Environmental sciences is making a difference in the natural environment
Environmental sciences uses the fundamentals of the natural sciences—biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics—to understand the environment and find solutions to real-world environmental challenges.
As an Environmental Sciences major you will:
- Explore specialized topics that span relationships between animals and their environment, climate, water, soil, geospatial processes and information, and environmental laws and regulations
- Focus your studies on a specific environmental discipline such as ecology, physical environment, geospatial sciences, or environmental policy and social perspectives
- Develop the skills and knowledge to solve real-world environmental issues with hands-on experience
Career Paths
Environmental sciences graduates are prepared for careers in environmental assessment, monitoring and remediation, consulting, education, natural resource management, and ecological restoration.
Here are just a few examples of what our environmental sciences graduates are doing with their careers:
Why get an environmental sciences degree in CALS?
A degree in environmental sciences is offered in both the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Letters & Science (L&S). The major requirements are the same in both colleges, but the college requirements are different.
Students in CALS earn a bachelors of science degree in environmental sciences. College requirements include a first-year seminar, an international studies course to develop global perspectives and coursework in physical, biological, natural, and social sciences. Additionally, students complete a capstone course that helps integrate concepts they’ve learned in the major.
For a complete breakdown of the degree requirements across the programs, check out the UW–Madison undergraduate Guide.
- Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Science Degree (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences)
- Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Arts Degree (College of Letters & Science)
- Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Science Degree (College of Letters & Science)
Your CALS Experience
Get involved. Find your people.
Explore a few of the environment and sustainability-related student or campus organizations at UW–Madison:
Learn through hands-on research
Join a faculty lab and explore environmental sciences through a different perspective. Step out into the field, develop your research skills, and learn first-hand from faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Study climate change mitigation and adaptation, the sustainability of dairy farms, improve urban soils, and so much more.
Study abroad and gain global perspective
Complement your coursework and strengthen your understanding of environmental issues throughout the world with a study abroad program. Learn about environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and land use change in Australia’s ancient rainforests, or experience tropical ecology and international conservation first-hand in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, Andes Mountains and Amazon Rainforest, and so much more.
You can also choose from one of UW–Madison’s many semester, summer, and short-term study abroad programs and map your study abroad experience as an environmental sciences major.
Focus your interests
Investigate a real-world problem that aligns with your interests by choosing from 8 capstone courses.
Past courses have covered conservation biology, assessment of environmental impact, restoration ecology, plant microbiomes, and soil management.
52%
Students who participate in research
100%
Seniors who complete a hands-on capstone course
67%
Students who complete an internship
Advisor & Contact Information
Advisors can answer your questions, help you create a degree plan that meets your personal and professional goals, and connect you to resources across the UW–Madison campus.
Incoming students should reach out to CALS Academic Affairs to direct your questions. Current UW–Madison students should schedule with their assigned advisor using Starfish.
CALS Academic Affairs
116 Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu
(608) 262-3003
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences
Soils Building
1525 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706
Want to learn more about environmental sciences?