B.S. in Environmental Science

Senior Practicum

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The Senior Practicum stands as a pinnacle program for all Environmental Science majors at IoES, offering one of the most exceptional educational experiences in the field of environmental science and policy worldwide.

Crafted to propel our students into impactful careers, the Practicum has garnered high praise from alumni, often hailed as the highlight of their UCLA journey. In many instances, students transition from the program to full-time positions with the clients themselves.

The structure of the program involves assembling teams of five to seven students, who are then paired with a faculty member or environmental expert. These teams are subsequently connected with a diverse array of clients, ranging from the Natural Resources Defense Council to the U.S. National Park Service to Northrop Grumman.

Real World Solutions

ucla students help pacific island economies grow sustainably

Clients from across the nation come to IoES with environmental systems and sustainability problems. Students conceive and deliver science-based solutions, working in small groups with support from faculty and outside experts. The Practicum empowers our students to take the lead in finding answers to critical questions, such as:

  • The impact of hydraulic fracturing spills on groundwater.
  • The link between industrial livestock operations and antibiotic resistance.
  • The potential of spectral light to reduce malaria-carrying insect populations.
  • Strategies to protect free-ranging wildlife from pest control poisons.
  • The pathway for a mid-sized California city to achieve carbon neutrality.

View our Projects

Real World Clients

china’s belt and road initiative: global opportunity or climate disaster?

Our partners include government agencies, non-profits, and businesses such as the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Walt Disney Imagineering and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Many clients return year after year, benefiting from the Practicum’s valuable insights and resources. In turn, they play a crucial role in educating the next generation of environmental problem-solvers.

Notable achievements:

  • Mapped potential groundwater pollution in Maywood, CA, advancing research on lead and manganese contamination.
  • Investigated antibiotic resistant bacteria in coastal waters, raising awareness of potential health risks.
  • Studied urban park preferences in Los Angeles, highlighting the importance of community-based park planning.
  • Explored the use of drones for enforcing low-sulfur fuel standards in California waters, reducing air pollution.
  • Developed a methodology for assessing co-benefits of carbon offset projects related to livestock operations, incentivizing sustainable practices.

Interested in Becoming a Practicum Client?

2022-23 Partners

  • L.A. County Department of Public Health
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Center for Biological Diversity
  • California Office of Health Hazard Assessment
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The City of Los Angeles
  • The Bay Foundation
  • Agriculture for Africa
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • Los Angeles Waterkeeper
  • Sustainable Production Alliance
  • LARC – The Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability
  • WILDCOAST
  • City Plants

2021-22 Partners

  • L.A. County Department of Public Health
  • NASA/JPL
  • South Coast Air Quality Management District
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • ActiveSGV
  • Agriculture for Africa
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • Los Angeles Waterkeeper
  • Oceanswell
  • Pueblo Action Alliance
  • Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)
  • Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee
  • Sustainable Production Alliance
  • Westwood Greenway

2020-21 Partners

  • California Public Utilities Commission
  • The City of Los Angeles
  • The City of Santa Monica
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • The Bay Foundation
  • Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve
  • Early Head Start/Allies for Every Child
  • HBO
  • IBM and the Nature Conservancy
  • Los Angeles Waterkeeper
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • WildEarth Guardians

2019-20 Partners

  • The ADEPT Group, Inc.
  • The Bay Foundation
  • Bludso’s Bar & Que Restaurant
  • Centro de Ecología Aplicada de Neuquén and The Nature Conservancy
  • Conservation International
  • La Brea Tar Pits and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
  • SEED LA
  • Sustainable Conservation
  • Taylor Guitars
  • UCLA IoES
  • WildEarth Guardians

2018-19 Partners

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • The ADEPT Group, Inc.
  • The Bay Foundation
  • Bludso’s Bar & Que Restaurant and the J Howard Restaurant Group
  • The Blue Prosperity Program at UCLA
  • Los Angeles Waterkeeper
  • Los Cerritos Channel Watershed Group
  • Mountains Restoration Trust
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Producers Guild of America – Green (PGA Green)
  • Surfrider Foundation
  • Taylor Guitars

2017-18 Partners

  • L.A. County Department of Public Health
  • City of Los Angeles
  • Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
  • City of Santa Monica
  • The ADEPT Group, Inc.
  • The Bay Foundation
  • Environmental Charter Schools
  • Fetzer Wineries
  • Gimball-Prod
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Social Justice Learning Institute
  • Taylor Guitars
  • Theodore Payne Foundation
  • TreePeople

2016-17 Partners

  • The Bay Foundation
  • Council for Watershed Health
  • National Park Service – Sequoia National Park
  • National Park Service – Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
  • STAND L.A.
  • SNAPP (Science for Nature and People Partnership)
  • Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
  • Sustainable Conservation
  • Taylor Guitars
  • Tejon Ranch Conservancy
  • TreePeople
  • USC Sea Grant