The Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies is one of the world’s leading institutions for environmental studies and is the administrative home for the major. The Environmental Studies major offers a robust and interdisciplinary curriculum that spans all contemporary disciplines that touch upon the environment. The curriculum includes biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences, as well as humanities, history, health, and modern culture.
The Environmental Studies major provides unique opportunities for undergraduate students to broaden their studies through interdisciplinary coursework related to the environment. The major must always be completed in tandem with a second major. This requirement is unique to the Environmental Studies major and allows undergraduates the opportunity to both broaden and deepen the focus of their other major with a perspective on the environment that spans a wide range of topics and involves varying depths of application.
The major includes experiential learning opportunities via the capstone course and the field requirement and encourages global interaction through study or internships abroad. With numerous travel abroad possibilities and ongoing access to a large selection of extracurricular events, graduates have countless combinations available to them. The outcome is a solid academic foundation in the study of the environment and access to a network of multidisciplinary problem-solving colleagues.
In today’s world, the program prepares students to address modern challenges using interdisciplinary problem-solving approaches, applying both an understanding of, and practical experience beyond, a single academic discipline. Employers purposefully seek individuals with interdisciplinary and international preparation, and environmental studies students are ready to meet that need.
The Nelson Institute also offers two undergraduate certificates:
Environmental Studies Certificate
Sustainability Certificate
How to Get in
Declaring the Major
Students interested in declaring the Environmental Studies major should request a major declaration appointment. Information about declaring the major can be found at undergraduate advising.
Students who earn the Environmental Studies major may not also earn the Environmental Studies Certificate.
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. |
School/College Requirements
The Environmental Studies major is always paired with another major. Please refer to the School/College degree requirements of the other major to learn about degree requirements or consult an advisor.
Requirements for the Major
The environmental studies major provides students with an academically rigorous course sequence that encompasses introductory through advanced understandings of the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies. Students must have a declared primary major, and are allowed to apply a portion of course work from that major for the environmental studies major, making it possible to complete their degree within four years.
- 30 credits in the major as defined below.
- Declare and complete a primary major. Students must have a primary major declared before reaching senior standing (86 credits) or the environmental studies major may be canceled.
- At least 15 credits taken for the environmental studies major must be distinct, and not also meeting minimum requirements in another major.
- Students outside the College of Letters & Science may have to meet additional overlap requirements.
Foundation (12 Credits)
One course from each of the following four areas. Courses applied to Foundation cannot also be used in Theme or Capstone.
Environmental Humanities (3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST 113 | Environmental Studies: Environmental Humanities | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI/HISTORY 125 | Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ART HIST/GEOG/HISTORY/LAND ARC 239 | Making the American Landscape | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/RELIG ST 270 | The Environment: Religion & Ethics | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ENVIR ST/GEOG 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 465 | Global Environmental History | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/CLASSICS 488 | Greeks, Romans and the Natural Environment | 3 |
Environmental Social Science (3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST 112 | Environmental Studies: Social Science Perspectives | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 139 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 215 | Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/A A E 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
Environmental Physical Science (3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/GEOSCI 106 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 120 | Introduction to the Earth System | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ILS 126 | Principles of Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 127 | Physical Systems of the Environment | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/SOIL SCI 230 | Soil: Ecosystem and Resource | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ILS 255 | Introduction to Sustainability Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOG 332 | Global Warming: Science and Impacts | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOG/GEOSCI 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| ATM OCN 100 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| ATM OCN 101 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| ATM OCN/BSE/SOIL SCI 132 | Water and People | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 121 | Sustainability Engineering for Non-Engineers | 3 |
| PHYSICS 115 | Energy and Climate | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 3 |
Environmental Biological Science (3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST 251 | Ecology and the Global Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 260 | Introductory Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 413 | Preserving Nature | 3 |
| BOTANY 240 | Plants and Humans | 3 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| GEOSCI 110 | Evolution and Extinction | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
Theme (15 credits)
Five courses and 15 credits from any of the areas below. Courses may be concentrated in one area or distributed across multiple areas. Courses applied to the thematic areas cannot also be used in Foundation or Capstone.
