Kyle Farris University – Lacrosse
A new major designed to prepare students for careers in the important and rapidly growing field of environmental science is now being established at the University of La Crosse.
UW-L students can declare an environmental science major after the UW Board of Regents approves the program in December.
This course, located in the newly renamed Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, draws on the natural and social sciences to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to address the pressing environmental issues facing society. provided to you.
A new major at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse takes advantage of the Coulee Region’s rich and diverse natural landscape.
UW-L contributed
Professor Joan Bunbury, who played a key role in the development of the major, said, “This major is truly unique because it is interdisciplinary, transcending universities and departments.” “You’re pulling natural science and social science courses from the Faculty of Science and Health and the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities.”
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This major consists of existing courses in geography, biology, chemistry, microbiology, and sustainability and environmental studies, and then branches into higher-level courses and experiential opportunities.
The major complements minors offered through the departments of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, and Sustainability and Environmental Sciences.
“It makes sense to create a major like this at a time when we are experiencing major environmental changes that can directly impact the communities in which we live,” said Dean of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences. Professor Colin Belby said. “We’re perfectly located geographically, right on the Mississippi River, next to wetlands and bluffs. We have such a great outdoor laboratory right on our doorstep.”
Belbee pointed to potential collaborations with local employers, including WisCorps, the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, JF Brennan, the Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center. doing. The new major is dedicated to students interested in pursuing environmental science academically and professionally from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6 percent increase in employment for environmental scientists and professionals nationwide over the next 10 years, with demand expected to outstrip supply in the Midwest.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science can pursue careers in areas such as climate change mitigation, natural resource management, air and water quality monitoring, pollution remediation, and consulting.
Learn more about www.UW-Lax.edu/academics/environmental-science.
