Environmental Studies, Minor

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The university offers an interdisciplinary minor in environmental studies through the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources. The environmental studies program addresses problems of the environment and of natural resource and energy use. Students study several academic disciplines. To complete the program, students must earn 21 credits in the minor field. At least nine credits must be in upper-division (300-400 level) courses.

Contact Information

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
217 Fleischmann Agriculture
(775) 784-4020 / (775) 784-4835

Academic Advising
CABNR Advising Center
Fleischmann Agriculture Building 236
(775) 682-1634
cabnrstudentcenter@unr.edu

For questions about upper-divison electives and career advising, contact a faculty mentor.
Erica Bigio (A-L) - ebigio@unr.edu
Julie Stoughton (M-Z) - jstoughton@unr.edu

I. Program Requirements (21 units)

A. The following course is required for all students seeking a minor in environmental studies:

ENV 101 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3 units) CO4, CO9

B. Additional Requirements

Students pursuing the environmental studies minor must select at least two three-credit courses from courses listed under Ecological and Physical Principles and twelve credits from courses listed under Environmental Economics, Social Principles and Policy.

C. Ecological and Physical Principles (6-8 units)

BIOL 100A - Biology: Principles and Applications - Lecture (3 units) CO4
CHEM 121A - General Chemistry I (3 units) CO4
CHEM 121L - General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 unit) CO4L
GEOG 103 - Physical Geography of the Earth’s Environment (3 units) CO4L
GEOG 121 - Climate Change and Its Environmental Impacts (3 units) CO4L
GEOL 100 - Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Natural Disasters (3 units) CO4L
NRES 217 - Natural Resource Ecology (3 units)
NRES 295 - Wildlands Hydrology (3 units)
PSC 110 - Introduction to Renewable Energy (3 units) OR
ENGR 110 - Introduction to Renewable Energy (3 units)

D. Environmental Economics, Social Principles and Policy (12 units)

ANTH 430 - Anthropology and Ecology (3 units)
ECON 307 - Environmental Economics (3 units)
ECON 309 - Resource Economics (3 units)
GEOG 305 - Community Environmental Problems (3 units)
GEOG 350 - Global Food Systems (3 units) CO11
GEOG 422 - Climate Solutions: Local to Global Perspectives (3 units) CO9, CO13
GEOG 435 - Conservation of Natural Resources (3 units)
GEOG 438 - Western Water Resources and Management (3 units) CO9
GEOG 464 - Identity and the Environment (3 units) CO10, CO13
GEOG 466 - Environmental Planning and Policy (3 units) CO9
HIST 441 - American Environmental History (3 units) CO9, CO13
NRES 212 - A Primer in Environmental Ethics (1 unit) CO12
NRES 214 - Culture and the Use and Management of Natural Resources (1 unit) CO10
NRES 400 - International Issues for Water Development (3 units) CO11, CO13
NRES 412 - Environmental Law (3 units) OR
PSC 403E - Environmental Law (3 units)
NRES 467 - Regional and Global Issues in Environmental Sciences (3 units) CO11, CO13
REM 494 - Range and Forest Administration and Policy (3 units) CO12, CO13
PSC 403B - Energy Politics and Policy (3 units)
PSC 403C - Environmental Policy (3 units)
PSC 403D - Global Environmental Policy (3 units) CO11
PSC 403G - Land and Water Resource Policy (3 units)
PSC 403M - Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Policy (3 units)

Note(s):

Students are advised to gain the approval of an environmental studies advisor and the student’s major department before registering for selected courses each semester: the advisor works with the student in designing an appropriate program. No student minoring in environmental studies may include more than six credits from courses in his or her major department. If credits from the major department are used, they must be in addition to those earned to fulfill the requirements for the major.