The Environmental Sciences major satisfies the growing demand among entry-level students for a rigorous, science-based program that promotes critical thinking and emphasizes environmental problem solving in service to society. The program is designed to prepare graduates who will be highly competitive for entry-level positions in nonprofit and private sectors, and for master’s programs and doctoral research programs in environmental fields. Possible career paths include environmental monitoring, consulting, education, research, and planning, as well as natural resource management, ecology restoration, remediation, water and air quality assessment, sustainability practices, and more. Undergraduates in Environmental Sciences prepare for a variety of career and graduate school opportunities that require a strong background in the natural sciences. Foundational course work in the major includes calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics. Core and elective course work is fulfilled through diverse offerings from both the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Letters & Science.
The Environmental Sciences major can be earned in either the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) or the College of Letters & Science (L&S) under the bachelor of science (BS) or bachelor of arts (BA) degree program. An undergraduate BS degree is offered through both colleges. A BA option is offered through L&S only. Students are encouraged to review the degree requirements for both L&S and CALS and choose the college from which they would prefer to earn their degree; students may choose only one degree "home."
- In CALS, the major is housed in the Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences.
- In L&S, the major is housed in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
The major can be taken as a stand-alone or as a double major with a variety of other majors on campus, including Biology, Community & Environmental Sociology, Life Sciences Communication, foreign language/culture, and a number of other disciplines.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | Must have fewer than 86 credits. |
| Other | Students who do not meet the requirements above or are not in good academic standing should schedule a meeting with CALS Dean on Call (https://go.wisc.edu/g85h79) to discuss exceptions. |
Prospective UW-Madison Students
All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Students interested in this major should select it as the first choice major on their UW–Madison application. Admitted students who enroll at UW-Madison and attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR.
On This Page
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
CALS Graduation Requirements
| Cumulative Credits |
|
| Quality of Work | Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. |
| Residency | Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. |
In addition to the university's general requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements, CALS college requirements, or major requirements. A course may count toward university requirements and a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, a course counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
CALS College Requirements
| CALS First-Year Seminar | 1 credit. See the full list of eligible courses below or use this link: https://go.wisc.edu/calsfirstyearseminars |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 credits with the Ethnic Studies designation. |
| Communication A | Complete either:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning A | Complete either:
|
| Introductory Chemistry | Complete one: |
| CALS International Comparisons | 3 credits. See the full list of eligible courses below or use this link: https://go.wisc.edu/calsinternationalcomparisons |
| Communication B | 1 course with the Communication B designation. |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 1 course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation. |
| Biological Science | 5 credits with the Biological Science designation. |
| Additional Science | 3 credits with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designations. |
| Science Breadth | 3 credits with the Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social Science designations. |
| Humanities | 6 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation. |
| Social Sciences | 3 credits with the Social Sciences designation. |
| Capstone Learning Experience | Each major articulates the required capstone learning experience. |
CALS First-Year Seminars
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AN SCI 135 | Grand Challenges and Career Opportunities in Animal and Dairy Sciences | 1 |
| BIOCHEM 100 | Biochemistry First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COUN PSY 125 | The Wisconsin Experience Seminar | 1 |
| F&W ECOL 101 | Orientation to Wildlife Ecology | 1 |
| F&W ECOL 105 | Environment, Pollutants, and You | 3 |
| GENETICS 155 | Freshman Seminar in Genetics | 1 |
| INTEGSCI 100 | Exploring Biology | 2 |
| INTEGSCI 140 | Exploring Service in STEM | 1 |
| INTER-AG 155 | Issues in Agriculture, Environment, and Life Sciences | 1 |
| LSC 155 | First-Year Seminar in Science Communication | 1 |
| MICROBIO 150 | Microbiomes and Microbiology - First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| PLANTSCI/AGROECOL 100 | First-Year Seminar in Agroecology and Plant Science | 1 |
| PL PATH 155 | Food Frontlines: Security, Sustainability, and Survival | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 155 | First-year Seminar in Soil and Environmental Sciences | 1 |
| Learning Community/Student Group Courses | ||
| The following learning community/student group courses are approved as CALS First-Year Seminars. | ||
| COUN PSY 117 | PEOPLE First Year Seminar | 1 |
| INTEGSCI 110 | BioHouse Seminar: Biology for the 21st Century | 1 |
| INTER-AG 117 | GreenHouse Roots Seminar | 1 |
| INTER-AG 140 | CALS QuickStart: Foundations | 1 |
| INTER-AG 175 | WISE Seminar | 1 |
CALS International Comparisons
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 3 credit requirement may be fulfilled as either a stand-alone 3 credit course or as a set of courses as listed below. | ||
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E 352 | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy (approved for enrollments Summer 2021 and later) | 4 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/INTL BUS 462 | Latin American Economic Development | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 477 | Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 370 | Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations (approved for enrollments Summer 2021 and later) | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 341 | Labor in Global Food Systems (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| CSCS 500 | Global Health and Communities: From Research to Praxis | 3 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 201 | Insects and Human Culture-a Survey Course in Entomology | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 205 | Our Planet, Our Health (approved for enrollments Fall 2026 and later) | 3 |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 371 | Medical Entomology: Biology of Vector and Vector-borne Diseases | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST 100 | Forests of the World (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| LSC 251 | Science, Media and Society (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| PL PATH/BOTANY 123 | Plants, Parasites, and People | 3 |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 370 | World Vegetable Crops | 3 |