Biodiversity
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 100 | Forests of the World | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ENTOM 201 | Insects and Human Culture-a Survey Course in Entomology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 251 | Ecology and the Global Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 260 | Introductory Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 375 | Field Ecology Workshop | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 413 | Preserving Nature | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/GEOG 434 | People, Wildlife and Landscapes | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 613 | Reproducibility Crises and Open Science in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| BIOCORE 181 | Becoming a Scientist: Doing Biology Research | 2 |
| BOTANY 240 | Plants and Humans | 3 |
| BOTANY/GEOG 338 | Environmental Biogeography | 3 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 402 | Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification and Ecology | 3 |
| BOTANY 422 | Plant Geography | 3 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 450 | Midwestern Ecological Issues: A Case Study Approach | 2 |
| BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 672 | Historical Ecology | 2 |
| ENTOM 344 | From Flowers to Food: Pollinator Ecology and Conservation | 3 |
| ENTOM 490 | Biodiversity and Global Change | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 110 | Living with Wildlife - Animals, Habitats, and Human Interactions | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 448 | Disturbance Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/SURG SCI 548 | Diseases of Wildlife | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 550 | Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 551 | Forest Ecology Lab | 1 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 660 | Climate Change Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG 538 | The Humid Tropics: Ecology, Subsistence, and Development | 4 |
| GEOSCI 110 | Evolution and Extinction | 4 |
| ZOOLOGY 333 | Marine Ecology | 2 |
| ZOOLOGY/F&W ECOL 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/F&W ECOL 521 | Birds of Southern Wisconsin | 3 |
Climate
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOSCI 102 | Climate and Climate Change | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOG 131 | Climate Change, Climate Action: The Social Dimensions of Climate Change | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN 171 | Global Change: Atmospheric Issues and Problems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOG 322 | Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOG 332 | Global Warming: Science and Impacts | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN/GEOG/GEOSCI 335 | Climatic Environments of the Past | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 349 | Climate Change Governance | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN 355 | Introduction to Air Quality | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ATM OCN 520 | Bioclimatology | 3 |
| A A E 246 | Climate Change Economics and Policy | 3 |
| ATM OCN 100 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| ATM OCN 101 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| ATM OCN 425 | Global Climate Processes | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 525 | Case Studies Exploring Infrastructure Sustainability and Climate Change | 3 |
| ED POL 320 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Education | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 660 | Climate Change Ecology | 3 |
| KINES 513 | Climate Change and Health Disparities | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 211 | Soils and Climate Change | 2 |
Energy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/BSE 367 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOSCI 411 | Energy Resources | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/A A E/CIV ENGR/URB R PL 561 | Energy Markets | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/A A E/ECON/URB R PL 671 | Energy Economics | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 371 | Energy, Resources and Economics | 3 |
| BSE 460 | Biorefining: Energy and Products from Renewable Resources | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/G L E 535 | Wind Energy Balance-of-Plant Design | 3 |
| E C E 356 | Electric Power Processing for Alternative Energy Systems | 3 |
| M E 461 | Thermal Systems Modeling | 3 |
| M E/N E 565 | Power Plant Technology | 3 |
| N E 571 | Economic and Environmental Aspects of Nuclear Energy | 3 |
| PHYSICS 115 | Energy and Climate | 3 |
Food and Agriculture
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/AGROECOL/C&E SOC/ENTOM 103 | Agroecology: An Introduction to the Ecology of Food and Agriculture | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| A A E/C&E SOC/SOC 340 | Issues in Food Systems | 3-4 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E/PL PATH/PLANTSCI 367 | Introduction to Organic Agriculture: Production, Markets, and Policy | 3 |
| AGROECOL 303 | Agroecological Systems: Working Towards Sustainability | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| AN SCI 210 | You and Your Food: Farm to Table | 2 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 222 | Food, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 360 | Sustainable and Socially Just Consumption | 3 |
| ENTOM 344 | From Flowers to Food: Pollinator Ecology and Conservation | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 439 | Foodways | 3 |
| GEN&WS 472 | Food for Thought: An Intersectional Approach | 3 |
| INTER-AG 117 | GreenHouse Roots Seminar | 1 |
| MED HIST/PHILOS 344 | Food Ethics | 3 |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 310 | Plant Science and Technology in Cropping Systems | 4 |
| PLANTSCI 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 370 | World Vegetable Crops | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 376 | Tropical Horticultural Systems | 2 |
