Senior Practicum

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?

2023-24 Partners

AC Milan
Aquarium of the Pacific
The City of Santa Monica
Critical Ecology Lab
Esperanza Community Housing
Farm Sanctuary / Socially Responsible Agriculture Project
Friends of Griffith Park
IoES Sage Hill
Los Angeles Waterkeeper
National Forestry School of Cameroon in Mbalmayo
The Nature Conservancy
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sky Chefs
University of the West Indies

Watch the Final Presentations of the 2023-24 Environmental Science Practicum

Part 1

Part 2

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

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

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

B.S. in Environmental Science