Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Energy, and Land Management is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to lead in the dynamic fields of land development, environmental stewardship, and energy innovation. This interdisciplinary program explores the intricate connections between business, environmental science, and land management, including nature-based climate initiatives, energy production, and infrastructure development. With national accreditation and insights from our industry advisory board, students receive a high-quality, relevant education that prepares them for diverse career paths in private business, government, consulting, or entrepreneurial ventures in the environmental and energy sectors. The program offers comprehensive training in identifying, leasing, and purchasing lands for development, and navigating the ethical, regulatory, and environmental frameworks crucial to success. Through hands-on learning experiences and projects that mirror real-world challenges, students gain practical expertise and a strong foundation to make a meaningful impact on the world through sustainable and innovative land and energy solutions.
Admissions for 2025-2026
- First-Time Freshman are admitted directly into the Environmental, Energy, and Land Management major.
- Students transferring from another major within WVU are directly admitted into the Environmental, Energy, and Land Management major if they are in good academic standing (2.00 GPA).
- Students transferring from another institution are directly admitted into the Environmental, Energy, and Land Management major if they are in good academic standing (2.00 GPA).
Major Code: 1705
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 40 | |
| Environmental, Energy, and Land Management Major Requirements | 80 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 | 24 | |
| ANRD 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
Environmental, Energy, and Land Management Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SUST 101 & 101L | Sustainable Earth and Sustainable Earth Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| Second Earth Science | 4 | |
| Select one of the following (GEF 8): | ||
| Earth System Science and Earth System Science Laboratory | ||
| Climate System Science and Climate System Science Laboratory | ||
| Digital Earth and GIS and Digital Earth and GIS Laboratory | ||
| Spatial Systems | 6 | |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment | ||
| Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems and Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | ||
| Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management | ||
| Land Coursework | ||
| ENLM 150 | Introduction to Environmental, Energy, and Land Management | 3 |
| or ARE 201 | Principles of Resource and Energy | |
| ENLM 200 | Principles of Environmental, Energy, and Land Management | 3 |
| ENLM 220 | Energy Production & Operations | 3 |
| ENLM 300 | Ethics and Negotiations for Land Managers | 3 |
| ENLM 390 | Land and Lease Analysis | 3 |
| ENLM 400 | Land Management Contracts 1 | 3 |
| ENLM 420 | Land Management Contracts 2 | 3 |
| Environmental Coursework | 21 | |
| Select seven of the following: | ||
| Agricultural and Natural Resources Law | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Resource Policy | ||
| Midstream Energy Planning and Development | ||
| Projects in Sustainable Land Reclamation Management | ||
| Renewable Resources Policy and Governance | ||
| Watershed Management | ||
| Drones in Resource Management | ||
| Land Use Planning Law | ||
| Energy Project and Program Management | ||
| Solar PV Technology & Policy Fundamentals | ||
| Environmental Regulation | ||
| Spatial Hydrology and Watershed Analysis | ||
| Sustainable Energy | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Professional Development and Capstone | ||
| ENLM 491 | Professional Field Experience | 3 |
| ENLM 450 | Land Management Strategic Planning | 3 |
| Business Perspective | 15 | |
Select one of the following minors: | ||
Agribusiness Management | ||
General Business | ||
Or select five of the following: | ||
| Survey of Economics | ||
| Legal Environment of Business | ||
| Information Systems and Technology | ||
| Principles of Finance | ||
| Supply Chain Management | ||
| Principles of Management | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Agribusiness Accounting | ||
| Enterprise Operation Law | ||
| Agribusiness Management | ||
| Marketing Agricultural Products | ||
| Agribusiness Finance | ||
| Total Hours | 80 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENLM 150 or ARE 201 | 3 |
| MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | Second Earth Science Choice (GEF 8) | 4 |
| SUST 101 & 101L (GEF 2) | 4 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| ANRD 191 | 1 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENLM 390 | 3 |
| ENLM 200 | 3 | Environmental Course | 3 |
| ENLM 220 | 3 | Business Choice | 3 |
| Business Choice | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| Environmental Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENLM 300 | 3 | ENLM 400 | 3 |
| Business Choice | 3 | Business Choice | 3 |
| Environmental Course | 3 | Environmental Course | 3 |
| Spatial Systems Choice | 3 | Environmental Course | 3 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENLM 420 | 3 | ENLM 450 | 3 |
| ENLM 491 | 3 | Environmental Course | 3 |
| Spatial Systems Choice | 3 | Environmental Course | 3 |
| Business Choice | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Environmental, Energy, and Land Management
This B.S. degree program and major will provide undergraduate students a knowledge-based framework that will develop skillsets essential to a successful career in land and resource management. Upon graduation from this degree program and major, students will be able to:
- Design operational plans that integrate industry and public stakeholder goals for sustainable land development
- Evaluate the types of interests in land resource ownership and demonstrate an understanding of the ownership, legal, and business issues related to environmental and energy management
- Explain and negotiate the key elements of energy- and environmental-related leases, contracts, and operating agreements under accepted standards of practice
- Develop budgets and financial projections associated with environmental and energy development and the economics related to multiple energy production systems
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities and effectively communicate with stakeholders, peers, and other professionals in both written and oral forms.