Degree Options

General Information | Degree Options | 4-Year Road Maps | Degree Requirements and Advising | Undergraduate Admissions

Natural Resources (ANR)

This option prepares you for a professional career with organizations or businesses that deal with land management, soil and water conservation or watershed management. Students in these areas study earth resources, ecology, resource economics and management, conservation, and human resource interactions. This is a good bet for students who want to specialize in planning and policy related to environmental management, waste management or soil resource inventory and land use planning. Specializations available in the ANR degree are:

Environmental Systems Specialization

The Environmental Systems specialization is designed for students wanting to understand the policy and societal impacts of our use of natural resources. The specialization consists of a major in Soil Science in conjunction with the Environmental Certificate offered by the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies and emphasizes policy, people and ecology. This course of study leads to a Natural Resources degree and prepares students for entry-level positions in environmental consulting, government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Waste Management Specialization

Soil Resource Inventory Specialization

Natural Sciences (ANS)

Choose this option if you want to pursue an advanced degree in soil science or related fields, or if you want to apply your technical expertise to natural resource and issues and problems related to environmental protection. Courses in math, physics, chemistry, and the biological sciences provide the basis for specialization in environmental, physical or biological systems. Specializations within the ANS degree include:

Environmental Sciences Specialization

The Environmental Sciences specialization is designed for students wanting a quantitative understanding of the environment and the tools needed to solve environmental problems. This specialization focuses on applying basic sciences and mathematics to the assessment and solution of environmental problems. This course of study leads to a Natural Sciences degree and prepares students for entry-level positions in environmental consulting and government agencies, as well as for graduate studies in environmental science.

Physical Systems Specialization

BioSciences Specialization

The BioSciences specialization is intended for students with a strong interest in biology who wish to learn about the rich diversity of soil biology and ecology as either a sole major in Soils or as part of a double major program with Biology or other biology-related major, graduating with a degree in Natural Science. Soils majors in this specialization may enter private industry, government agencies, or graduate school, while double majors in biology may continue studies in medical and veterinary schools.

Agricultural Sciences, Production Systems or Business (ASP, ASB)

If you want to work in jobs directly related to production of agricultural crops, management of turf and landscaped areas or forest nurseries, this is the degree for you. This option requires courses in agricultural social science, biological systems engineering, horticulture, agronomy, plant pathology, entomology, accounting and personnel management. While specializations are not available in the ASB degree, the ASP degree includes the following:

ASP - Turf & Grounds Specialization

The Turf and Grounds specialization is intended for students with a career in turf and grounds management, whether golf courses, athletic fields, or lawn care. The Golf Course Superintendents of America require a four-year program for certification. This well-established program provides a strong background in social, mathematical, communication, physical and biological sciences and leads to a Agricultural Sciences-Production degree. Students are prepared for entry level management positions in private industry across the state and nation.

ASP - Field Crops Specialization

International Agriculture and Natural Resources (AIN)

This degree is for students who look forward to the prospect of living and working in other countries for at least part of their careers. Degree requirements include courses in the biological, physical, natural and social sciences as they relate to international agriculture and natural resources development. Competency in a foreign language and international experience are required. Specializations in the AIN degree are:

Agriculture Development

Resource Development

An Environmental Studies Certificate may be earned concurrently with the environmental specializations of the Natural Resources degree. With proper planning and advising, a double major of Soil Science with other related UW majors, such as Biology, can be earned with only a relatively few additional courses.