Minors
Environmental Science
The environmental science minor is an interdisciplinary program designed to give students, particularly those in the natural sciences, a broad understanding of the relationship of humans to the environment and the processes that occur in the natural environment. Environmental science has become an essential component of a wide variety of fields and in a variety of careers, and its importance will only increase in the future. This minor will help prepare students to respond to the demands of environmental understanding increasingly expected of 21st century people.
An environmental science minor requires 24 total credits. Review the degree requirements for a minor in environmental science.
Geographic Information Systems
The minor in geographic information systems prepares students for current modern trends in geospatial technology, computerized mapping, digital image processing, and spatial analysis. The GIS minor requires four courses in GIS and remote sensing, one course in computer science, one course in statistics, and six credits of electives (options are listed below).
The GIS minor incorporates dynamic changes in current advances in spatial sciences and technology. The students that complete a GIS minor significantly enhance their employment opportunities, especially in environmental consultation agencies, mapping technology industries, and surveying. The GIS minor pertains to any natural resource field, such as geology and biology, as well as social studies and business. A GIS minor combined with a computer science major is currently one of the most employable fields in geospatial analysis.
A Geographic Information Systems minor requires 24 total credits. Review the degree requirements for a minor in geographic information systems.
Geography
The geography minor is designed to offer broad training in physical and human geography content and techniques giving students diverse knowledge applicable to a wide range of careers. Students will explore the human and natural world through classroom, laboratory, and field experiences. This minor offers important skills for careers in planning, travel-tourism, teaching, criminal justice, agriculture, natural resource management, and international affairs. Review the degree requirements for a minor in geography.
Student learning outcomes
- Recognize the unique subject and methods of geography
- Understand the processes and patterns of the physical world and how human actions impact and interact with natural systems
- Develop a perspective that allows them to understand spatial variation and diversity on global, regional, and local scales
- Be able to use geographical concepts in contributing to the solution of societal and environmental problems
Social and Environmental Justice
As a Social and Environmental Justice minor, you’ll examine some of the major types of harm that impact people and our planet, as well as ideas that fuel and offer alternatives to ongoing social and environmental crises. You’ll engage in field experiences that will both enhance the well-being of other people and places and deepen your understanding of the world in which we live. Provided by funding from a UW-Platteville alumnus concerned about global issues regarding human rights and the environment, the Social and Environmental Justice minor offers a unique contribution to UW-Platteville's curriculum.
The Social and Environmental Justice minor provides the following outcomes:
- Graduates will be socially and environmentally literate and possess a broad-based knowledge of historic and contemporary social and environmental issues including the principles of dignity and protection of basic rights for both humans and the planet.
- Graduates will be able to engage communities and embrace diversity world-wide through good communication and ethical behavior.
- Graduates will embrace integrated thinking and possess analytical skills for problem solving, including being able to work well independently and cooperatively.
- Graduates will be intellectually curious and value lifelong learning.