All CES Undergraduate Courses

This is a list of all courses offered in the program. Visit the Upcoming Courses page for a list of courses offered for the current and next semester (when available). 

CES 199 Independent Study
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
For further information, consult dept chair.
Prerequisites: 2.0 GPA; consent of instructor, department chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.
Course Rules: Retakable to 6 cr max.
CES 210 Introduction to Conservation and Environmental Science
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Relations between human populations and resource depletion, pollution and ecosystem disturbance; search for solutions. Discussion section includes some community activities with environmental organization. 2 hrs lec, 1 hr dis
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: NS
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023.
CES 289 Internship in Environmental Studies, Lower Division
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of basic principles of environmental studies in a business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting.
Prerequisites: introductory course in CES; 2.50 GPA, and consent of supervising faculty member.
Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship. Retakable to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Spring 2011, Summer 2010.
CES 297 Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM-sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared course work.
Prerequisites: acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2019, Spring 2019.
CES 299 Ad Hoc:
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept & assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add'l sem.
Prerequisites: none; add'l prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 1984.
CES 390 Changing Climate: A Conservation and Sustainability Approach
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Students explore the challenges of the past alongside current science, policy, and action to discover the opportunities emerging in our global future. International non-governmental organizations and empirical evidence support effective solutions.
Prerequisites: BIO SCI 150(P), CES 210(P), or FRSHWTR 101(P); or consent of instructor.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
CES 431 Natural History of Wisconsin: A Field Survey
2 cr. Undergraduate.
Field approaches across the natural sciences, survey of diversity of living and non-living components of systems studied by scientists over time, features of Wisconsin’s representative plant communities and animal habitat near campus.
Prerequisites: declared CES major or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: Counts as a repeat of CES 451 or BIO SCI 451.
CES 451 Field Methods in Conservation
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Introduction to methods, techniques and tools for natural area management, including plant/animal surveys, vegetation/habitat description, and incorporating hands-on experience.
Prerequisites: junior standing and BIO SCI 310(P) or equivalent; or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: 2 hr lec, 3 hrs lab. BIO SCI 451 and CES 451 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
CES 451G Field Methods in Conservation
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Introduction to methods, techniques and tools for natural area management, including plant/animal surveys, vegetation/habitat description, and incorporating hands-on experience.
Prerequisites: junior standing and BIO SCI 310(P) or equivalent; or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: 2 hr lec, 3 hrs lab. BIO SCI 451 and CES 451 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
CES 461 The Politics and Policy of Sustainability
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Principles of environmental policy, governance, and management for global sustainability.
Prerequisites: junior standing; CES 210(P) or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: CES 461, FRSHWTR 461, & GLOBAL 461 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Fall 2021, Fall 2020.
CES 461G The Politics and Policy of Sustainability
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Principles of environmental policy, governance, and management for global sustainability.
Prerequisites: junior standing; CES 210(P) or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: CES 461, FRSHWTR 461, & GLOBAL 461 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Fall 2021, Fall 2020.
CES 471 Practicum in Natural Resources Management
4 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Preparation and presentation of a natural resource or environmental management plan for a real-world client.
Prerequisites: senior standing, BIO SCI 310(P), declared CES major, and at least 6 credits of CES approved upper-level electives; or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: 2 hr lecture, twice per week.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
CES 471G Practicum in Natural Resources Management
4 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Preparation and presentation of a natural resource or environmental management plan for a real-world client.
Prerequisites: senior standing, BIO SCI 310(P), declared CES major, and at least 6 credits of CES approved upper-level electives; or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: 2 hr lecture, twice per week.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
CES 489 Internship in Environmental Studies, Upper Division
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of advanced principles of environmental studies in a business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting.
Prerequisites: junior standing; 300-level or above course in conservation and environmental science; 2.5 GPA and consent of supervising faculty member.
Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship. Retakable to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Summer 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Summer 2024.
CES 497 Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared course work.
Prerequisites: junior standing and acceptance for Study Abroad Program.
Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2023, Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018.
CES 499 Ad Hoc:
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires department and associate dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one additional semester.
Prerequisites: junior standing; additional prerequisites may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2011.
CES 515 Environmental Law for Natural Resource Managers
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Overview of United States environmental and natural resource law.
Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: Counts as repeat of CES 499 with same topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2024.
CES 515G Environmental Law for Natural Resource Managers
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Overview of United States environmental and natural resource law.
Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: Counts as repeat of CES 499 with same topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2024.
CES 550 Introduction to Science Interpretation
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Concepts and practices of presenting science information for audience understanding of impact of science on daily life. Interpretation techniques for science content in nonformal settings.
Prerequisites: junior standing and CES 210(P); or consent of instructor.
Last Taught: UWinteriM 2017, UWinteriM 2015.
CES 550G Introduction to Science Interpretation
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Concepts and practices of presenting science information for audience understanding of impact of science on daily life. Interpretation techniques for science content in nonformal settings.
Prerequisites: junior standing and CES 210(P); or consent of instructor.
Last Taught: UWinteriM 2017, UWinteriM 2015.
CES 651 Principles of Stream Management and Restoration
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Stream management and restoration, open-channel hydraulics, stream geomorphology, stable channel design, sediment transport, and in-stream aquatic ecology and riparian corridor habitats.
Prerequisites: junior standing, BIO SCI 310(P), and MATH 211(P) or equivalents; or consent of instructor.
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
CES 651G Principles of Stream Management and Restoration
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Stream management and restoration, open-channel hydraulics, stream geomorphology, stable channel design, sediment transport, and in-stream aquatic ecology and riparian corridor habitats.
Prerequisites: junior standing, BIO SCI 310(P), and MATH 211(P) or equivalents; or consent of instructor.
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
CES 699 Advanced Independent Study
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Advanced level independent work under the supervision of CES faculty or academic staff member.
Prerequisites: junior standing, 2.0 GPA, and consent of instructor, department chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.
Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2022, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018.

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