Join us in the mountains where art, science, and the environment meet.
During a Semester at Tahoe, students engage with an interdisciplinary curriculum and thoughtful place-bound experiences. Earn a certificate in sustainability, work toward a minor in Art, Land and the Environment or choose courses that fit your passion and interests.
College of Liberal Arts programs
The Arts, Land and Environment minor gives students an opportunity to experience interdisciplinary study in a dynamic way, through a semester at the Lake Tahoe campus and through archival research at the Nevada Museum of Art. Courses in Art, English, Geography, Journalism and Sociology focus on creative interpretations of sustainability issues and are combined with outdoor exploration and immersive learning within the museum. Studying alongside students from across university departments, courses in the minor offer several core curriculum requirements and provide specialist skills and experience for future-facing careers related to Arts, Land and Environment.
Sustainability Certificate
This program equips students with the knowledge and skills to address environmental challenges across industries. Coursework covers sustainability theory, environmental policy and hands-on fieldwork, integrating Tahoe’s unique ecosystem into the learning experience. Students gain a recognized credential that enhances any career path while engaging with faculty and peers in a dynamic small-cohort setting.
General semester study
For students looking to broaden their studies, our semester-long program offers diverse courses that align with their academic goals. Small class sizes and an inspiring natural environment create an ideal space for focused learning while field-based experiences provide opportunities to apply knowledge beyond the classroom. This option allows for academic exploration while benefiting from the close-knit community and expert instruction of our Tahoe campus.
91·çÃùÄñ³ª students spending a Semester at Tahoe may qualify for a limited number of housing discounts in the Prim-Schultz dorms. Students living on campus must purchase a meal plan for Patterson Dining Hall. Details can be found below in the FAQ or by filling out an interest form.
Undergraduate students interested in spending a semester on the Lake Tahoe campus are invited to apply. Courses meet several core and elective requirements for 91·çÃùÄñ³ª students. You can continue progress toward your degree in a one-of-a-kind learning environment and optionally earn a highly marketable certificate.
Interested students are encouraged to fill out an interest form. A member of our academic advisor team will follow up with you.
Students will take courses in interdisciplinary sustainability theory. A required colloquium invites leaders from various fields to speak to students throughout the semester on sustainability in their given field. Electives in sustainable topics and/or other available units toward their degree will fill the remainder of the student's schedule.
Each semester's cohort of students will live in the dorms on the Lake Tahoe campus, located less than a mile from the shores of Lake Tahoe. Build lifelong connections with your classmates while exploring one of the world’s most stunning natural settings. Events and activities throughout the semester encourage a deep sense of community while inspiring environmental stewardship of the Lake Tahoe Basin and all our planet's most precious natural resources.
We welcome National Student Exchange (NSE) students to the Tahoe campus for a Semester at Tahoe! Learn more on the NSE website or contact Henry Conover at hconover@unr.edu.
Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountain range provide unending opportunities to explore the natural environment and inspire your studies. Experience it all, from world-class skiing and snowboarding to miles of hiking and biking trails, destination-worthy rock climbing, scenic camping, awe-inspiring beaches and a thriving local community full of dining, shopping and activities.
The exciting part about studying at Lake Tahoe is that we have a living laboratory. To live and experience a place while understanding the basics of science through the classroom can be a remarkable experience.
Sudeep Chandra
Professor and Director of the Global Water Center, Director of the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies and member of the Tahoe Science Advisory Council
Colloquium in Sustainability
SUST 490 (1 credit). The colloquium brings leaders in the fields of climate change, climate justice, sustainability practice, science, technology and art to the Wayne L. Prim Campus to share their knowledge with our students. The intimate meeting-style setting makes this a unique experience for students to network with leaders in the field.
SUST 201 (2 credits). Introduces students to transdisciplinary concepts and principles of sustainability applicable across local and global scales. Offering a framework to examine challenges, opportunities and solutions to unpack the world’s most complex problems. It provides an overview of the environmental, economic, social, cultural and political issues and offers a holistic definition of sustainability including understanding how the past has shaped the present and views towards the future.
Sustainability I: Introduction to Sociology of Climate Change
SOC 235 (CO6, CO9). Explore the complex social causes of climate change, the impact of climate change on society and how society has and can respond to mitigate climate change.
Sustainability II: Sustainable Climate Solutions: Local to Global Perspectives
GEOG 422 (CO9, CO13). In a broad geographic overview of climate change, this course emphasizes the challenge of identifying and implementing appropriate societal responses. This includes surveys of mitigation, adaptation and Earth system engineering responses.
Sustainability III: Literature of Environmental Justice
ENG 342 (CO12, CO13). In this course, students will survey important environmental authors such as Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson and Octavia Butler and explore how such literature changes consciousness and influences policy.
Sustainability Certificate courses:
Other course offerings:
Selected online courses from the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª campus:
Students should check for the full schedule and meet with Lake Tahoe Coordinator of Academic Success Henry Conover for advising.
Sustainability certificate courses:
Other course offerings:
Students should check for the full schedule and meet with Lake Tahoe Coordinator of Academic Success Henry Conover for advising.
Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested students should begin the process early as space in the program is limited.
Fill out the interest form. This will get you connected with advisors for the Lake Tahoe Campus who can look at your schedule, answer your questions and help you fit the semester-long experience into your program of study.
Once you decide to spend a semester at Lake Tahoe, advisors for the Lake Tahoe Campus will enroll you pick your classes and, if you’re interested, enroll in one of our 12-credit certificate programs. credits are offered at the same price as your classes on main campus.
Once you are officially enrolled in the program, you will be prompted to secure your dorm room on campus. You can select a roommate or be placed with another participating student. Housing assignments will be generated the month prior to the start of classes and move-in.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to join us on campus for several organized overnight excursions or flexible weekend getaways.
Browse frequently asked questions, housing and dining details, and other information about the Sustainability Certificate program at Lake Tahoe.
The program is open to current undergraduate students at the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª. Students should have at least 12 credits completed. The program is built to enhance any major and all students are invited to enroll. The program of study pairs especially well with liberal arts, social sciences, journalism, geography and environmental sciences majors though all students can incorporate the program into their schedule with proper planning.
If interested, the best thing to do is reach out to our Lake Tahoe advisor early to determine when and how to best fit the program into your course of study.
Not a current student?
The program may be opened to non-students, recent graduates or students from other institutions. Students and community members interested in the Sustainability Certificate program are invited to fill out the interest form, noting that they are interested in participating as a non-student. Our Lake Tahoe advisor will reach out to share the process for enrolling in the program.
A full housing discount is available. This discount will cover the cost of occupancy in a double room in Prim-Shultz Hall. Discounts are provided on a first-come first-served basis. Students are encouraged to fill out an interest form to be connected with our Lake Tahoe advisor now to secure their spot.
Students participating in the Sustainability Certificate program are required to stay in the Lake Tahoe dorms and purchase a meal plan with the Patterson Hall dining room.
The total cost of the program would be your course credit/enrollment fees (which will be the same whether you take classes in Reno or at Lake Tahoe) plus the housing and dining fees outlined below.
The Lake Tahoe dorms are comparable and in many cases cheaper than housing in Reno. For example, the 2024-2025 rates for a double room with a shared bathroom in Argenta, Nevada LLC, Peavine or Great Basin would cost $4,350 for a semester – living in Reno would cost about $650 more than a comparable dorm at Lake Tahoe.
| Hall | Occupancy | Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell-Friedman, Prim-Schultz (double) | Double | $3,700 | $3,700 | $7,400 |
| Campbell-Friedman, Prim-Schultz (single) | Single | $5,300 | $5,300 | $10,600 |
Students are also required to purchase a meal plan for the Patterson Hall dining room. This cost is comparable to a meal plan in Reno.
| Meal plan | Description | Weekly meals | Annual FoodBucks* | Academic semester rate | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake | 19 swipes per week | 19 | $0 | $3,754.50 | $7,509 |
| Mountain (off-campus only) | 14 swipes per week This plan is only for students taking classes at Lake Tahoe who live off-campus. |
14 | $0 | $2,740.50 | $5,481 |
*Lake Tahoe meal plans do not include a FoodBucks option
Students must take all of their courses at the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª at Lake Tahoe, including their chosen elective(s). Students may opt to take an online course as their elective to apply to their program of study. Many electives across disciplines are offered at Lake Tahoe in addition to the four required courses for the Sustainability Certificate.
Meeting with our Lake Tahoe advisor will help you to determine a class schedule that best fits your major.
Upon completion of the program, you will have earned your Certificate in Sustainability from the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª – a Tier 1, Carnegie classified institution. This formal professional certification can be included on your resume along with your degree. it would also be helpful if you are interested in any competitive internships or jobs while in college.
Sustainability as a profession (or a large part of a profession) is a relatively new field and competition for these highly sought-after positions is fierce. Having your Sustainability Certificate will give you the edge needed in a competitive job market. Below are a few examples of majors, that when paired with the Sustainability Certificate, would make you a stand-out applicant for specific jobs upon graduating.
While we recommend the Sustainability Certificate to students who want to live and study at Lake Tahoe, students may choose to live at Lake Tahoe and take courses that do not meet the Sustainability Certificate requirements. We have a full list of electives and core courses available across disciplines including art, marketing, business, the sciences and more.
To , select the term you are interested in and select Lake Tahoe in the location drop down.
We recommend you meet with our Lake tahoe advisor and/or your major advisor as soon as possible if you have any interest in living at Lake Tahoe for a semester and taking classes. By talking to your advisor early, you will be able to better plan for the semester with minimal or no impact in your progress toward your degree.
Talking to an advisor early will make planning for the semester much easier. You can plan in a way that save the the offered Core Curriculum Requirements for the semester you spend at Lake Tahoe.
Each semester we adjust the required courses in the Sustainability Certificate to align with one of the . That means the focus will change slightly each semester, but the structure and interdisciplinary nature will remain the same. Required courses will always meet core requirements to make the experience align with students' academic careers.
Fill out our interest form and one of our advisors will reach out to you to discuss the program and your participation in more detail.