| The following study abroad courses fulfill the CALS International Comparisons requirement. Only the specific course numbers and titles listed, including Topics titles (in parentheses), are approved to meet the CALS International Comparisons requirement. | ||
| BIOCHEM 307 | Study Abroad: Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan (approved for enrollments Fall 2026 and later) | 3 |
| NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | Global Health Field Experience (UW Mobile Clinics and Health Care in Uganda) | 3 |
| INTER-AG 321 & INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar and Global Health Field Experience (UW Global Health Community Health and Asset-Based Community Development in Sri Lanka) | 3 |
| INTER-AG 321 & INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar and Global Health Field Experience (UW Agriculture, Health and Nutrition in Uganda) | 3 |
| INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Global Health Field Experience (UW Health, Education and Tanzanian Culture) | 3 |
Requirements for the Major
Courses may not double count within the major (unless specifically noted otherwise), but courses counted toward the major requirements may also be used to satisfy a university requirement and/or a college requirement. A minimum of 15 credits must be completed in the major that are not used elsewhere.
Mathematics and Statistics
This major requires calculus. Prerequisites may need to be taken before enrollment in calculus. Refer to the Course Guide for information about calculus prerequisites.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 4-10 | |
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 (Recommended) | ||
| Survey of Calculus 1 | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Data Science Modeling I | ||
| Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Total Credits | 7-13 | |
Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Chemistry (complete one of the following options): | 5-10 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Chemical Principles II | ||
| Organic Chemistry (complete one of the following options): | 3 | |
| Elementary Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Total Credits | 8-13 | |
Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 10 | |
| Introductory Biology and Introductory Biology | ||
| General Botany and Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory and Cellular Biology and Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Physics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| General Physics (Recommended) | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| Total Credits | 4-5 | |
Major Foundation
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Geology | ||
| Soil: Ecosystem and Resource | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Major Core
Complete at least one course and 3 credits from each of the following areas:
Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology (Recommended) | 4 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENTOM 450 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| ENTOM 490 | Biodiversity and Global Change | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 510 | Ecology of Fishes | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 511 | Ecology of Fishes Lab | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 410 | Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 521 | Birds of Southern Wisconsin | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 551 | Forest Ecology Lab | 1 |
| F&W ECOL/LAND ARC/ZOOLOGY 565 | Principles of Landscape Ecology | 2 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| PLANTSCI 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 323 | Soil Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 304 | Marine Biology | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315 | Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
Physical Environment
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM OCN 310 | Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Ocean I | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 322 | Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG/GEOSCI 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 355 | Introduction to Air Quality | 3 |
| ATM OCN 425 | Global Climate Processes | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 520 | Bioclimatology | 3 |
| ATM OCN/PLANTSCI 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 3 |
| BSE 365 | Measurements and Instrumentation for Biological Systems | 3 |
| BSE/ENVIR ST 367 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| BSE 460 | Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 320 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/G L E 421 | Environmental Sustainability Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 423 | Air Pollution Effects, Measurement and Control | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 502 | Air Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOSCI 320 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| GEOG/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 332 | Global Warming: Science and Impacts | 3 |
| GEOG/BOTANY 338 | Environmental Biogeography | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOSCI 420 | Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 304 | Geobiology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 551 | Paleoceanography | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 627 | Hydrogeology | 3-4 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 629 | Contaminant Hydrogeology | 3 |
| POP HLTH/ENVIR ST 471 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 302 | Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory | 1 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 621 | Soil and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
Geospatial Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM OCN 575 | Climatological Analysis | 3-4 |
| COMP SCI 220 | Data Science Programming I | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/CIV ENGR/LAND ARC 556 | Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 458 | Environmental Data Science | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/G L E/GEOSCI/LAND ARC 371 | Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOSCI/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST/G L E 444 | Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | 2 |
