UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Majors & Minors

Conservation and Environmental Planning 4-Year Academic Plans

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
Freshman Year

ESM 151 Land Use Theory and Practice – 3
General Education CW (ENGL 100) – 3
General Education EC (ESM 105) – 3
General Education M (MATH 146) – 3
General Education SB/HF – 3
Total semester credits – 15

ESM 220 Environmental Sustainability – 3
SOIL 120 Introduction to Soil Science – 3
General Education SI (BIOL 150) – 3
General Education CA (ENGL 200) – 3
General Education SB/HF – 3
Total semester credits – 15

Sophomore Year

ESM 303 Environmental Policies and Administration – 3
BIOL 210 Botany or BIOL 230 Zoology – 3
ESM 109 Introduction to Forestry – 2
General Education SI (CHEM 115) – 4
General Education CS (COMS 101 or COMS 116) – 3
Total semester credits – 15

BIOL 360 Ecology – 3
AGEC 230 Agricultural Economics I – 3
GEOG 250 Introduction to Geographic Information Science (GISci) – 3
CHEM 215 Chemistry Laboratory Concepts and Techniques – 1
General Education SB/HF – 3
Total semester credits – 13

Junior Year

ESM 245 Foundations of Ecological Restoration – 2
General Elective – 3
General Education HW (P ED 108) – 1
General Education SB/HF – 3
Global Perspective GP (GEOL 250) - 3
American Cultural Diversity ACD (ENGL 228) - 3
Total semester credits – 15

ESM 333 Remote Sensing or ESM 363 GIS Applications in Natural Resources – 3
ESM 360 Hydrology and Water Quality – 4
Directed Elective Course – 3
General Elective – 6
Total semester credits – 16

Senior Year

BIOL 344 Wildlife Biology – 4
AGEC 450 Introduction to Natural Resource Economics – 3
GENG 235 Surveying – 3
Directed Elective Course – 3
Total semester credits – 13

ESM 485 Seminar: Resource Management – 1
SOIL 440 Soil and Water Conservation – 4
Directed elective courses – 9
Total semester credits – 14

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements – 6 cr.
General Education – 35 cr.
Core – 23 cr.
Required Supporting Courses – 10 cr.
Conservation Option – 22 cr.
Directed Electives – 15 cr.
General Electives – 9 cr.
Credits to Degree – 120 cr.

ESM 270 Internship I – 4: Usually taken by the student during the summer after the freshman, sophomore, or junior year.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. After consulting with their advisers, students may make other course choices which would meet the program requirements and be more suitable for them.

  Fall Semester Spring Semester
Freshman Year

ESM 151 Land Use Theory and Practice – 3
General Education CW (ENGL 100) – 3
General Education EC (ESM 105) – 3
General Education M (MATH 146) – 3
General Education SB/HF – 3
Total semester credits – 15

ESM 220 Environmental Sustainability – 3
SOIL 120 Introduction to Soil Science – 3
General Education SI (BIOL 150) – 3
General Education CA (ENGL 200) – 3
General Education SB/HF – 3
Total semester credits – 15

Sophomore
Year  

ESM 303 Environmental Policies and Administration – 3
ESM 251 Community Decision-Making – 3
General Education SI (CHEM 115) – 4
General Education CS (COMS 101 or COMS 116) – 3
Total semester credits  – 13

ESM 351 Planning for Sustainable Communities – 3
AGEC 230 Agricultural Economics I – 3
GEOG 250 Introduction to Geographic Information Science (GISci) – 3
CHEM 215 Chemistry Laboratory Concepts and Techniques – 1
General Education SB/HF – 3
Total semester credits  – 13

Junior Year

ESM 245 Foundations of Ecological Restoration – 2
General Elective – 3
General Education HW (P ED 108) – 1
General Education SB/HF – 3
Global Perspective GP (GEOL 250) – 3
American Cultural Diversity ACD (ENGL 228) – 3
Total semester credits – 15

ESM 333 Remote Sensing or ESM 363 GIS Applications in Natural Resources – 3
ESM 360 Hydrology and Water Quality – 4
Directed Elective Course – 6
General Elective – 3
Total semester credits – 16

Senior Year

AGEC 445 / ESM 445 Land Use and Sustainable Agricultural Law – 3
ESM 411 Site Planning & Development – 4
GEOL 269 Environmental Geology – 3
Directed Elective Course – 3
General Elective – 2
Total semester credits – 15

ESM 485 Seminar: Resource Management – 1
ESM 435 Advanced Land Use Planning and Design – 4
Directed Elective Courses – 6
General Elective – 3
Total semester credits – 14

Summary of Requirements 

University Requirements – 6 cr.
General Education – 35 cr.
Core – 23 cr.
Required Supporting Courses – 10 cr.
Environmental Planning Option – 20 cr.
Directed Electives – 15 cr.
General Electives – 11 cr.
Credits to Degree – 120 cr.

ESM 270 Internship I – 4: Usually taken by the student during the summer after the freshman, sophomore, or junior year.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. After consulting with their advisers, students may make other course choices which would meet the program requirements and be more suitable for them.