California State University, San Marcos
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Environmental Studies Program at California State University San Marcos provides a collaborative setting for faculty, students, and community partners to study environmental and land-use issues. The degree provides introductory training in physical sciences, life sciences, social sciences, land-use planning, geographic information systems (GIS), environmental policy and law, research methods, and environmental arts and humanities.

The multidisciplinary core of the degree comprises four general areas:

Life and Physical Sciences provides the scientific background for the major, consisting of courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology.
Social Sciences and Policy exposes students to institutional and legal frameworks of environmental policy, and to processes by which policy is established.
Research Methods prepares students with research tools - GIS and research methods - necessary for applied work in the professional arena, and also for graduate studies.
Environmental Arts and Humanities encourages students to think critically, ethically, and aesthetically about the environment.

In our American Indian Studies (AIS) department, sustainability, climate stewardship, resilience and environmental justice are not merely topics of discussion—they are the essence of our curriculum. Each course is an exploration of the land and its profound connection to the cultures, identities, and sovereignties of tribal nations. We delve into Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and land management with the understanding that these are not just academic concepts but living practices that sustain the American Indian way of life.

Our approach is holistic, recognizing that land is not a backdrop but a central character in the story of tribal communities. It is through this lens that we examine climate change—acknowledging that Indigenous peoples are not only disproportionately affected but also hold key insights into resilience and adaptation.

Collaboration is at the heart of our work. The California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC) is a vital partner in fostering research and community service that reinforce tribal sovereignty and culture. These efforts are rooted in the land, aiming to preserve and rejuvenate it as a cultural lifeline. Again, we do this in all of courses through the lens of arts, politics, history, law, etc.
Our faculty and students engage in projects that are as diverse as they are critical: from decolonizing diets to preserving flora and fauna, from revitalizing ecological practices to advocating for justice. These endeavors are supported by grants that recognize the importance of our mission.

A comprehensive understanding of place-based issues and tribal sovereignty is not optional but a prerequisite for our faculty. In this way, we ensure that our students emerge not just with knowledge, but with a commitment to the land and its people, equipped to contribute meaningfully to the continuity of American Indian legacies. In the American Indian Studies (AIS) department at CSUSM, we embrace the university's definition of sustainability by weaving it into the fabric of our curriculum. Each course is an exploration of the interconnectivity between societies, all living beings, and ecosystems. We approach sustainability not just as an environmental concern but as a holistic commitment to fostering socially just, ecologically sound, and resilient communities that honor diversity and innovation.

Our teaching philosophy and SLOs are grounded in the recognition that fiscal stewardship and the well-being of all life are interdependent. Through our coursework, we explore how traditional indigenous practices contribute to health and vitality, ensuring that these lessons serve as a guide for creating a positive impact both locally and globally. Emphasizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems, which are intrinsically aligned with the tenets of sustainability.

We understand that true sustainability transcends generations, and we prepare our students to carry forward these principles into the future. By centering our teachings on land and its integral role in tribal nations’ identities and sovereignties, we are training our students to become leaders who can address the complex sustainability challenges of our time.

In partnership with the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC) and our Indigenous Climate and Environmental Collaborative Center (ICECC), whose mission is to champion and weave Indigenous knowledge into the fabric of climate and environmental research, initiatives, and advocacy, fostering a holistic approach to ecological stewardship across diverse populations by embracing the knowledge of Indigenous peoples, the ICECC leverages aspires to be a beacon of hope, resilience, and innovation in the global journey toward a sustainable and harmonious relationship with our planet. AIS, CICSC and ICECC’s research and community service projects are demonstrations to our commitment to sustainability. These projects, courses and initiatives do more than just maintain tribal cultures and sovereignties—they rejuvenate them, embodying the university's vision of ecological soundness and social justice. Our faculty are well-versed in these principles, ensuring that our department not only meets but exemplifies CSUSM’s sustainability goals in every course we offer. Below is our faculty and courses whose research, courses includes sustainability, climate change, and/or similar content.

With a changing climate and mounting concern about “sustainability” across a wide spectrum of disciplines, the Minor in Sustainability provides students the opportunity to explore sustainable development, climate change, business sustainability, socio-ecological resilience, and related issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Students choose courses from the Environmental Studies Program’s list of approved courses in the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Physical and Life Sciences.

It is an excellent addition to any major, including Anthropology, Business Administration, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Communication, Ethnic Studies, Global Studies, History, Liberal Studies, Political Science, Sociology, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Students enrolled in the Environmental Studies major cannot complete the Minor.