| LAND ARC 311 | Introduction to Design Frameworks and Spatial Technologies | 2 |
| LAND ARC 511 | Geodesign Methods and Applications | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 585 | Using R for Soil and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 695 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources | 3 |
Environmental Policy & Social Perspectives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 246 | Climate Change Economics and Policy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/ENVIR ST 343 | Environmental Economics | 3-4 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST/GEOG 345 | Caring for Nature in Native North America | 3 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/CURRIC/ENVIR ST 405 | Education for Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/GEOG 434 | People, Wildlife and Landscapes | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 349 | Climate Change Governance | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 439 | US Environmental Policy and Regulation | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/PHILOS 441 | Environmental Ethics | 3-4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 3-4 |
| GEOG/URB R PL 305 | Introduction to the City | 3-4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/HISTORY 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 537 | Culture and Environment | 4 |
| GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 411 | Energy Resources | 3 |
| LSC 340 | Misinformation, Fake News, and Correcting False Beliefs about Science | 3 |
| URB R PL/ECON/ENVIR ST/POLI SCI 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
Major Electives
Students may consult with their environmental sciences advisor regarding pathways to complete the major electives requirement. Students must complete 12 credits of electives either by:
- distributing 12 credits across at least three categories;
- focusing 12 credits in a single category.
Distributed Electives
Students choosing the Distributed Electives path must complete a total of 12 credits of Environmental Sciences Electives from the categories below, including at least one course from each category (Ecology, Physical Environment, Geospatial Sciences).
Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| ENTOM 450 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM 490 | Biodiversity and Global Change | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 510 | Ecology of Fishes | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 511 | Ecology of Fishes Lab | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 410 | Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 448 | Disturbance Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 521 | Birds of Southern Wisconsin | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 551 | Forest Ecology Lab | 1 |
| F&W ECOL/LAND ARC/ZOOLOGY 565 | Principles of Landscape Ecology | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 660 | Climate Change Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| PLANTSCI 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 323 | Soil Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 304 | Marine Biology | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315 | Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
| ZOOLOGY 320 | Field Marine Biology | 3 |
Physical Environment
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM OCN 310 | Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Ocean I | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 322 | Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG/GEOSCI 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 355 | Introduction to Air Quality | 3 |
| ATM OCN 425 | Global Climate Processes | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 520 | Bioclimatology | 3 |
| ATM OCN/PLANTSCI 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 3 |
| BSE 365 | Measurements and Instrumentation for Biological Systems | 3 |
| BSE/ENVIR ST 367 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| BSE 460 | Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 311 | Hydroscience | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 320 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 324 | Environmental Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/G L E 421 | Environmental Sustainability Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 423 | Air Pollution Effects, Measurement and Control | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 502 | Air Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOSCI 320 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| GEOG/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 332 | Global Warming: Science and Impacts | 3 |
| GEOG/BOTANY 338 | Environmental Biogeography | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOSCI 420 | Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 304 | Geobiology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 551 | Paleoceanography | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 627 | Hydrogeology | 3-4 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 629 | Contaminant Hydrogeology | 3 |
| POP HLTH/ENVIR ST 471 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 302 | Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory | 1 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 621 | Soil and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
Geospatial Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM OCN 575 | Climatological Analysis | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/CIV ENGR/LAND ARC 556 | Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 458 | Environmental Data Science | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 378 | Introduction to Geocomputing | 4 |
| GEOG 523 | Advanced Paleoecology: Species Responses to Past Environmental Change | 3 |
| GEOG 560 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| GEOG 578 | GIS Applications | 4 |
| GEOG 579 | GIS and Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GEOSCI/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST/G L E 444 | Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | 2 |
| LAND ARC 311 | Introduction to Design Frameworks and Spatial Technologies | 2 |
| LAND ARC 511 | Geodesign Methods and Applications | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 585 | Using R for Soil and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 695 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources | 3 |
Focused Electives
Students choosing the Focused Electives path must complete a total of 12 credits of Environmental Sciences Electives from one of the following categories (Ecology, Physical Environment, Geospatial Sciences, or Environmental Policy & Social Perspectives).
Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| ENTOM 450 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM 490 | Biodiversity and Global Change | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 510 | Ecology of Fishes | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 511 | Ecology of Fishes Lab | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 410 | Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 448 | Disturbance Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 521 | Birds of Southern Wisconsin | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 551 | Forest Ecology Lab | 1 |
| F&W ECOL/LAND ARC/ZOOLOGY 565 | Principles of Landscape Ecology | 2 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 660 | Climate Change Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| PLANTSCI 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 323 | Soil Biology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 304 | Marine Biology | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315 | Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
| ZOOLOGY 320 | Field Marine Biology | 3 |
Physical Environment
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM OCN 310 | Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Ocean I | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG 322 | Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST/GEOG/GEOSCI 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 355 | Introduction to Air Quality | 3 |
| ATM OCN 425 | Global Climate Processes | 3 |
| ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 520 | Bioclimatology | 3 |
| ATM OCN/PLANTSCI 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 3 |
| BSE 365 | Measurements and Instrumentation for Biological Systems | 3 |
| BSE/ENVIR ST 367 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| BSE 460 | Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 311 | Hydroscience | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 320 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 324 | Environmental Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/G L E 421 | Environmental Sustainability Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 423 | Air Pollution Effects, Measurement and Control | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 502 | Air Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOSCI 320 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| GEOG/ATM OCN/ENVIR ST 332 | Global Warming: Science and Impacts | 3 |
| GEOG/BOTANY 338 | Environmental Biogeography | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOSCI 420 | Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 304 | Geobiology | 3 |
| GEOSCI 551 | Paleoceanography | 3 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 627 | Hydrogeology | 3-4 |
| GEOSCI/G L E 629 | Contaminant Hydrogeology | 3 |
| POP HLTH/ENVIR ST 471 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 302 | Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory | 1 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 621 | Soil and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
Geospatial Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM OCN 575 | Climatological Analysis | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/CIV ENGR/LAND ARC 556 | Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 458 | Environmental Data Science | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 378 | Introduction to Geocomputing | 4 |
| GEOG 523 | Advanced Paleoecology: Species Responses to Past Environmental Change | 3 |
| GEOG 560 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| GEOG 578 | GIS Applications | 4 |
| GEOG 579 | GIS and Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GEOSCI/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST/G L E 444 | Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | 2 |
| LAND ARC 311 | Introduction to Design Frameworks and Spatial Technologies | 2 |
| LAND ARC 511 | Geodesign Methods and Applications | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 585 | Using R for Soil and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 695 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources | 3 |
Environmental Policy & Social Perspectives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 246 | Climate Change Economics and Policy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/ENVIR ST 343 | Environmental Economics | 3-4 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST/GEOG 345 | Caring for Nature in Native North America | 3 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/CURRIC/ENVIR ST 405 | Education for Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/GEOG 434 | People, Wildlife and Landscapes | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 349 | Climate Change Governance | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 439 | US Environmental Policy and Regulation | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/PHILOS 441 | Environmental Ethics | 3-4 |
| GEOG/URB R PL 305 | Introduction to the City | 3-4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 3-4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/HISTORY 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST 537 | Culture and Environment | 4 |
| GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 411 | Energy Resources | 3 |
| LSC 340 | Misinformation, Fake News, and Correcting False Beliefs about Science | 3 |
| URB R PL/ECON/ENVIR ST/POLI SCI 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
Capstone
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIV ENGR 515 | Hydroclimatology for Water Resources Management | 3 |
| BOTANY/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 575 | Assessment of Environmental Impact | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/A A E 430 | Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers | 3 |
| LAND ARC 668 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| PL PATH 315 | Plant Microbiomes | 4 |
| PLANTSCI 510 | Senior Capstone Experience | 2 |
| SOIL SCI 486 | Soil Management | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate understanding of Environmental Science fundamentals in the context of biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, and physics.
