Besides being home to the legendary Hollywood, Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States and the largest in the state of California. It has hosted the Olympics games twice before and is divided into 80 districts and neighborhoods. The city is home to three public universities and a host of other institutions.

Programs in environmental biology often consider multiple topics in the life sciences to enhance a student's understanding of the way life interacts with outside conditions. Professionals who use these skills include park service officers, researchers and development planners.

Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: state, local, and federal, in that order. The common requirements to study at a higher education level in United States will include your admissions essay (also known as the statement of purpose or personal statement), transcript of records, recommendation/reference letters, language tests

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.