University of Nebraska - Lincoln
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Environmental Studies is a systematic study of human interaction with their environment. It's a broad field of study that includes the natural environment, built environments, social environments, organizational environments, and the sets of relationships between them.

The environmental studies major is designed for students who want to make a difference and contribute to solving environmental challenges on a local to global scale. Solutions to challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource conservation require individuals who have a broad-based knowledge in the natural and social sciences, as well as strength in a specific discipline. The environmental studies major will provide the knowledge and skills needed for students to work across disciplines and to be competitive in the job market. The environmental studies program uses a holistic approach and a framework of sustainability. This framework recognizes the necessity of meeting current resource needs without compromising the environment or the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

This major combines in-depth study of the natural sciences with economics, law, and other social sciences. The program trains students to analyze the benefits and costs of using natural resources and the environment for recreation, agriculture, wildlife habitat, industry, forestry, and mining. It also emphasizes the assessment of public policies regulating the use of natural resources and environmental benefits.

Students in this program work closely with faculty in both the Department of Agricultural Economics and the School of Natural Resources. This major is for students with an interest in natural resource management and environmental impact analysis. The need for employees with training in environmental and natural resource economics is expanding rapidly as the public gains a greater awareness of environmental issues and demands better resource management. Heightened news coverage, new environmental regulations and the growing costs of complying with them, as well as the penalties for violating them, mean that both public and private organizations need accurate environmental accounting.

The Environmental Science degree prepares students for work in recovering ecosystems and solving complex environmental problems. Students in this major will receive a variety of classroom and field experiences to learn about soil, water, regulations, toxicology, environmental sampling, and restoration techniques.

Each Environmental Science student will choose an emphasis in Soil Science or Lake & Stream Restoration to focus on. Emphasis areas help students specialize their course work based on individual career goals, as they work on interdisciplinary teams involving scientists and engineers to find solutions for restoration projects.

Fisheries and Wildlife Management, http://snr.unl.edu/undergrad/majors/fish_wild/

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications, http://alec.unl.edu/aesc/what-aesc;

Applied Climate Science, http://snr.unl.edu/undergrad/majors/acs/

Regional & Community Forestry, http://snr.unl.edu/undergrad/majors/reg_comm_forest/

Water Science, http://snr.unl.edu/undergrad/majors/water/

Plant and Landscape Systems, https://agronomy.unl.edu/undergraduate-programs

The Applied Climate Science minor is for students interested in exploring the impacts of climate and using their knowledge of climate science to help people. The applied climate science minor provides a focus on varying aspects of climatology. These courses provide students with a higher level of training in climatology necessary to understand complex climate-based problems and their interrelationships with natural resources.

The Energy Science minor comprises four introductory core courses that provide a comprehensive overview of energy in society, fundamental energy principles, the economics of energy, and environmental issues related to producing and using energy. The students with the minor are expected to: Learn how energy production and use affect our economy and environment; Explore the social and political ramifications of energy and natural resources consumption; Develop cutting edge, responsible solutions for the planet; Develop understanding of complex energy systems using “systems thinking”

The Food Energy and Water in Society minor is designed to offer all UNL students experiences that will prepare them with the knowledge and skills to analyze complex, real- world problems from a systems perspective to make informed decisions regarding current and emerging food, energy, and water issues, and the interrelatedness of agriculture, natural resources, and society.

Environmental Education Minor, https://bulletin.unl.edu/undergraduate/major/Environmental+Studies+%28CASNR%29#requirements-for-minor-offered-by-department

Agriculture & Environmental Science Communications, https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/agricultural-sciences-natural-resources/environmental-studies/#minortext

Environmental Education, https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/agricultural-sciences-natural-resources/environmental-education-minor/

Environmental Science Minor, https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/agricultural-sciences-natural-resources/environmental-studies/#minortext

Environmental Studies Minor, https://bulletin.unl.edu/undergraduate/major/Environmental+Studies+(CASNR)#requirements-for-minor-offered-by-department

Water Science, Minor, https://catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/agricultural-sciences-natural-resources/water-science/#minortextcontainer