ER Program Chair: Paul Zedler
ER Graduate Advisor: Jim Miller, 608-263-4373
ER Admissions Coordinator: Sara Lorence, 608-262-9206
A list of the faculty affiliated with the ER program can be found on our searchable faculty directory.
The Environment and Resources program(formerly known as Land Resources) is an interdisciplinary program for graduate students who wish to broaden their knowledge of natural resources or who seek special education in the technical, social, or management aspects of environmental problems. Students can earn a master of science (M.S.) degree in Environment and Resources or a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Studies with a major in Environment and Resources.
The ER Program, administered by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison, provides for the kind of interdisciplinary graduate education and research that cannot be found in more traditional academic departments. The program encourages self-direction and individual creativity in the development of each student’s course of study, although all students pursue specific courses of study that lead to the completion of a thesis (required for the M.S. degree) or a dissertation (required for the Ph.D.).
Each student in the program designs an individual study plan with the help of faculty advisers from the Nelson Institute as well as from other departments and schools at UW-Madison. It is possible, for example, to combine courses in basic science and engineering with courses in social sciences, humanities, and law. The program’s goal is to give each student a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of environmental and resource issues generally, as well as professional knowledge about their particular, chosen area of expertise.
Students may pursue interests in a wide variety of areas, such as
Students in the Environment and Resources Program may also, with permission, integrate their degree program with study in other departments of the university. For more information about this, please visit our double and joint degree page, the dual law degree page, and our graduate-level certificate pages.
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e., M.S., M.A., J.D., or M.B.A.), or significant comparable experience. Students who apply without post-baccalaureate credentials or equivalent experience must apply to the M.S. program initially; such students may apply for admission into the Ph.D. program once they have made sufficient progress toward the M.S.
Full-time students typically require two-and-a-half years of study to earn the M.S. degree in Environment and Resources; completion of a doctoral program usually requires three to four years of work beyond the M.S.