UW-Madison does not offer a major in environmental studies. What it does offer is a Certificate in Environmental Studies, administered by the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (Nelson Institute). All Certificate students must choose a major from one of the university's regular academic departments. However, the Certificate in Environmental Studies is a good complement to any field of study. In fact, students will find useful ties to their majors as well as exciting counterbalances to issues within those majors. Students will also find that there is a tremendous advantage in completing both a traditional major and an interdisciplinary certificate because one provides depth and focus while the other offers breadth and diversity. Both qualities are important in one's educational development.
The Environmental Studies Certificate Program is a 26-credit interdisciplinary curriculum which seeks to integrate the environmental sciences with policy issues and questions about environmental values and ethics. Rather than focusing upon a single discipline, the Certificate joins multiple fields together in an effort to address environmental questions through an interdisciplinary perspective. Environmental Studies Certificate students complete a minimum of 26 credits of course work in environmental studies, natural sciences, social studies, and humanities. See Overview for more information.
The Certificate course list outlines all of the course requirements and options. Please Note: Not all of the environmental studies (Envir St) courses that are listed in the Timetable or in the Undergraduate Catalog count toward the Certificate in Environmental Studies. However, the courses listed in the Certificate brochure and course list do count and may be applied toward a Certificate regardless of when they are taken, as long as they are completed before graduation. See the Courses page for a complete listing of courses that count toward the Certificate.
The Environmental Studies Certificate's primary value lies in its emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking and environmental awareness. To pursue a Certificate in Environmental Studies is to enlarge one's perspective in a way that will enrich both one's life and one's future career. Although the main goal of the program is not to train one for a specific career, the Certificate's curriculum may enhance the value of one's degree and it will most certainly influence one's decision-making in life and work. Its benefits are long-term. It is designed to prepare you for the life that lies within and beyond any one particular career.
Any undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is eligible to participate in the Environmental Studies Certificate Program. Over the years the program has attracted students from a diverse range of majors, from biology, business, and engineering to Chinese, political science, and English. Students from all majors are encouraged to take part.
UW-Madison undergraduate students may apply to the Certificate Program at any time. In fact if you would like to participate, we encourage you to begin the Certificate course work early in your academic career. Waiting until your junior or senior year may not leave you with enough time to complete the entire curriculum.
If you would like an application or additional information, just stop by the Nelson Institute Academic Programs Office. We're open Monday-Friday, 7:45-11:45 a.m., and 12:30-4:30 p.m. (See the To Apply page for a pdf version of the application form.) Applications are processed several times a semester so you should receive a confirmation letter about a month or two after applying. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know. Our advisors welcome your interest! We hope that you will find the Certificate in Environmental Studies a valuable addition to your academic program, and we look forward to your participation.