ENVIRST 403 is a variable-topic course within environmental studies where specific content changes each offering.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sample← Departments
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Environmental Studies - Gaylord Nelson Institute
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The department at a glance
All recorded grades average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
How grades break down
Grades over time
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
About these statistics
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Fall 2026
Recorded this termcourses with offerings
instructors recorded
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
Find your next class
64 coursesHistorical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.
ENVIRST 417 analyzes sustainability concepts across diverse fields like energy, ecology, and policy using tools like GIS and modeling.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CAPSTONE is an interdisciplinary investigation of real-world environmental challenges using diverse academic perspectives.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Spring 2022–Spring 2026ENVIRST 699
Directed Study
1–3 creditsENVIRST 699 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent work in environmental studies under instructor supervision.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleENVIRST 900
Seminar
1–3 creditsENVIRST 900 is a graduate-level seminar covering special topics selected with each offering.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026This graduate orientation seminar introduces the organizational structure, policies, and practices of the Nelson Institute, focusing on the opportunities and challenges of being a student in a cross-campus interdisciplinary program.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
ENVIRST 909 teaches professional skills for interdisciplinary energy analysis and policy, including career development and practitioner insights.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Explores remote sensing applications in international development, focusing on project completion, data sources, and policy change.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sampleENVIRST 972
Conservation Planning
4 creditsENVIRST 972 teaches systematic and adaptive processes for planning, monitoring, and evaluating conservation projects and programs.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleThis course offers a weekly series of presentations by practitioners with direct experience in conservation biology and sustainable development.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION TOOLS MODULES provides training in specific tools and methods for environmental conservation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ENVIRST 990
Research
1–12 creditsENVIRST 990 is an independent research and writing course fulfilling thesis or dissertation requirements.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
ENVIRST 999
Advanced Independent Study
1–5 creditsENVIRST 999 is an advanced independent study course in environmental studies where students conduct independent work under instructor supervision.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleFORESTS OF THE WORLD covers global forest ecology, conservation strategies, and management trade-offs outside the USA.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY examines US natural resources policy and law, investigating the policy-making process and the role of science, values, and economics.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleThis course examines the ecology, causes, and consequences of species extinction, including habitat alteration and conservation strategies.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Karie Cherwin: Reviewers consistently rate the difficulty as low, noting that content is easy and tests are fair, though some find the lack of structure challenging.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Introduction to how the Earth system works and what makes Earth livable.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Workload centers on four non-cumulative exams. Some find exams tough due to content volume, while others report easy tests if attending lectures. Textbook reading is often considered optional.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ENVIRST/GEOG 127 introduces physical environmental systems and their interconnections through case studies and field work.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Exams are considered difficult and heavily weighted, requiring students to study lecture notes and readings rather than relying solely on posted slides or lab work.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleGLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES explores the global and local nature of environmental problems through an interdisciplinary and geographic perspective.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Grades rely on three exams and weekly discussion papers. Exams are frequently described as difficult, specific, or poorly worded, requiring strict attendance and note-taking as slides are often unhelpful.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026NATURE, POWER AND SOCIETY explores links between nature, power, and society, examining resource relationships and environmental justice.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Reviewers describe the course as difficult due to strict grading and expectations to memorize over 200 vocabulary definitions without study guides.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleExamines conservation through a geographical lens, analyzing physical and social dimensions of environmental problems and debates.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is extremely easy, with exams based on provided review sheets. Turner requires reading and application of concepts, and he hosts review sessions before exams.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Examines political, socio-cultural, economic, and ecological aspects of development and human-environment relations in mainland Southeast Asia.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course involves two papers, readings, lectures, and a final exam, with unclear assignment expectations and specific exam questions.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sampleA survey of interactions between people and natural environments in America, covering ecological change, conservation, and public policy.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of William (bill) Cronon: Reviewers note a heavy reading load but manageable overall workload, with fair grading and clear exam guidance. Some students found the essay-style exams and tough six-page papers challenging, preferring paper-based synthesis over fact-cramming for exams.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025This course explores the application of GIS data, analytical tools, and implementation issues within planning contexts.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY applies geology to problems from intense use of the earth and its resources.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course features weekly online quizzes with two attempts and mandatory weekly labs. Quizzes are described as tough and sometimes misaligned with lecture content, while labs range from easy to math-heavy.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Explores sustainability ideals and realities in Central, Northern, and East European contexts through cultural, historical, and environmental perspectives.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
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Spring 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleIntroduction to Sustainability Science explores sustainability foundations using the UW-Madison campus as a living laboratory.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2025ENVIRST/PHILOS 441
Environmental Ethics
3–4 creditsENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS examines the adequacy of ethical theories in addressing harms to the land, posterity, endangered species, and the ecosystem itself.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Frederic Neyrat: Neyrat's summer section required four assignments for the entire grade, with moderate difficulty.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sampleCovers toxicologic and epidemiologic studies of air pollutants, including lung physiology, pollution sources, and regulatory controls.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025Introduction to energy analysis and policy, focusing on strategy and policy problems at national and international levels.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleAcross course levels
Recorded this termNo released grades for this term.
Recorded offerings over time
Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.