UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies
    Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

    For fall 2025, 66% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies were admitted (169 of 257). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.39–3.81.

    The major preparation UC Santa Barbara lists for Environmental Studies transfers starts with ENV S 1, ENV S 2 and ENV S 3; the full list is below.

    115 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with UCSB for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.

    66%
    UCSB Environmental Studies transfer admit rate, fall 2025
    3.39–3.81
    GPA range of admitted transfers
    257
    Transfer applicants, 169 admitted
    115
    California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Environmental Studies

    Source: UC Information Center, Fall 2025 transfer admissions by major.

    Your community college

    Which classes count at your community college?

    Pick your college to see its class for each UCSB requirement.

    Major Requirements

    UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies Major Preparation

    The courses UC Santa Barbara lists as Environmental Studies major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2025-26 academic year. Course numbers are UCSB's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.

    Preparation for the major

    Complete all of these

    • ENV S 1 Introduction to Environmental Studies
    • ENV S 2 Introduction to Environmental Science
    • ENV S 3 Introduction to the Social and Cultural Environment
    • ENV S 40 Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Reasoning for the Environment

    Complete 1 of these

    • ENV S 60 Applied Ecology
    • MCDB 1A Introductory Biology I and MCDB 1LL Introductory Biology Laboratory I and EEMB 2 Introductory Biology II - Ecology and Evolution

    Complete 1 of these

    • ECON 1 Principles of Economics-Micro
    • ECON 2 Principles of Economics-Macro
    • ECON 9 Introduction to Economics
    • ENV S 30 Introduction to Environmental Economics

    Complete 1 of these

    • EARTH 2 Principles of Physical Geology
    • EARTH 4 Introduction to Oceanography
    • EARTH 20 Geological Catastrophes
    • GEOG 3 Oceans and Atmosphere
    • GEOG 4 Land, Water and Life

    Complete 1 of these

    • BL ST 4 Critical Race Theory
    • ENV S 70 Introduction to Environmental Ethics
    • FEMST 50 Global Feminisms and Social Justice
    • LING 50 Language and Power
    • PHIL 4 Introduction to Ethics
    • POL S 1 Introduction to Political Philosophy

    Complete 1 of these

    • ANTH 2 Introductory Cultural Anthropology
    • GEOG 5 People, Place and Environment
    • GLOBL 1 Global History, Culture and Ideology
    • GLOBL 2 Global Socioeconomic and Political Processes
    • PSY 1 Introduction to Psychology
    • RG ST 1 Introduction to the Study of Religion
    • RG ST 14 Introduction to Native American Religious Studies
    • SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology

    Complete 1 of these

    • HIST 5 The History of the Present
    • HIST 7 Great Issues in the History of Public Policy
    • POL S 6 Introduction to Comparative Politics
    • POL S 7 Introduction to International Relations
    • POL S 12 American Government and Politics

    Complete 1 of these

    • PSTAT 5A Understanding Data
    • PSTAT 5LS Statistics for Life Sciences
    • ECON 5 Statistics for Economics

    Complete 1 of these

    • MATH 3A Calculus with Applications, First Course
    • MATH 34A Calculus for Social and Life Sciences

    Complete 1 of these

    • ENV S 25 Quantitative Thinking in Environmental Studies
    • MATH 3B Calculus with Applications, Second Course
    • MATH 34B Calculus for Social and Life Sciences

    Complete 1 of these

    • CHEM 1A General Chemistry and CHEM 1B General Chemistry and CHEM 2AL General Chemistry Lab (Part A)
    • ENV S 15A Environmental Chemistry 1 and ENV S 15B Environmental Chemistry 2 and ENV S 15BL Environmental Chemistry Lab

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies transfer acceptance rate?

    For fall 2025, 66% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies were admitted (169 of 257). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.39–3.81.

    Does UC Santa Barbara have an Environmental Studies major for transfer students?

    Yes. UC Santa Barbara offers Environmental Studies (B.A.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

    What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Barbara for Environmental Studies?

    UC Santa Barbara's Environmental Studies major preparation includes ENV S 1, ENV S 2, ENV S 3, ENV S 40, ENV S 60 and MCDB 1A, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.

    What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Santa Barbara for Environmental Studies?

    Admitted Environmental Studies transfers to UC Santa Barbara had GPAs of 3.39–3.81.

    Explore More

    Related Transfer Requirements

    Build your UCSB Environmental Studies plan

    Pick your community college and see which of its classes count, term by term.

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