Water Resources, Certificate

(Code 160-601) 

Advisor: S. Clark (Geology and Environmental Science).

The Department of Geology and Environmental Science administers a Water Resources certificate. This certificate is intended for students who plan to enroll in a Master’s degree program in Water Resource Management, students interested in careers in environmental policy or environmental law, and any STEM and Geography majors interested in broadening their understanding of water-related topics.  Holistic water resources management integrates insights from a wide range of disciplines. The flexibility of this certificate allows individuals to tailor their course selection to focus on the aspects of water resources that are most relevant to each student’s specific interests.

Minimum of 15 credits required:15
Core (9-10 crs):
ENV/GEOG 377U.S. Environmental and Sustainability Policy3
GEOL 308Water Resources3
One course selected from:3-4
Environmental Chemistry
Aquatic Ecology
Watershed Analysis
Fluvial Processes and Landforms
Hydrogeology I
Beyond the core 9-10 credits, students must take two courses from the following broad array of water-related courses. Courses, if not used above, may be selected from:6-8
Vegetation Ecology
Aquatic Ecology *
Environmental Chemistry *
Environmental Economics
Water and Wastewater
Geographic Information Systems I
Climatology
Watershed Analysis *
Fluvial Processes and Landforms *
Global Environmental Change
Hydrogeology I *
Environmental Ethics
*Course may be counted in either the core or elective category, but not both.

 Note 1: Students cannot pursue the Geology major and the Water Resources certificate to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program.

Note 2: Students pursuing the Biology major or Geography major and the Water Resources certificate to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program must earn a minimum of 48 unique credits between their major and this certificate program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:

  • Explain Earth processes.
  • Use mathematics and computational methods to analyze scientific and geological data.
  • Read, write, and critically evaluate geological papers.
  • Construct an internally consistent geological map utilizing field data, topographic maps, geological maps, air photos, geographic information systems (GIS) data, and geological cross sections.
  • Use analytical and quantitative methods to evaluate an environmental problem.