ES Student Peer Advisors

The Environmental Studies Peer Advisors are junior or senior ES majors who work with the ES Student Affairs Officer in helping students understand and fulfill their Major and University requirements as well as advise them about internship, career, and graduate school opportunities, policies, and procedures. The Peer's duties include assisting students with the internship and new major application process, update departmental files on graduate programs, help maintain the internship data base and career resources, and act as a general referral and support service to students in the ES Program.

Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to visit the ES Peer Advisor during their open office hours (posted below) if you have any type of question(s) regarding the ES major, program, requirements, etc.

Need Help? Visit the ES Peer Advisors for any of the following topics:

- Assistance checking progress towards major requirements
- Assistance with planning your class schedules
- A Career Information Bookshelf
- An Internship Information Bookshelf
- An Internship Database
- Course Syllabi for all ES Courses
- Field Studies Program Information
- Environmental Study Abroad Opportunities

Answers to Some Commonly Asked Questions by ES Students
Updated 2007
Compiled by the ES Student Peer Advisors, 1999, 2003

What can you do with an ES degree?

Your options are unlimited with an ES degree, since the interdisciplinary nature of the major allows you access to all kinds of different career fields. Some career options are as follows: planning, environmental education and communication, solid waste management, hazardous waste management, air and water quality control, land and water conservation, fishery and wildlife management, forestry, parks and outdoor recreation, environmental law, politics (i.e. lobbying, grassroots, non-profit organizations, EPA), green businesses, environmental consulting, and environmental writing or journalism (Remember that this list is by no means exhaustive). You can also come by the ES Peer Advisor's office in Bren 4313 and browse through our reference books on environmental career information. You can click our above link to Environmental Career Related websites, and you can also sign up for the ES e-mail listserve which has the most up to date information on new voluteer, internship, and career opportunities plus local and campus events and university deadlines. You can also visit the UCSB Counseling and Career Services website (http://career.ucsb.edu/) for additional career information.

What is the difference between the BA and BS degree?

The BA degree is a more interdisciplinary degree with a swath of introductory courses in the social, physical, and natural sciences. The BS is more focused on preparing its majors with a strong background in the physical and natural sciences and is less interdisciplinary at the upper-division level than the BA degree. For instance, the BS requires a full year of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Math, while the BA only requires 2 or 3 Chemistry courses, two Math courses, one Biology and no Physics courses. The degrees also differ in their upper-division ES electives-the BS degree asks that you take part of your upper-division courses from a specified science list, whereas you have much more leeway in the BA degree in that any upper-division course is acceptable. The outside concentration for the two degrees differs as well. The BS requires an outside concentration from one or more departments from a specified list (i.e. Chemistry, EEMB/MCDB, Geography, Geology, Math, Statistics, or Physics), while any College of L&S department is applicable in the BA degree's outside concentration.

How do I petition a class for a major requirement?

You need to come by the ES Advisor's, Peer Advisor's office or the College of L&S and obtain a "Petition for Graduation/Degree Requirements." You then fill out the document and return it to either the ES Advisor's or Peer Advisor's office with a self-addressed stamped envelope and any supporting documents (course descriptions, syllabi and/or your new student profile). Expect it to take up to 2 weeks for the petition to be processed and returned to you.

What forms do I need to change my major?

To change or to declare one of the three majors in Environmental Studies you need pick up an "Undergraduate Petition to Declare or Change Major" plus a "Memo of Understanding for Double Majors," (if you are declaring a double major) from the Peer Advisors. You will complete these documents along with the ES Program's "Major Application Form" for whichever degree you will be declaring. Finally, you will need to attach a copy of your unofficial transcript (printed from GOLD), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a photo copy of your new student profile (if you have transferable units). We will then process the paperwork for you and mail back confirmation in one to two weeks.

Is it hard to have a double major?

It is not difficult to complete a double major. All it really requires is a better balancing of your time academically in order to graduate in four years. A double major can also help you to develop more of a focus in your studies. Additionally, for the Environmental Studies B.A. and B.S. degrees, a double major will completely satisfy the outside concentration requirement in the major. In order to declare a double major, you need to obtain an "Undergraduate Petition to Declare or Change Major" and a "Memo of Understanding for Double Majors," both available at the ES Advisor's and ES Peer Advisor's offices. You complete these forms with the ES Program's "Major Application Form" for whichever degree you are declaring. You then attach a copy of your unofficial transcript (available from GOLD), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a copy of your new student profile (if you have transferable units) and return all the documents to the ES Program. We will then process the paperwork and mail back confirmation in one to two weeks.

