Environmental Values

Undergraduate Minor

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Tackle pressing challenges with an environmental values minor

The world needs passionate people who understand and can address our most pressing environmental challenges. That’s why we created the environmental values minor! This unique, interdisciplinary curriculum connects natural sciences, humanities and social sciences to help students see environmental issues from multiple perspectives.

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This program is currently offered in
the following locations:

Laramie Campus

About the Environmental Values Minor

The environmental values minor at the University of Wyoming provides a solid foundation in ethics, culture and policy. The unique, interdisciplinary curriculum teaches students to explore the ethical, visual, cultural and creative dimensions of environmental issues. It consists of 18 credit hours of courses. This minor is also flexible and designed to work with any UW bachelor’s degree, so if you’re passionate about the environment, this program is for you!


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Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming to declare an environmental values minor.

The environmental values program combines fundamentals of social sciences, natural sciences and humanities to create a unique, interdisciplinary curriculum. This framework helps students analyze complex environmental challenges holistically and from many different perspectives. Unique courses, including art and ecology, cultures of nature in the United States and vertical dance, allow students to explore environmental issues through cultural and artistic lenses. This focus on creativity and culture adds a distinctive dimension to the program. With an environmental values minor, you'll also get to engage in an area of concentration that best suits your values, needs and primary program of study.

Concentrations:

  • Aesthetics
  • Culture
  • Ethics
  • Policy
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Environmental Values Program Highlights

Study Abroad Programs

Studying abroad is an incredible way to broaden your perspective and gain memorable life experiences. UW offers many study abroad programs that work in conjunction with the environmental values minor. Whether you study conservation efforts in Africa, environmental sustainability in Europe or resource management in Asia, you’ll come home with a better understanding of global challenges and how to make an impact.

STUDY ABROAD

Many students complete projects that directly benefit local communities. Some work on habitat restoration and sustainability initiatives, while others provide environmental education. These projects foster a sense of civic responsibility and allow students to see the tangible impacts of their efforts.

 

Student-led organizations are a great way to connect with like-minded students, network with professionals and make a difference in the UW community.

  • Service, Leadership and Community Engagement (SLCE)
  • Campus Sustainability Committee

STUDENT-LED ORGANIZATIONS

The environmental values minor is full of interesting courses that prepare you to make a difference in the world.

  • Environmental Ethics: This course explores ethical issues related to the environment, including human responsibilities toward nature, environmental sustainability, and the moral status of non-human entities. 
  • Environment and Society: This interdisciplinary course examines the relationships between environmental systems and human societies. It covers a range of topics, including environmental sustainability, resource management and the social dimensions of environmental problems.
  • American Environmental History: This course explores the historical relationship between Americans and their environment. Students study how environmental issues have influenced U.S. history, including conservation movements and land-use policies.

 

Study Abroad Programs

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What can you do with an environmental values minor?

The environmental values minor is a wonderful addition for anyone looking to make an environmental impact in their career. The knowledge and skills gained can be applied to careers in sustainability, education, conservation, ecology and so much more.

The environmental values minor explores the ethical, cultural and philosophical questions behind environmental issues. Unlike environmental science, which focuses on natural systems, or environmental studies, which emphasizes policy and problem-solving, this minor looks at how human values, beliefs and worldviews shape our relationship with the natural world.

Yes, the environmental values minor can support careers in sustainability, conservation or policy by strengthening your ability to think critically about ethical and cultural aspects of environmental decision-making. It pairs well with majors in science, policy or the humanities and helps you stand out as someone who can navigate complex social and moral dimensions of environmental work.

The environmental values minor builds skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning and clear communication—foundations that are highly valued in graduate and law school. By exploring how values shape environmental decisions, you’ll be prepared to engage deeply with complex issues in fields like environmental law, public policy, philosophy or sustainability studies.

You'll take a variety of interdisciplinary courses, spanning culture, ethics and policy. Specific course topics include environmental anthropology, global justice, environmental politics and more!

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Related Programs

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