (ESYS) reached another milestone as the undergraduate degree program graduated its 100th student this year at UC San Diego.

"The Environmental Systems program is one of the broadest interdisciplinary degree majors on any UC campus," Mark Thiemens, dean of the Division of Physical Sciences, stated at the ceremony celebrating the program graduates. "It integrates with a diverse array of departments and faculty and yet still maintains depth".

The program places a strong emphasis on a rigorous natural science foundation, as well as an introduction to the policy sciences for students enrolled in the major. Coursework includes chemistry, physics, biology, Earth sciences, mathematics, economics and political science.

Environmental Systems program alumni and students at recognition celebration of its 100th graduate.

Launched in 2000, the Environmental Systems major was designed in direct response to student demand for a practical environmental major. “We did a comparable study of other programs and asked students what they wanted to see in the program and implemented these into our current program. We have been very successful in making sure that when students graduate from our program that they will be able to apply everything learned from the program,” states Thiemens.

The keystone of the curriculum is the required three quarter upper-division senior internship project, which is taken in the student’s senior year. The internship project provides the problem solving skills and confidence needed to obtain jobs when they graduate. "The significant depth of the degree program lies in the opportunity for students to address real world interdisciplinary problems during their senior year, which is invaluable on an application to graduate school or employment," states Jane Teranes, Associate Director of the program.

The senior internship project is designed by the student to focus on an interdisciplinary environmental problem or research topic. Senior examples of project topics include ecology, research and conservation management plans, environmental health, campus and citywide sustainability initiatives, climate change research and policy, urban air quality and water supply and water quality management. A senior seminar during the spring quarter provides a venue for presentations and group evaluation of the ESYS senior projects.

"A snapshot of where our alumni are after graduation shows a very positive outgrowth of this program," stated Teranes. “Many are furthering their education by obtaining degrees in environmental and resource management, engineering and law school. Several are pursuing PhDs in research fields. Many others are engaged in environmental careers with public agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the San Diego Air Resources Board, the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, or with environmental consulting firms and environmental education outreach efforts.”

“In 2002 we had only five graduates in the program. We are so pleased to give recognition to Nicole Olmstead as our 100th graduate in the Environmental Systems program,” explained Teranes.

For more details about the program visit the website: http://esys.ucsd.edu.