Should I (for a BA student) take Math 3AB or 34AB?

Well, it really depends on how you feel about math! For instance, Math 3AB is much more straightforward in that you deal mainly with explicit calculus problems. On the other hand, Math 34AB is aptly named "Calculus for the Social Sciences" because it is mostly applied calculus, i.e. word problems. The ES department also offers and quantitative thinking course titled ES 25 Quantitative Thinking in ES, and it is currently offered in spring. ES 25 does not have any prerequisites, and can be applied to the BA degree with Math 34A or Math 3A. Just keep in mind that if you plan on pursuing either of the BS degrees in Environmental Studies you must have the Math 3AB courses in order to move on into the Math 3C and 5A courses. If you take the 34AB series and then decide to switch to the BS degree, the Math department will require that you repeat the Math 3AB courses before enrolling in 3C. It is also important to note that you must obtain a grade of "C" or better in order to move on to the next math course. So if you are still undecided do 3AB.

How do I get an internship?

Internships are important because they give you an opportunity to apply what you have learned in school to a "real world" situation. The first step in finding an internship is to pick up the "Environmental Studies Internship Program Handbook-Part 1," found outside of the ES Peer Advisor's office (Bren 4313). At the back of the handbook is an "ESIP Student Internship Application." You need to turn in the completed application, a copy of your current resume (draft copy okay), and the GPA waiver form (if your GPA is below 3.0) to the ES Peer Advisor or the ES Academic Advisor. Once the application is approved you may utilize the resources the ES Department offers in order to find an internship. The ES listserve has all of our current internship opportunities. We also provide internship binders (found in the Peer Advisor's office, Bren 4313) with current internship and past internship information, and current information from the listserve is also posted outside of the ES Peer Advisor's office. You can also use resources outside of those we provide, such as the Internet, personal acquaintances, or Counseling & Career Services. Once you find internship opportunities that interest you, you are on your own to contact the agency for an interview or for application material. Once you find an internship, and you want to enroll in ES 192 in order to receive academic credit for the internship, you need to obtain and complete the "ESIP Proposal Form" (in Part 2 of the Student Internship Handbook). Signatures are required from you, the agency supervisor and by an ES faculty advisor. You then return this form to the ESIP Coordinator within the first two weeks of the quarter upon which you will receive an add code to enroll in ES 192 GOLD system. From then on you must follow the assignments to successfully pass the ES 192 course. Remember, for every 30 hours completed, one unit of credit is given, and you may receive up to a total of 12 upper-division College of L&S units, of which no more than four may apply towards the major requirements.

If I had an internship this summer, can I get units for fall?

If you know you will be participating in a summer internship before you begin and want academic credit, you must see the ES Internship Coordinator before you leave. If you had an internship in the summer, and you did not sign up with the ES Program before you started, unfortunately we will not be able to give you retroactive credit. Hours for a summer internship may be applied for academic credit in two ways. First, if you want to use internship hours accumulated during the first six weeks of summer (during UCSB's Summer Session) you will need to register for Env S 192 in Summer Session. Any internship hours completed after summer school ends are eligible for fall units (i.e. hours obtained in August and September) as long as you notify the ES Internship Coordinator prior to your internship.

What is the senior thesis, and why should I do it?

The senior thesis is a substantial research project in which you will focus on a specific and limited problem with the knowledge you have gained from a wide range of disciplines. You are by no means required to complete a senior thesis. However, it will apply as 6 units towards your environmental studies electives and completing the thesis is mandatory if you wish to obtain "Distinction in the Major" at graduation. Additionally, the senior thesis will allow you to develop many skills needed in the "real world." For instance, you will learn how to follow a major project through to completion. You will also hone your research skills by learning how to gather and analyze data, and you will learn how to talk to professors and professionals about their subject. On a personal level, you can gain confidence, improve your writing skills, improve your ability to make oral presentations, and improve your time-management skills. These are all skills that you will need on a professional level in whatever career you choose to undertake.

If interested in completing the senior thesis, you need to register for ES 197 during fall quarter. The course meets once a week during fall quarter in order to assist the participating students in finding a topic, finding a faculty advisor, and in orienting them as to what the senior thesis is and how to go about writing one. The thesis can be completed over the entire academic year by taking an incomplete at the end of the quarter until the thesis is completed.

