College of Natural Resources / Soil and Waste Resources

Waste Management and Environmental Protection

Major

Have a Positive Impact on the Natural World

From solid or hazardous waste to water pollution, there is a career for you with a degree in Waste Management and Environmental Protection. Our program prepares you to be an innovator in your field through a strong science foundation and beneficial hands-on experiences.

Why study Waste Management and Environmental Protection at UW-Stevens Point?

Manage our natural and human-made resources efficiently with a degree in waste management and environmental protection. Graduates enjoy a 90-100% placement rate each year working at private companies and municipal, county, state, and federal agencies.

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Alumni Map

Where are they now?

UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources alumni live and work worldwide! Check out our map if you are interested in exploring job or networking opportunities close to home.

If you would like to add your information to our interactive alumni map, please fill out the form below.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Your degree prepares you to obtain your Wastewater Operator Certification. Waste Management and Environmental Protection graduates find positions at landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and other waste management facilities. Their job titles include:

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Waste Research Specialist
Public Works Director
Environmental Consultant
County Solid Waste Director
Operations Manager

Wastewater Superintendent
Associate Professional (Engineering)
Resource Recovery Managers
Hazardous Waste Specialist
Environmental Compliance Specialist

GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS

Discover your passions, build your resume, and make friends along the way! Whether it is joining a student organization, working at one of our centers, or participating in research at one of our three field stations, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved.

Join the student chapter of the Waste Management Society, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, or any of our other 200+ student organizations housed within Campus Activities and Student Engagement.

Our Center for Watershed Science and Education provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to work alongside faculty and staff, conducting scientific research and performing laboratory analysis.

Present your research findings at professional meetings, conferences, and our annual Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium.

Read the CNR Reporter, a weekly newsletter with information on upcoming presentations, student organization meeting times, and other important happenings on and around campus.

Navigate Your Major

Soil and Waste Resources

Major Maps help you map your first day to the first job in your chosen field. While a four-year plan outlines the classes needed to earn a degree, Major Maps help you learn how to build career-ready skills and gain hands-on experience outside the classroom. Each Major Map shows how you can get the most out of your UW-Stevens Point journey from enrollment to graduation and beyond. It’s a roadmap to discovering your purpose!

Major Map

GAIN EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

A required internship provides real-world experiences ahead of graduation. Faculty members will work closely with you to find the right experience. Students have interned with organizations and companies, including:

Marathon County Solid Waste Department,
Wisconsin Rapids Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Prairie du Chien Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Verso Paper,
Village of Weston,
Marshfield Wastewater Treatment Plant,
New London Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Milwaukee County Zoo,
Waukesha Clean Water Plant,
Fond du Lac Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Stevens Point Wastewater Treatment Plant,

Fort Atkinson Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Dunn County Solid Waste and Recycling,
Veolia Water,
Necedah Public Works,
Janesville Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Recycling Connections,
Manitowoc County Recycling Center,
Brown County Resource Recovery,
Sand Creek Consulting,
and NEW Water.

Meet Your Faculty and Staff

The faculty members within the Soil and Waste Resources discipline bring a wide array of knowledge and experience to our indoor and outdoor classrooms at UW-Stevens Point.

View all our faculty and staff.

Soil and Waste Resources

At the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the Soil and Waste Resources program allows you to make a lasting impact on land and resource management. Whether you’re focused on improving crop production, developing sustainable land-use strategies, or managing waste and protecting the environment, our program offers the knowledge and skills to make a difference. You can specialize in soil science and land management, or in waste management and environmental protection, while gaining valuable hands-on experience in labs and field courses. Develop expertise in biology, chemistry, math, and communication, and be ready to take on a variety of environmental challenges.

Soil Science and Land Management