One College,
many paths
Prepare
Wherever you are in your academic career, you can start preparing now for your environmental major or career.
Finding your path in the College of the Environment
At UW Environment you can explore the environment from the Earth’s core to outer space, using high- tech approaches to solve sustainability issues. Board a research ship to survey Pacific Ocean marine life. Trek into the Cascade Mountains to monitor volcanoes in the ancient Ring of Fire. Build computer models to predict how the climate is changing. Learn about natural resources from the communities who depend upon them. Not sure what you want to do? We get that. Try out a bunch of classes and experiences to find what you like. You’ll be challenged and supported.
Undergraduate majors
You can declare a major* in the College of the Environment at any time, starting on your first day of freshman year. See more than one major you like? College of the Environment majors can also be sampled as specially-designed minors (except Bioresource Science & Engineering). In addition, there are four interdisciplinary minors. You can learn more about these academic programs by exploring their websites and connecting with departmental academic advisers- expand the boxes below to see full listing information.
*Bioresource Science and Engineering is capacity constrained and students must apply to the major; Atmospheric and Climate Science has minimum requirements to declare the major.
![](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/UndergradPOE_NateMantua-200x200.jpg)
Environmental Studies
B.A., minor![](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Undergrad_BSE_KarlWirsing-200x200.jpg)
Bioresource Science and Engineering
B.S.![Undergraduate Students](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/UNdergrad_ESRM_CoEnvArchives-200x200.jpg)
Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management
B.S., minor![](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ESS_undergrad_KarlLang-200x200.jpg)
Earth and Space Sciences
B.A., B.S., minor![](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SAFS_undergrad_CoEnv-Archives-e1463439325760-200x200.jpg)
Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
B.S., minor![Atmospheric Sciences Undergraduate Students](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Undergrad_ATMOS_ATMOS-archives-200x200.jpg)
Atmospheric Sciences
B.S., minor![Students and instructors check out a marine worm that lives along Griffin Bay's sandy shores.](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FHLSOP_1-200x200.jpg)
Marine Biology
B.S., minor![Kathy Newell](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/OCEAN_KathyNewell-200x200.jpg)
Oceanography
B.A., B.S., minorInterdisciplinary minors
![An adult female and cub in fall 2017 on Wrangel Island, where hundred of Chukchi Sea polar bears spend the summer months.](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Adult-female-and-cub-Wrangel2017-200x200.jpg)
Arctic Studies
minor![](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/DeployingMannFloat-200x200.jpg)
Climate Science
minor![](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-18-at-12.24.27-PM-200x200.jpg)
Ecological Restoration
minor![Sarah Schooler walks up one of Lake Aleknagik's many streams, counting and tagging sockeye salmon.](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ALASKA_7-200x200.jpg)
Freshwater Science and Management
minor![Oceanography graduate students Seth Bushinsky, Emily Newsom, Ashley Maloney and Andrea Fassbender](https://environment.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/OceanographyStudents-05-200x200.jpg)
Quantitative Science
minor
Explore amazing courses
Introductory courses are a great way to explore majors in the College or round out your schedule with an engaging elective. See teaching spaces and watch our faculty in action in videos highlighting some of our amazing courses.
Transfer students
Transfer students are an important part of the College of the Environment community. Resources specific to future transfer student applicants are available to help ensure a smooth transition.
General education requirements
Students complete their major requirements and general education requirements, which expose them to a broad range of fields and areas of study within the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, applied sciences and technology.