SlugAtlasUC Santa Cruz

ESCI 30Biological Principles of Environmental Sciences

5 creditsGE PE-EUndergraduateStudent Option

Introduction to biology and ecology for environmental sciences, focusing on the role of biological organisms within the Earth system. Topics span molecular/organismal interactions, such as photosynthesis and respiration, to global biogeochemical cycles including the role of microbes, net community production, and contaminant distributions.

  • From the Instructor: This course does not require you to purchase or obtain any texts or other resources.

Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.

When it runs

Fall 2026Open Fall 2026

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Lecture
Tue Thu 9:50am–11:25am
Kresge Acad 3201E. RahavOpen 49/135

Summer 2026Open Summer 2026

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Lecture
TBA
OnlineM. KucukosmanogluOpen 29/50

Fall 2025Open Fall 2025

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Lecture
Mon Wed Fri 2:40pm–3:45pm
Thim Lecture 001A. FredstonClosed 103/103

Who teaches it

InstructorRatingDifficultyWould take againReviews
Murat Kucukosmanoglu5.0 / 51.8 / 5100%4
Alexa Fredston5.0 / 51.2 / 5100%5

From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.

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