| PLANTSCI 380 | Indigenous Foodways: Food and Seed Sovereignty | 2 |
| SOIL SCI 211 | Soils and Climate Change | 2 |
Health
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/ENTOM 205 | Our Planet, Our Health | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI 213 | Global Environmental Health: An Interdisciplinary Introduction | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 471 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 502 | Air Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| C&E SOC/POP HLTH 370 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 422 | Elements of Public Health Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 423 | Air Pollution Effects, Measurement and Control | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX/SOIL SCI 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
| GEN&WS/INTL ST 535 | Women's Global Health and Human Rights | 3 |
| HIST SCI/MED HIST/POP HLTH 553 | International Health and Global Society | 3 |
| KINES 513 | Climate Change and Health Disparities | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
History, Culture, Society
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST 112 | Environmental Studies: Social Science Perspectives | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 113 | Environmental Studies: Environmental Humanities | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HIST SCI/HISTORY 125 | Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives through Film | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ILS 126 | Principles of Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 139 | Global Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ENGL 153 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GNS 210 | Cultures of Sustainability: Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ART HIST/GEOG/HISTORY/LAND ARC 239 | Making the American Landscape | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/RELIG ST 270 | The Environment: Religion & Ethics | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/ENGL 305 | Rhetoric, Science, and Public Engagement | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/AMER IND 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 307 | Literature of the Environment: Speaking for Nature | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 308 | Outdoors For All: Inequities in Environmentalism | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 317 | Community Environmental Scholars Program Seminar | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 328 | Environmental History of Europe | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 337 | Nature, Power and Society | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/AMER IND 341 | Indigenous Environmental Communicators | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 369 | Thinking through History with Animals | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY/LEGAL ST 430 | Law and Environment: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/PHILOS 441 | Environmental Ethics | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/SPANISH 445 | Culture and the Environment in the Luso-Hispanic World | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/HISTORY 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY 465 | Global Environmental History | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/CLASSICS 488 | Greeks, Romans and the Natural Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ENGL 533 | Topic in Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 537 | Culture and Environment | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 557 | Development and Environment in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| AGROECOL/HIST SCI 301 | (Horti)Cultural Roots: Human Histories of Plants and Science | 4 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 190 | Introduction to American Indian History | 3-4 |
| AMER IND/GEOG 410 | Critical Indigenous Ecological Knowledges | 3 |
| ANTHRO 477 | Anthropology, Environment, and Development | 3 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 672 | Historical Ecology | 2 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 151 | The North American West to 1850 | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/CURRIC 354 | Race and Language in STEM and Environmental Education | 3 |
| CLASSICS 103 | Nature, Race, and Human Difference | 3 |
| ED POL 197 | Listening to the Land | 3 |
| ED POL 320 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Education | 3 |
| LAND ARC 360 | Earth Partnership Restoration Education: Indigenous Arts & Sciences | 1 |
| PLANTSCI 380 | Indigenous Foodways: Food and Seed Sovereignty | 2 |
| POLI SCI 369 | Environmental Political Thought | 3-4 |
| SCAND ST/ILS/LITTRANS 321 | Humans and Other Animals in Nordic Literature and Film | 3 |
| SPANISH 455 | Contemporary Mayas: A Culture of Nature | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 335 | Human/Animal Relationships: Biological and Philosophical Issues | 3 |
Justice
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST 112 | Environmental Studies: Social Science Perspectives | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 113 | Environmental Studies: Environmental Humanities | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/RELIG ST 270 | The Environment: Religion & Ethics | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/AMER IND 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 308 | Outdoors For All: Inequities in Environmentalism | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 317 | Community Environmental Scholars Program Seminar | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 331 | Energy Justice | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 337 | Nature, Power and Society | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 349 | Climate Change Governance | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 413 | Preserving Nature | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY/LEGAL ST 430 | Law and Environment: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/PHILOS 441 | Environmental Ethics | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 534 | Environmental Governance: Markets, States and Nature | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| AGROECOL/HIST SCI 301 | (Horti)Cultural Roots: Human Histories of Plants and Science | 4 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 190 | Introduction to American Indian History | 3-4 |
