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Ph.D. Minors

All Nelson Institute graduate programs (degrees and certificates) are available as Ph.D. minors. To see what the requirements are for each program, please see below.

Satellite dishes on the AOSS building

For the programs that are option A minors (* above) you will need to fill out the Nelson Institute Minor Form and bring it to Room 70 Science Hall to be signed by the minor chair person. The form is a protected Word document that will allow you to fill in information in the gray boxes. After you have filled out all of the information, print the form to get the proper signatures.

Air Resources Management (ARM)

For information on the ARM minor, please see the ARM Curriculum page. If you have additional questions, please contact ARM coordinator Hope Simon (608-262-9864).

Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development (CBSD)

The CBSD Ph.D. minor was created to provide opportunities for students and faculty beyond those directly involved in the CBSD master’s degree path. The courses created for the CBSD program represent an additional resource for students. Many Ph.D. students working in areas related to conservation and/or sustainable development could benefit from taking a concentration of courses directed toward the conservation of biological diversity and ecologically sustainable development.

Requirements: The minor must be represented on the student’s advisory committee by a faculty member associated with the CBSD program.

The minor (either "Option A or B") must include at least 10 credits in courses dealing with the biological science aspects of conservation and with the social science aspects of conservation and development of biological resources. These courses are intended to be drawn primarily from the core unit of the CBSD program; however, alternatives to this core may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the program chair.

The portion of the core unit that is expected to constitute the minor for most students consists of the following courses:

  1. One course providing a broad overview of conservation (e.g., Zoology/Wl Ecol/Envir St 360 Extinction of Species or Geog/Envir St 339 Environmental Conservation), 3 credits
  2. Botany/Wl Ecol/Zoology/Envir St 651 Conservation Biology, 3 credits
  3. Envir St/Econ 343 Environmental Economics, or a suitable substitute
  4. Envir St 975 or 976 CBSD Seminar, 1 credit
  5. One additional graduate-level course or seminar related to the biological or social science aspects of conservation biology and/or sustainable development.

Special Considerations: The appropriateness of the courses making up the minor will differ among students, particularly with respect to those coming from a biological background versus those with a social science background.

In most cases, an "additional course" may need to be chosen to provide the necessary prerequisites for a student to take the specialized core courses. For example, a student with a minimal biological background may need a general ecology or evolution/genetics course to prepare for the "conservation biology" course.

In all cases, we request that copies of all minor agreement forms dealing with conservation and development be sent to the chair of CBSD in the Nelson Institute Academic Programs Office (Room 70 Science Hall).

If you have additional questions, please contact CBSD advisor Jim Miller (608-263-4373).

Energy Analysis and Policy (EAP)

For information on the EAP minor, please contact EAP coordinator Richard Shaten.

Humans and the Global Environment (CHANGE)

The CHANGE minor is the same as the CHANGE certificate curriculum. For more information, please see the CHANGE curriculum page.

Environment and Resources

The Environment and Resources minor does not have a set curriculum. If you are interested in pursuing a minor in Environment and Resources, please contact the Environment and Resources advisor Jim Miller (608-263-4373).

Transportation Management and Policy (TMP)

For information on the TMP minor, please contact TMP coordinator Greg Waidley.

Water Resources Management (WRM)

The WRM minor does not have a set curriculum. If you are interested in pursuing a minor in WRM, please contact the WRM advisor Jim Miller (608-263-4373).

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