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 Life Sciences Communication, Biology, Community & Environmental Sociology, Soil Science, foreign language/culture, and a number of other disciplines.
How to Get in
There are no admissions requirements for the major. Students wishing to declare the Environmental Sciences major in L&S should meet with the Undergraduate Academic Advising Manager listed in the Contact Box on the right sidebar of this page.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Mathematics | Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework. |
| Language |
|
| LS Breadth |
|
| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | Complete at least 108 credits. |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level. |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | Complete at least 120 credits. |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Students majoring in Environmental Sciences must complete a minimum of 58 credits (detailed below). 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.
Mathematics and Statistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following: | 4-10 | |
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 (Recommended) | ||
| Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I and Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II | ||
| Survey of Calculus 1 | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Data Science Modeling I | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for Engineers | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Total Credits | 7-14 | |
Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Chemistry (complete one of the following): | 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): | 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 these following areas:
Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGRONOMY 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/BOTANY/SOIL SCI 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology (Recommended) | 4 |
| ENTOM 450 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM 451 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 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 | Principles of Silviculture | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/AN SCI/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/AN SCI/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 |
| HORT 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| HORT 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/PL PATH 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/GEOG 323 | Science of Climate Change | 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/ENVIR ST 535 | Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Pollution | 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 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 329 | Landforms and Landscapes of North America | 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 321 | Soils and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization for Earth's Critical Zone | 4 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Environmental Soil Contamination | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/AGRONOMY/ATM OCN 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 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 |
| GEOG 360 | Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis | 4 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/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 | Environmental Conservation | 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 |
| HISTORY 469 | ||
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AGRONOMY 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/BOTANY/SOIL SCI 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| ENTOM 450 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM 451 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| 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 | Principles of Silviculture | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/AN SCI/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/AN SCI/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 |
| HORT 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| HORT 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/PL PATH 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/GEOG 323 | Science of Climate Change | 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/ENVIR ST 535 | Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Pollution | 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 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 329 | Landforms and Landscapes of North America | 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 321 | Soils and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization for Earth's Critical Zone | 4 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Environmental Soil Contamination | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/AGRONOMY/ATM OCN 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 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 |
| GEOG 360 | Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis | 4 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/G L E/GEOSCI/LAND ARC 372 | Intermediate Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 378 | Introduction to Geocomputing | 4 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AGRONOMY 300 | Cropping Systems | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/BOTANY/SOIL SCI 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| AGRONOMY/DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 455 | The Vegetation of Wisconsin | 4 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 460 | General Ecology | 4 |
| ENTOM/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 473 | Plant-Insect Interactions | 3 |
| ENTOM 450 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology | 3 |
| ENTOM 451 | Basic and Applied Insect Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| 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 | Principles of Silviculture | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/AN SCI/ZOOLOGY 520 | Ornithology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/AN SCI/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 |
| HORT 334 | Greenhouse Cultivation | 2 |
| HORT 335 | Greenhouse Cultivation Lab | 1 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 361 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
| LAND ARC/ENVIR ST 581 | Prescribed Fire: Ecology and Implementation | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/PL PATH 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/GEOG 323 | Science of Climate Change | 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/ENVIR ST 535 | Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Pollution | 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 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 329 | Landforms and Landscapes of North America | 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 321 | Soils and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization for Earth's Critical Zone | 4 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Environmental Soil Contamination | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/AGRONOMY/ATM OCN 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 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 |
| GEOG 360 | Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis | 4 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Cartography | 4 |
| GEOG/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/G L E/GEOSCI/LAND ARC 372 | Intermediate Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 378 | Introduction to Geocomputing | 4 |
| 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 | Environmental Conservation | 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 |
| HISTORY 469 | ||
| 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 |
- 1
Students may consult their environmental sciences advisor regarding alternate ways to complete the major electives requirement.
Capstone 2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGRONOMY 500 | Senior Capstone Experience | 2 |
| BOTANY/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 651 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| CIV ENGR 515 | Hydroclimatology for Water Resources Management | 3 |
| ENVIR ST/SOIL SCI 575 | Assessment of Environmental Impact | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/A A E 652 | Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers | 3 |
| LAND ARC 668 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| PL PATH 315 | Plant Microbiomes | 4 |
| SOIL SCI 499 | Soil Management | 3 |
- 2
Students may speak with their Environmental Sciences advisor about alternatives (e.g., courses, directed study, senior thesis) to complete the capstone. To be approved, the alternative must be taken for a minimum of 3 credits, clearly focused on environmental science, and approved by the Environmental Sciences Administrative Committee. Students must consult with their environmental sciences advisor and fill out all necessary paperwork before registering.
Residence & Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all major courses
- 2.000 GPA and 15 credits of upper level major courses taken in residence 3
- 15 credits in the major taken on the UW–Madison campus
- 3
Major courses numbered 300 through 699 are considered upper level.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is not available in Environmental Sciences.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
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
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.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 103 or 109 | 4 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| MATH 114 or 171 | 5 | MATH 221 or 217 | 5 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | Environmental Sciences Foundation Course | 3 |
| Comm A | 3 | Foreign Language | 4 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 or BOTANY 130 | 5 | BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102 (or BIOLOGY 152) | 5 |
| CHEM 341, 343, or 561 | 3 | STAT 371 | 3 |
| Social Science Course | 3 | Humanities/Ethnic Studies Course | 4 |
| Literature Course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHYSICS 207, 201, or 103 | 5 | Major Core Course | 3 |
| Major Core Course | 3 | Major Core Course | 4 |
| Major Core Course | 3 | Literature Course | 3 |
| Social Science Course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 2 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Environmental Sciences Major Elective Course | 3 | Environmental Sciences Major Elective Course | 3 |
| Environmental Sciences Major Elective Course | 3 | Social Science Course | 3 |
| Capstone | 3 | Environmental Sciences Major Elective Course | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | Humanities Course | 3 |
| Social Science Course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
L&S Advising
Any student interested in the L&S Environmental Sciences major should meet with the Undergraduate Academic Advising Manager listed in the Contact Box on the right sidebar of this page to discuss steps to complete the necessary prerequisite coursework for the major.
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.
L&S Career Resources
Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities. SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.
In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.
Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- Enroll in a Career Course - a great idea for first- and second-year students:
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit)
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Comm B General Education Requirement)
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- INTER-LS 260 Internship in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Activate your Handshake account to apply for jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers recruiting UW-Madison students
- Learn about the impact SuccessWorks has on students' lives
People
Program Committee
Nick Balster, Professor, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences (Co-Chair)
Ken Ferrier, Associate Professor, Department of Geoscience
Zac Freedman, Assistant Professor, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences
Hazel M. Holden, Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Erin Silva, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology
Daniel J. Vimont, Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (Co-Chair)
Staff Advisors
Zach Wyman, Academic Advising Manager (CALS)
Sabrina Manero, Academic Advising Manager (L&S)