After 30 years of discussion, University of Wisconsin officials are still considering whether or not to offer an Environmental Studies major.

At UW, students can focus their ecological concerns in an undergraduate Environmental Studies certificate program. While the certificate provides a base of knowledge, some wonder if an Environmental Studies major would be an appropriate addition to UW’s program.

The certificate program serves more than 300 students with a wide variety of majors and interests. Some students are involved in the program to help complement a related major that will aid them in finding an environmental career, while others are in the program simply because of their strong interest in and concern for the environment.

“It makes you more aware of the everyday issues of the world that we live in,” said senior Danielle Davis, a student studying to complete the Environmental Studies certificate program.

For Davis, a Marketing and Management major, the program is not applicable to her career as much as it will serve her everyday life.

“It has made me much more active,” she said.

With such important issues at hand, the heightened interest in Environmental Studies makes the potential major a thought-provoking consideration, said Tom Yuill, director of the Environmental Studies program.

“It is a topic of lively discussion,” Yuill said.

According to Yuill, the topic has been discussed for about 30 years.

With the certificate available, the necessity of a major is not as crucial, Yuill said. Also, the process of acquiring a major is intense.

“It is not easy putting a major together; there are a lot of hoops to jump through,” Yuill said.

The process would take two years to accomplish, involving approval from UW and ultimately the Board of Regents. Yet, such obstacles do not mean the major is out of reach.

“We’re seriously considering it. I think the timing is right,” Yuill said.

Yuill said the Environmental Studies faculty has been discussing the possibility with colleagues, including the Geology department, to avoid any overlaps with the department’s potential Environmental Science major.

An Environmental Studies major program would be very teacher-intensive, meaning a program as small as 40 students. The major would require 10-15 more credits than the certificate. Such a program would provide for the students who want to focus primarily on an environmental discipline, avoiding less-related majors.

“I think the major would help the students that have that passion and are trying to learn more in-depth,” Davis said.