| AMER IND/GEOG 410 | Critical Indigenous Ecological Knowledges | 3 |
| ANTHRO 477 | Anthropology, Environment, and Development | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| CHICLA/CURRIC 354 | Race and Language in STEM and Environmental Education | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX/SOIL SCI 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 360 | Sustainable and Socially Just Consumption | 3 |
| ECON 370 | Economics of Poverty and Inequality | 3 |
| GEN&WS 472 | Food for Thought: An Intersectional Approach | 3 |
| LAND ARC 360 | Earth Partnership Restoration Education: Indigenous Arts & Sciences | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY 335 | Human/Animal Relationships: Biological and Philosophical Issues | 3 |
Land Use and Geospatial Analysis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/GEOSCI 106 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 120 | Introduction to the Earth System | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 127 | Physical Systems of the Environment | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/SOIL SCI 230 | Soil: Ecosystem and Resource | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 333 | Green Urbanism | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 337 | Nature, Power and Society | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/G L E/GEOG/GEOSCI/LAND ARC 371 | Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/CIV ENGR/GEOG 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/URB R PL 431 | Planning for Resilience to Natural Hazards | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/GEOG 434 | People, Wildlife and Landscapes | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/CIV ENGR/G L E/GEOSCI 444 | Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | 2 |
| ENVIR ST/ECON/POLI SCI/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/HISTORY 460 | American Environmental History | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 515 | Natural Resources Policy | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG/LAND ARC/URB R PL 532 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Planning | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 537 | Culture and Environment | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 557 | Development and Environment in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 575 | Assessment of Environmental Impact | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC/SOIL SCI 695 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/REAL EST/URB R PL 306 | The Real Estate Process | 3 |
| BOTANY/GEOG 338 | Environmental Biogeography | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 360 | Sustainable and Socially Just Consumption | 3 |
| ECON/REAL EST/URB R PL 420 | Urban and Regional Economics | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 395 | Data and GIS Tools for Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 410 | Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/SOIL SCI 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| GEOG/URB R PL 305 | Introduction to the City | 3-4 |
| GEOG 344 | Changing Landscapes of the American West | 3 |
| GEOG 379 | Geospatial Technologies: Drones, Sensors, and Applications | 3 |
| GEOG 538 | The Humid Tropics: Ecology, Subsistence, and Development | 4 |
| LAND ARC/AMER IND 106 | Earth Partnership Indigenous Arts and Sciences | 3 |
| LAND ARC 211 | Shaping the Built Environment | 3 |
| LAND ARC 311 | Introduction to Design Frameworks and Spatial Technologies | 2 |
| LAND ARC 373 | Mindfulness in Restorative Environments | 3 |
| LAND ARC 380 | Plants for Ecological Design I | 3 |
| LAND ARC 381 | Plants for Ecological Design II | 1 |
| LAND ARC/URB R PL 463 | Evolution of American Planning | 3 |
| LAND ARC 511 | Geodesign Methods and Applications | 3 |
| LAND ARC 668 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC 677 | Cultural Resource Preservation and Landscape History | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 302 | Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| URB R PL 601 | Site Planning | 3 |
Policy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/A A E 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/ENGL 305 | Rhetoric, Science, and Public Engagement | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 309 | People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 336 | International Environmental Governance | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 339 | Conservation and Climate Change - Local to International Strategies | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/A A E/ECON 343 | Environmental Economics | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/AMER IND/GEOG 345 | Caring for Nature in Native North America | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 349 | Climate Change Governance | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/CURRIC 405 | Education for Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 417 | Sustainability Science, Technology and Policy | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/HISTORY/LEGAL ST 430 | Law and Environment: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 439 | US Environmental Policy and Regulation | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/ECON/POLI SCI/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 515 | Natural Resources