1. Environmental Science Syllabus College
2. Environmental Studies Wisconsin
3. Certificate In Environmental Studies Syllabus 2017

The Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Certificate supplements the coursework for your existing major with an interdisciplinary study of the biophysical environment and the complex interactions between humans, other organisms, and the environment.

WHY CHOOSE AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR?

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 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, offered by the College of Letters & Science and administered by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, 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.

Click here to see a complete list of faculty and staff affiliated with the Nelson Institute.

The Nelson Institute also offers two undergraduate certificates:

Environmental Studies Certificate
Sustainability Certificate

Note: Students may not pair the environmental studies major with the environmental studies certificate or the sustainability certificate.

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.

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.

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 (12–16 Credits)

One course from each of the following four areas. Courses used to meet a requirement within the foundation section cannot also be used in other areas of the curriculum.

Environmental Humanities (1 course)

Environmental Social Science (1 course)

Environmental Science Syllabus College

Environmental Physical Science (1 course)

Environmental Ecology (1 course)

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

Climate

Energy

Food and Agriculture

Health

History, Culture, Society

Land Use

Policy

Spatial Analysis

Water

FIELD EXPERIENCE

The field experience in the Environmental Studies major can be met in one of the following ways:

• A designated field course selected from the curriculum above, indicated by an asterisk (*)
• 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)

CAPSTONE requirement (3 Credits)

3 credits from:

In some cases, a 3-credit research project for a minimum that meets specific criteria of an environmental capstone course may be substituted for the Capstone requirement. If you and a faculty member believe that you have a suitable project, please contact undergrad@nelson.wisc.edu for more information.

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 the 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.

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 (12–16 Credits)

One course from each of the following four areas. Courses used to meet a requirement within the foundation section cannot also be used in other areas of the curriculum.

Environmental Humanities (1 course)

Environmental Social Science (1 course)

Environmental Physical Science (1 course)

Environmental Ecology (1 course)

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

Climate

Energy

Food and Agriculture

Health

History, Culture, Society

Land Use

Policy

Spatial Analysis

Water

FIELD EXPERIENCE

The field experience in the Environmental Studies major can be met in one of the following ways:

• A designated field course selected from the curriculum above, indicated by an asterisk (*)
• 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)

CAPSTONE requirement (3 Credits)

3 credits from:

In some cases, a 3-credit research project for a minimum that meets specific criteria of an environmental capstone course may be substituted for the Capstone requirement. If you and a faculty member believe that you have a suitable project, please contact undergrad@nelson.wisc.edu for more information.

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 the ENVIR ST or in the major, taken on campus (at UW–Madison)

Honors in the Major

Environmental Studies Wisconsin

Honors in the Major is not available in Environmental Studies.

Certificate In Environmental Studies Syllabus 2017

SAMPLE FOUR-YEAR PLAN

The Sample Four-Year Plan is a tool to assist you and your advisor(s). Use it along with your DARS report and the Course Guide. You will make your own Four-Year Plan based on your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. As you become involved in athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, volunteer experiences, and/or work, you might adjust the order of your courses to make room for these experiences. You will likely revise your 4-year plan several times during college.

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. All students, not just L&S students, can also benefit from SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science.

We encourage our majors to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus. We partner with SuccessWorks to help you leverage the academic skills learned in your major and liberal arts degree, explore and try out different career paths, participate in internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers).

Letters & Science graduates are in high demand by employers and graduate programs. It is important to us that our students are career ready at the time of graduation, and we are committed to your success.

L&S career resources

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students leverage the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and liberal arts degree; explore and try out different career paths; participate in internships; prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications; and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers). In short, SuccessWorks helps students in the College of Letters & Science discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.

SuccessWorks can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as course offerings for undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career.

Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.

• INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit, targeted to first- and second-year students)—for more information, see Inter-LS 210: Career Development, Taking Initiative
• INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Com B General Education Requirement)
• Learn how we’re transforming career preparation: L&S Career Initiative