Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies Major degree program is designed to prepare the leaders of tomorrow with the skills and insight to address the complex environmental challenges of the 21st century. UNR’s physical location at the intersection of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin provides an ideal laboratory for undergraduate field research opportunities and can therefore contribute to enhanced understanding of regional environmental issues. Furthermore, the arid West and the nation as a whole are in critical need of a new generation of leaders who understand environmental issues from the perspectives of both specialists with focused, in-depth knowledge of specific issues and generalists who can place those issues in the context of social, historical, and political forces, with effective communication and problem-solving skills. 

The major curriculum requires that students double-major with another departmental major, so that all graduates have a depth of knowledge in a chosen discipline. The curriculum of the Environmental Studies Major is then tailored to provide broader perspectives from fields other than the department major. Thus, if a student with a declared major in biology wishes to also pursue an Environmental Studies degree, his/her curriculum will emphasize humanities, arts and policy. In contrast, an English major will have a program geared toward science and policy. Students pursuing this major will have opportunities to pursue practical internships, intensive research programs and international exchange opportunities as part of their major, gaining the practical experience to understand environmental issues on global, national, regional, and state levels.

Degrees Offered: BS/BS, BA/BA or BS/BA
Minor available? No
More information:
http://environment.unr.edu/academics/major.html

Academy for the Environment

The Academy for the Environment is an interdisciplinary institute at the University of Nevada, Reno, whose mission is to develop, enhance and coordinate environmental teaching, research and service at the University of Nevada, Reno. The objectives of the Academy are to develop innovative courses, provide cross-college connections related to the environment, support the development of interdisciplinary programs in environmental studies; link the environmental programs of sciences/engineering with those in the arts/humanities; enhance and expand research/scholarship opportunities for environmental faculty; conduct collaborative public outreach activities on the environment; raise the environmental awareness of the campus; and promote environmentally-related programs at the university.

Website: http://environment.unr.edu