USC Environmental Systems Science
Transfer Requirements and Classes
The major preparation USC lists for Environmental Systems Science transfers starts with GEOL 160Lg, GEOL 450L and BISC 103Lgx; the full list is below.
82 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with USC for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.
Your community college
Which classes count at your community college?
Pick your college to see its class for each USC requirement.
Major Requirements
USC Environmental Systems Science Major Preparation
The courses USC lists as Environmental Systems Science major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2026-27 academic year. Course numbers are USC's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.
Gateway experience
Required
- GEOL 160Lg Introduction to Geosystems
Capstone experience
Required
- GEOL 450L Geosystems
Fundamental Mathematics and Science Requirements
Complete all of these
- BISC 103Lgx General Biology for the Environment and Life
- CHEM 103Lgx General Chemistry for the Environment and Life
- ENST 320a Water and Soil Sustainability; Energy and Air Sustainability
- ENST 320b Water and Soil Sustainability; Energy and Air Sustainability
- GEOL 415 Fundamentals of Environmental Data Science
- MATH 125g Calculus I
- MATH 126g Calculus II
Also listed by USC
USC lists these under the headings shown, apart from the list above.
Skill Building Electives
1 of these
- BISC 457L Methods in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- CHEM 300L Analytical Chemistry
- GEOL 315L Minerals and Earth Systems
- GEOL 320L Surficial Processes and Stratigraphic Systems
- GEOL 351L Climate Systems
- GEOL 425L Data Analysis in the Earth and Environmental Sciences
- GEOL 470L Environmental Hydrogeology
- SSCI 301L Maps and Spatial Reasoning
- SSCI 402 GIS and Sustainable Development
Environmental Problems Electives
- BISC 315L Introduction to Ecology
- BISC 473L Biological Oceanography
- BISC 474L Ecosystem Function and Earth Systems
- BISC 483 Geobiology and Astrobiology
- CE 363L Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- CE 410L Environmental Engineering Microbiology
- ENE 440 Machine Learning for Climate Change and Sustainability
- ENST 310 Sustainable Fisheries Management
- ENST 335 Science, Health and the Environment
- ENST 413 Sustainable Aquaculture and Food Security
- ENST 445 Earth Climate: Past, Present, and Future
- ENST 483L Coastal Zone Sustainability
- GEOL 412 Oceans, Climate, and the Environment
- GEOL 433L Paleontology and Evolution in Deep Time
- GEOL 460L Geochemistry
- GEOL 465L Field Geology
Environment and Society Electives
1 of these
- ANTH 202g Archaeology: Our Human Past
- ANTH 302 Humans and Ancient Environments
- COMM 475 Environmental Communication
- ENST 344 Environmental Ethics
- ENST 360 Public Policy for Sustainability
- ENST 370 Marine and Coastal Environmental Policy
- ENST 387 Economics for Natural Resources and the Environment
- HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community
- HP 448 Global Environmental Changes and Health
- IR 323 Politics of Global Environment
- MOR 466 Business and Environmental Sustainability
- POSC 347 Environmental Law
- POSC 436 Environmental Politics
- PPD 348 Sustainable Infrastructure
- PPD 361 Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning
- PPD 420 Environmental Impact Assessment
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USC have an Environmental Systems Science major for transfer students?
Yes. USC offers Environmental Systems Science and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.
What classes do I need to transfer to USC for Environmental Systems Science?
USC's Environmental Systems Science major preparation includes GEOL 160Lg, GEOL 450L, BISC 103Lgx, CHEM 103Lgx, ENST 320a and ENST 320b, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.
Explore More
Build your USC Environmental Systems Science plan
Pick your community college and see which of its classes count, term by term.
Pick your college