The School of the Environment (SotE) is a community of students, staff and faculty bound together by a common commitment to scientific exploration, sustainable stewardship of our environment and social justice.
We collaborate across disciplines to understand physical processes, the structures of political and economic power, and the social and cultural forces that shape our environment and pursue solutions to wide- ranging societal challenges.
The SotE provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Earth Science. They also collaborate with other SFSU academic programs and organizations.
Our Programs
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Climate Change Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
- Undergraduate Certificate
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Earth and Environmental Sciences, M.S.
- Master’s Degree
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- Major
- Accelerated Master's
- Minor
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- Major
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Environmental Science: Concentration in Natural Resource Management and Conservation
- Major
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- Major
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Geographic Information Science, M.S.
- Master’s Degree
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- Major
- Minor
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Geography, Resource Management, and Environmental Planning
- Master’s Degree
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- Undergraduate Certificate
Undergraduate Programs
Faculty create learning experiences in and outside of the classroom in our undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Earth Science
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Graduate Programs
Graduate students conduct research on wide ranging and important topics from the biophysical to the social sciences, often addressing important environmental or societal questions.
Explore programs
Student Opportunities
The creation of SotE expanded the variety of on-campus and community opportunities for all students interested in environmental and social issues.
Find clubs and scholarshipsCareer options for SotE students
With an undergraduate or graduate degree from SotE, you can pursue a career in many different sectors. Here is a small sample of the jobs our alumni have after graduation.
| Geologist | Air quality analyst | Waste management officer | Marine scientist | Drone pilot and analyst | Environmental manager, planner, consultant, inspector, technician or activist |
| Watershed manager | Recycling officer | Biogeographer | Satellite image analyst | Sustainability coordinator | Soil conservationist |
| Environmental education | Climatologist | GIS program manager | Community organizer | Transportation planner | College professor |
| Hydrologist | Cartographer | Energy analyst | Urban planner | K-12 teacher |
Where our alumni work
| United States Geological Survey | California Department of Fish & Wildlife | East Bay Municipal Utility District | Sierra Club |
| United States Environmental Protection Agency | State of California Department of Water Resources | San Francisco Planning Department | Center for Biodiversity |
| National Park Service | California Air Resources Board | Midpeninsula Regional Open Space | San Francisco Unified School District |
| Bureau of Land Management | California Coastal Commission | Save the Bay | Various four-year and community colleges, including SFSU |
Related Initiatives
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Climate HQ
Climate HQ empowers SFSU’s diverse community to lead in climate justice, developing equity-centered initiatives, training student leaders, and creating sustainable solutions that drive change across campus, California, and beyond.
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Estuary and Ocean Science Center
The Estuary and Ocean Science Center offered hands-on undergraduate and graduate courses in marine biology, estuarine ecology and oceanography.
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Institute for Geographic Information Science
The Institute for Geographic Information Science advances geospatial research and technology, offering GIS certification, CSU-wide collaboration, and cutting-edge training, consulting, and research support.