Policy | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/PHILOS 523 | Philosophical Problems of the Biological Sciences | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 534 | Environmental Governance: Markets, States and Nature | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 557 | Development and Environment in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 613 | Reproducibility Crises and Open Science in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| A A E 352 | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | 4 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/F&W ECOL 430 | Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/F&W ECOL 531 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 573 | Community Organization and Change | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 494 | Civil and Environmental Engineering Decision Making | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX/SOIL SCI 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
| ECON 370 | Economics of Poverty and Inequality | 3 |
| M H R 310 | Challenges & Solutions in Business Sustainability | 3 |
| OTM 370 | Sustainable Approaches to System Improvement | 3 |
| POLI SCI 272 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3-4 |
| PUB AFFR 340 | Intermediate Evidence-Based Policymaking and Communication | 3 |
| PUB AFFR 366 | U.S. Environmental Politics and Public Policy | 3 |
| R M I 650 | Sustainability, Environmental and Social Risk Management | 2-3 |
| REAL EST 651 | Green - Sustainable Development | 3 |
| URB R PL 215 | Welcome to Your Urban Future | 3 |
| URB R PL 551 | Climate Action Planning: Sustainable Transportation | 3 |
Sustainability
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/ILS 126 | Principles of Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST 215 | Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/A A E 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/ILS 255 | Introduction to Sustainability Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/AMER IND 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 326 | Sustainability Tools: Systems Thinking & Life Cycle Assessment | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 333 | Green Urbanism | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 365 | Systems Thinking | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/BSE 367 | Renewable Energy Systems | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/CURRIC 405 | Education for Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 417 | Sustainability Science, Technology and Policy | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/C&E SOC/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI/FOOD SCI/SOIL SCI 472 | Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development | 1 |
| CIV ENGR 121 | Sustainability Engineering for Non-Engineers | 3 |
| CIV ENGR/G L E 421 | Environmental Sustainability Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 495 | Sustainable Building and Materials | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 522 | Hazardous Waste Management | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 525 | Case Studies Exploring Infrastructure Sustainability and Climate Change | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 360 | Sustainable and Socially Just Consumption | 3 |
| DS 555 | Sustainable Fashion Practices - Unraveled & Redesigned | 3 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ED POL 120 | Environmental and Sustainability Education in Wisconsin Policy and Practice | 3 |
| ED POL 320 | Climate Change, Sustainability, and Education | 3 |
| LAND ARC 211 | Shaping the Built Environment | 3 |
| LAND ARC 563 | Designing Sustainable and Resilient Regions | 4 |
| M E 478 | Engineering Sustainability: Linking Technology, Policy, Health, and Economics | 3 |
| M H R 310 | Challenges & Solutions in Business Sustainability | 3 |
| OTM 370 | Sustainable Approaches to System Improvement | 3 |
| PL PATH/PLANTSCI 261 | Sustainable Turfgrass Use and Management | 2 |
| URB R PL 215 | Welcome to Your Urban Future | 3 |
| URB R PL 551 | Climate Action Planning: Sustainable Transportation | 3 |
Water
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 315 | Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 510 | Ecology of Fishes | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 511 | Ecology of Fishes Lab | 2 |
| ATM OCN/GEOSCI 105 | Survey of Oceanography | 3-4 |
| ATM OCN/BSE/SOIL SCI 132 | Water and People | 3 |
| BSE 473 | Water Management Systems | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 311 | Hydroscience | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 320 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 322 | Environmental Engineering Processes | 3 |
| G L E/GEOSCI 627 | Hydrogeology | 3-4 |
| G L E/GEOSCI 629 | Contaminant Hydrogeology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 115 | Freshwater: Past, Present, and Future | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
Multi-thematic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 101 | Forum on the Environment | 1-2 |
| ENVIR ST 202 | Careers in the Environment | 2 |
| ENVIR ST 203 | Special Topics in Environmental Studies | 1-3 |
| ENVIR ST 398 | Independent Study: Sustainability Community Engagement | 1 |
| ENVIR ST 400 | Special Topics in the Environment: Biological Aspects of Envir St | 1-4 |
| ENVIR ST 401 | Special Topics: Environmental Perspectives in the Physical Sciences | 1-4 |
| ENVIR ST 402 | Special Topics: Social Perspectives in Environmental Studies | 1-4 |
| ENVIR ST 403 | Special Topics in Environmental Studies | 1-3 |
| ENVIR ST 404 | Special Topics in Environmental Humanities | 1-3 |
Beyond the Classroom Experience
The Beyond the Classroom experience in the Environmental Studies major can be met in one of the following ways:
- A course from the list below. Courses used to meet the Beyond the Classroom experience requirement may also be used in other areas of the curriculum.
