Summer Springboard
Environmental Science
ON THE CAMPUS OF CAL POLY SLO
LEARN ALL ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY ANALYSIS THROUGH REAL-WORLD PROBLEM-SOLVING AND HANDS-ON TEAM PROJECTS.
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Environmental Science @ Cal Poly SLO
- Understand core concepts in natural resource management, ecology, environmental policy, and sustainability.
- Analyze environmental issues through scientific, social, economic, and environmental justice lenses.
- Apply valuation techniques and policy analysis to develop and compare solutions for specific environmental issues.
- Create a policy brief that communicates the issue, evidence, and recommended actions to policymakers.
Summer Springboard
Environmental Science
About This Course
This program introduces students to environmental science and natural resource management; beginning with an introduction to core aspects of environmental management, including goals, stakeholders, tools, and trade-offs, and a survey of various environmental problems across urban and natural systems (air quality, forestry, waste, water, biodiversity, energy, and land use). Students will learn about natural resource valuation techniques and environmental policy analysis to compare solution pathways.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students will work in teams to investigate a local environmental challenge, using guided site observations and curated datasets.
Career Exploration
Students will visit local examples of sustainable resource development and learn how to understand and impact environmental policy.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“Summer Springboard was such a great time and I believe I have met some lifelong friends here. I really got to know the career path I want to pursue.”
– Sophia W. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Environmental Science
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Cao is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development. Her research focuses on resource governance and sustainable energy transitions. Her work integrates community engagement and policy analysis to advance equitable energy solutions. She has worked at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) for three years.
DR. YU CAO
“The Summer Springboard program is a great chance to learn more about different fields of education and the college experience, while also meeting new people.”
– E. Watanabe | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Environmental Science
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 5 – July 17, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
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| Residential Tuition: $5,398 |
| Commuter Tuition: $2,998 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
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| City: San Luis Obispo |
| State: California |
| Campus: Cal Poly SLO |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, UW Foster and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.