Conservation and Environmental Science, BS BS
At 51ÁÔÆæ, students with a passion for nature and the environment can obtain a solid education in the natural sciences that are central to environmental science - biology, geosciences, and chemistry - and the social sciences of geography, economics, and politics which guide the application of conservation and environmental science in the real world.
Students at 51ÁÔÆæ can focus their conservation and environmental science work around land resources, water resources, biological resources/biodiversity, or environmental analysis. Internships and field work complement classroom learning. These opportunities can be found locally at 51ÁÔÆæ's own , on Lake Michigan aboard 51ÁÔÆæ's R/V Neeskay vessel, and at local agencies, or abroad in places as far flung as Iceland, Africa, Romania and the Caribbean.
An active Conservation Club is another student advantage at 51ÁÔÆæ. Activities range from on-campus sustainability projects to professional networking and more.
51ÁÔÆæ’s CES major builds on students’ passion to solve environmental issues through either a BS or a BA degree. The BS requires more courses in math, biology, chemistry, and science and is suitable for careers in field or laboratory work, while the BA has fewer electives in science for a career in public programming, education, or administration.
Because of the breadth and flexibility of this major, students should consult with the Director and/or Coordinator to plan a course of study, preferably before the start of their sophomore year. It is particularly important to begin the introductory course sequences early, since they are prerequisites for advanced courses.
It is recommended that students obtain at least one semester of practical work or internship experience, either as an employee or as a volunteer, with state or federal resource management agencies, consulting firms, conservation or environmental organizations, or with nature centers or local parks.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Listed below are the requirements for the Conservation and Environmental Science major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Conservation and Environmental Science Major Requirements
°Õ³ó±ðÌýConservation and Environmental Science program requires a minimum of 54 credits, 29 of which are advanced-level. All students in the CES major must fulfill the required 36 credits (25 lower-level core credits, and 11 advanced-level credits) and an additional 18 advanced-level credits from among the approved CES upper-level electives.Â
Students must complete the courses listed below, including at least 15 upper-division (numbered 300 and above) credits in the major in residence at 51ÁÔÆæ. The College of Letters & Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Introductory Core | ||
| Foundations of Biological Sciences I | 4 | |
| Foundations of Biological Sciences II | 4 | |
| Introduction to Conservation and Environmental Science | 3 | |
| General Chemistry | 5 | |
| Introduction to the Earth | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý | Our Physical Environment | |
| Evolution of the Earth | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý | Introduction to Ocean Sciences | |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Science | 3 | |
| Mid-Level Distributional Requirement | ||
| General Ecology | 4 | |
| Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Core | ||
| Select 18 upper-level approved CES electives with at least 3 credits taken from each of the following areas | 18 | |
Biological Sciences | ||
Geosciences | ||
Geography | ||
| Research Requirement | ||
| Practicum in Natural Resources Management | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
List of Approved Electives for the CES Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural and Human Ecology | 3 | |
| Cell Biology | 3 | |
| Genetics | 4 | |
| Birds of Wisconsin | 2 | |
| Mammalian Physiology | 3 | |
| General Microbiology | 4 | |
| Marine Biology | 3 | |
| Ecology and Evolution of Amphibians and Reptiles | 3 | |
| Field Methods in Conservation | 3 | |
| Biostatistics | 3 | |
| Ecological Genetics | 3 | |
| Internship in Biological Sciences, Upper Division | 1-6 | |
| Plant Physiology | 3 | |
| Plant and Aquatic Ecophysiology Laboratory | 3 | |
| Introduction to Programming and Modeling in Ecology and Evolution | 3 | |
| Conservation Biology | 3 | |
| Limnology I | 3 | |
| Evolution and Ecology of Birds | 3 | |
| Behavioral Ecology | 3 | |
| Microbial Diversity and Physiology | 3 | |
| Topics in Field Biology: | 1-2 | |
| Seminar on Recent Advances in Limnology and Oceanography | 2 | |
| Evolutionary Biology | 3 | |
| Changing Climate: A Conservation and Sustainability Approach | 3 | |
| Field Methods in Conservation | 3 | |
| The Politics and Policy of Sustainability | 3 | |
| Internship in Environmental Studies, Upper Division | 1-6 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| Ad Hoc: | 1-6 | |
| Environmental Law for Natural Resource Managers | 3 | |
| Principles of Stream Management and Restoration | 3 | |
| Introductory Survey of Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Instrumental Analysis | 3 | |
| Biophysical Chemistry | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| Environmental Economics | 3 | |
| Human Impact on the Environment | 3 | |
| Natural Hazards | 3 | |
| General Climatology | 3 | |
| Data Science and Environmental Applications | 4 | |
| Biogeography | 3 | |
| Remote Sensing: Environmental and Land Use Analysis | 4 | |
| Cartography | 4 | |
| The Water Environment | 3 | |
| Climates of the Past and Climate Change | 3 | |
| Environmental Problems | 3 | |
| Watershed Analysis and Modeling | 3 | |
| Physical Geography of the City | 3 | |
| Geographic Information Science | 4 | |
| Spatial Analysis | 4 | |
| Urban Environmental Change and Social Justice | 3 | |
| Intermediate Geographic Information Science | 4 | |
| Geography Field Work | 3 | |
| Principles of Mineralogy | 4 | |
| Water Quality | 4 | |
| Process Geomorphology | 4 | |
| Conservation Paleontology | 3 | |
| Plant-Insect Interactions in Deep Time | 3 | |
| Glacial and Pleistocene Geology | 4 | |
| Physical Hydrogeology | 4 | |
| Chemical Hydrogeology | 4 | |
| Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 | |
| Physical Sedimentology | 4 | |
| Introduction to Paleontology | 4 | |
| Terroir: Geology in a Glass | 3 | |
| Environmental Surface Hydrology | 3 | |
| Field Methods in Hydrogeology | 4 | |
| Topics in the Geological Sciences: | 1-3 | |
| Seminar in the Geological Sciences: | 1-3 | |
| Environmental Ethics | 3 | |
| Environmental Political Theory | 3 |
Approved CES Course Electives Outside of the College of Letters and Science
Although the following courses may count as credits toward the CES major requirements, they do not count to satisfy the advanced L&S credits requirement for the degree. Consult the Coordinator before enrolling in any of these courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Design | 3 | |
| Air-Pollution Meteorology | 3 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 | |
| Ecology and Evolution of Freshwater Organisms | 3 | |
| Introduction to Environmental Data Systems | 3 | |
| Water and Natural Resource Economics | 3 | |
| Water, Energy, Food, and Climate | 3 | |
| Water Law, Policy, and the Environment | 3 | |
| Introduction to Sensing Networks | 3 | |
| Aquatic Ecosystem Dynamics | 3 | |
| Quantitative Freshwater Analysis | 3 | |
| Environmental Health of Freshwater Ecosystems | 3 | |
| Economics, Policy and Management of Water | 3 | |
| Freshwater Sciences Practicum: | 2-4 | |
| Fish Nutrition and Physiology | 3 | |
| Fish Health | 3 | |
| Environmental Health and Disease | 3 | |
| Topics in Public Health: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Planning | 3 |
Declaration of Major
Students wishing to declare the major can obtain the necessary information and materials from CES Program Coordinator’s office (Lapham Hall, Room 366) or from their College of Letters and Science advisor.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at 51ÁÔÆæ, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.Â
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.Â
Currently enrolled students should use the  to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
There are things you can do about your career before you graduate. The decisions and actions you take early on will have a significant impact on the course of your career life. Now is the time to take stock of your options and make some commitments. These web resources will help you think through some of the possibilities.