- Demonstrate a quantitative and qualitative understanding of the ecological relationships (material and energetic) between organisms, both as individuals and in groups, and their biotic and abiotic environment. This may include processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms.
- Demonstrate a quantitative and qualitative understanding of the physical, largely abiotic, conditions (e.g. climate, water, soil, air, noise, greenspace, etc.) of the environment. The physical environment can include natural or managed settings such as urban environments.
- Demonstrate a quantitative and qualitative understanding of geospatial processes and information as it relates to the environment including how to collect, interpret, and analyze geospatial information regarding the features of the Earth's surface. These technologies may include geographic information systems (GIS), the global positioning system (GPS), digital maps, and satellite based remote sensing.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of relationships that focus on the organization and implementation of laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues and sustainability and their effect on society. This includes how human behaviors influences, and are also influenced by, the natural environment.
- Apply skills in critical thinking, problem identification and resolution of a complex environmental issues that require interdisciplinary solutions and team-based work.
- Articulate the role of environmental science in one or more focused areas of a specific environmental discipline (e.g. geology, soils, atmosphere, water, plants, animals).
- Demonstrate expertise in organizing and presenting (written and oral) scientific information to both lay and professional audiences.
Four-Year-Plan
Sample Environmental Sciences Four-Year Plan
Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 103 or 109 | 4-5 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| MATH 114 | 5 | MATH 221 or 211 | 5 |
| SOIL SCI 250 | 3 | General Education | 6 |
| CALS First Year Seminar | 1 | ||
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 (or BOLOGY/BOTANY 130) | 5 | BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152 (or BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102) | 5 |
| CHEM 341 or 343 | 3 | STAT 371 | 3 |
| CALS International Comparisons | 3 | General Education | 6-7 |
| General Education | 3-4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYSICS 207, 201, or 103 | 4-5 | Major Core Courses | 6 |
| Major Core Courses | 6 | General Education | 3 |
| Electives | 5-7 | Electives | 6-7 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Major Electives | 6 | Major Electives | 6 |
| Capstone | 2-4 | Electives | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Advising
Students wishing to declare the Environmental Sciences major should meet with an academic advisor. Contact information for advisors can be found here.
CALS undergraduate students interested in pursuing the Environmental Sciences major in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences should contact Zach Wyman, zwyman@wisc.edu or 608-265-2925.
L&S undergraduate students interested in pursuing the Environmental Sciences major in the College of Letters & Science should contact the Sabrina Manero, smanero@wisc.edu.
Careers
A major in Environmental Sciences serves as excellent preparation for careers of great diversity, including environmental modeling, agricultural scientist, botanist, ecologist, park ranger, agricultural technician, air and water quality manager, environmental analyst, air pollution analyst, environmental consultant, environmental educator, GIS analyst, project manager, hazardous waste manager, hydrologist, environmental lawyer, soil conservation technician, and natural resource specialist. For more info about careers, please visit our website.
Wisconsin Experience
As an interdisciplinary cross-college major, students majoring in Environmental Sciences are involved in a wide array of opportunities across campus. Students are highly encouraged to complement their coursework with out-of-classroom experiences such as research, volunteering, internships, and study abroad.
Many students are also involved in environmental and sustainability organizations.