Can I take a course for the major as P/NP?

No major or preperation for the major course can be taken for P/NP, with two exceptions: ES 190 and ES 192, which are only offered P/NP.

Do I have to get a grade of at least a "C" in order for the course to apply towards my major?

The following applies to all Environmental Studies and Hydrologic Sciences majors. Please note other departments and majors on campus might have GPA requirements different than the ones listed below.

The three degrees offered by the ES Program follow the "General College of Letters and Science GPA Requirements for Graduation", and these are:

That is it! A grade as low as a "D-" will satisfy any major course requirement. You just need to make sure your cumulative GPA for rules 1 through 3 mentioned above stay above a 2.0. You always have the option to repeat a course in which you received a grade of "C-" or lower, but as long as you do not fail (grade of "F"); the course will apply as credit towards your major requirements.

NOTE: In some departments such as Mathematics and Biology, specific lower-division course sequences require a minimum grade in the preceding course in order to enroll in the next course in the sequence. One example of this is mathematics where all students must obtain a grade of "C" or better in Math 3A or 34A in order to move on to the next course. Although this is not a rule imposed by the ES Program, it is one our students must follow if they are to satisfy the math requirement for the major.

How do I find out if I am on track for graduation?

Step 1: Obtain and complete the appropriate "Student Progress Check Worksheet" for your major(s), available at the Peer Advisor's, Academic Advisor's or ES Program's Main Office. In addition, pick up a copy of your unofficial transcript from the Registrar's Office or print a copy from the Gold System. If you have transfer work, include a photo copy of your New Student Profile and/or credit memos.

Step 2: Complete the worksheet and then bring it in to see one of the ES Peer Advisors or the Academic advisor. They will then sit down and go over the worksheet with you to verify your current status regarding completion of your major requirements.

Step 3: As a final check for graduation progress, you can now see the status of your degree progress on GOLD! It takes less than a minute and you can evaluate your progress on completing the unit requirement, university requirements, and general education requirements according to the degree you are earning. Some major requirements can also be evaluated for completion on GOLD, but ES is currently not one of them.

Environmental Studies Program
STUDENT PEER ADVISOR - JOB APPLICATION

Applications are due no later than: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

The Environmental Studies Program is looking to hire one new Student Peer Advisors starting in the late Spring quarter and through the 2008-2009 academic year. Working as a Peer Advisor for the Environmental Studies Program (ES) is a challenging and exciting opportunity that provides pre-professional experience in the counseling field. In addition, the Peer Advisor will learn about the many opportunities offered within environmental studies, work with faculty and fellow peers, and make a valuable contribution to the Environmental Studies Program.

Job Description:
The Environmental Studies Peer Advisors work with the ES Academic & Internship Coordinator helping students understand and fulfill their Major and University requirements as well as advise them about internship, career, and graduate school opportunities, policies, and procedures. The Peer's duties will include assisting students with the internship and new major application process, update departmental files on graduate programs, help maintain the internship data base and career resources, and act as a general referral and support service to students in the ES Program. Advisors will participate in information meetings about the Major and the Internship Program. Other activities may be assigned based upon the interests and skills of the advisors. The job appointment is for at least one full academic year beginning Spring, 2008. Initial training sessions will be provided at during Spring quarter.

Qualifications:
Candidates for the position of Peer Advisor must be an Environmental Studies or Hydrology major who has obtained at least the class level of sophomore and should be in good academic standing (preferably a GPA of at least 2.75). They must also be able to hold the position for at least one full academic year; two years is preferred but not mandatory. Candidates should be able to commit to a schedule each quarter of two to three consecutive hours, three days a week (8-10 total hours a week).

Other desirable qualifications include:
- strong verbal and communication skills
- strong listening skills
- ability to manage time and have strong organizational skills
- high level of initiative, motivation, and responsibility
- basic word processing/data entry and web browsing capabilities
- high interest in the ES Program

Selection:
The application is available on the reverse side and are due no later than: Friday, May 2, 2008

Applications should be returned to the Student Affairs Officer (Bren Hall, 4312) or to one of the current Peer Advisors (Bren 4313). Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted by the current ES advising staff as soon as possible.

Training and Compensation:
The new Peer Advisors will receive initial training during the beginning of Spring quarter and will work 8 to 10 hours a week during the academic year. Compensation will be at a rate of $8.75/hour.

Click here to download the 2008-09 Peer Advisor Job Application (.pdf).