- Participation in an environmental study abroad program where 50% or more of the contact hours are in an out-of-doors situation (see your advisor)
- Participation in an environmental internship or similar experience where 50% or more of the contact hours are in an out-of-doors situation (field form summary must be submitted)
Beyond the Classroom experiences are expected to include one or more of the following: data gathering, reflective out of-classroom experience, practical application, performance/creation related to environment, outdoor experiences, community engagement/service. The Beyond the Classroom experience gives students practice in an outward-facing application of environmental studies and sustainability.
Beyond the Classroom Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST/ILS 126 | Principles of Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/GEOG 127 | Physical Systems of the Environment | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/ILS 255 | Introduction to Sustainability Science | 4 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 375 | Field Ecology Workshop | 3 |
| ENVIR ST 398 | Independent Study: Sustainability Community Engagement | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/CIV ENGR/G L E/GEOSCI 444 | Practical Applications of GPS Surveying | 2 |
| ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 511 | Ecology of Fishes Lab | 2 |
| ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 402 | Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification and Ecology | 3 |
| BOTANY 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| ED POL 120 | Environmental and Sustainability Education in Wisconsin Policy and Practice | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 551 | Forest Ecology Lab | 1 |
| LAND ARC/AMER IND 106 | Earth Partnership Indigenous Arts and Sciences | 3 |
| LAND ARC 360 | Earth Partnership Restoration Education: Indigenous Arts & Sciences | 1 |
| LAND ARC 363 | Earth Partnership: Restoration Education for Equity and Resilience | 3 |
| LAND ARC 373 | Mindfulness in Restorative Environments | 3 |
| LAND ARC 668 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 302 | Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory | 1 |
| ZOOLOGY 316 | Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | 2-3 |
Capstone requirement (3 Credits)
3 credits from:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIR ST 600 | Environmental Studies Capstone | 3 |
Residence & Quality of Work in the Major
- 2.000 GPA in all ENVIR ST courses and courses in the major
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits, taken in Residence. Intermediate and Advanced level courses in the major are considered upper level.
- 15 credits in ENVIR ST or in the major, taken on campus (at UW–Madison)
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is not available in Environmental Studies.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the social and historical processes that impact current environments and sustainability issues. Interpret the meanings, values, and systems that are created, shaped, and revealed as humans interact with and modify the environments they inhabit.
- Explain systemic and ecological processes and fundamental principles of environmental sciences relating to humanity’s key environmental challenges of the past, present, and future.
- Analyze and respond to questions in environment and sustainability by applying interdisciplinary approaches that integrate multiple perspectives, including those from a coordinate major.
- Recognize through critical thinking a diversity of viewpoints, ethical commitments, and disciplinary approaches to environmental and sustainability concerns across various scales from the local to the global.
- Demonstrate excellent reading, writing, communication, and research skills, both individually and in interdisciplinary teams.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Coordinate major course | 3 | Coordinate major course | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | ENVIR ST Foundation course (e.g. ENVIR ST 126) | 3 |
| Language | 4 | Communication A (complete during your first year) | 3 |
| ENVIR ST Foundation course (e.g. ENVIR ST 112) | 3-4 | Language/Elective | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 3-5 | Communication B | 4 |
| ENVIR ST 306 (counts for Ethnic Studies) | 3 | INTER-LS 210: Taking Initiative | 2 |
| ENVIR ST Breadth | 3-4 | ENVIR ST Breadth | 3 |
| Coordinate major course | 3-4 | Coordinate major course | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Coordinate major course | 3 | Coordinate major course | 3 |
| ENVIR ST theme | 3-4 | Coordinate major course | 3 |
| ENVIR ST theme | 3-4 | ENVIR ST theme | 3-4 |
| L&S Breadth/Elective | 3 | ENVIR ST theme | 3-4 |
| L&S Breadth/Elective | 3 | L&S Breadth/Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Coordinate major course | 3 | Coordinate major course | 3 |
| Coordinate major course | 3 | ENVIR ST Capstone or remaining theme | 3-4 |
| ENVIR ST Capstone or remaining theme | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
The Environmental Studies major offers unique opportunities for undergraduate students to broaden their studies through interdisciplinary coursework related to the environment. See undergraduate advising for more information about declaring the major or certificate.
Environmental Studies students are represented in majors all across campus and in most undergraduate schools and colleges. Environmental studies majors should utilize the career office for their home school as appropriate.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students