Major in Watershed Science and Sustainability, Watershed Science Concentration

Program Overview

The Watershed Science concentration at this university prepares students to understand the physical, chemical, social, and biological factors of watersheds. The program emphasizes field learning and technical skills, including watershed measurements, data analysis, modeling, and research. Graduates qualify for federal hydrology jobs under the Office of Personnel Management series 1315, emphasizing career opportunities in water science and management.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Watershed Science concentration focuses on the physical, chemical, social, and biological factors that affect the quantity, quality, and flux of water. The program emphasizes field learning and technical skills, with core classes emphasizing watershed measurements, data analysis, modeling, and research. Students graduating in the watershed science concentration will qualify for federal hydrology jobs under the Office of Personnel Management series 1315.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate core concepts in watershed science and sustainability including climate processes, surface and subsurface hydrology, water quality, human uses of water, and sustainable water management.
• Describe how different types of land and water use affect hydrologic processes and water quality.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret meteorological, hydrological, and water quality, water use and management data.
• Analyze watershed problems and sustainability challenges using geospatial data, field observations, sensor data, and watershed models.
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills.

Outline:

The program is structured over four years, with a total of 120 credits required for graduation. The program is divided into semesters, with specific courses assigned to each semester.

Freshman Year:

• Semester 1:
• CO 150 College Composition (GT-CO2) - 1 credit
• ESS 120 Intro to Ecosystem and Watershed Sciences - 1 credit
• WR 204/GR 204 Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• Select one group from the following:
• Group A: CHEM 107 Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) - 3 credits, CHEM 108 Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) - 3 credits
• Group B: CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) - 3 credits, CHEM 112 General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) - 3 credits
• Total Credits: 13
• Semester 2:
• STAT 158 Introduction to R Programming - 1 credit
• Select one course from the following:
• ESS 210/GR 210 Physical Geography - 3-4 credits
• GEOL 110 Introduction to Geology-Parks and Monuments (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• GEOL 120 Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• GEOL 122 The Blue Planet - Geology of Our Environment (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• GEOL 124 Geology of Natural Resources (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• GEOL 150 Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers - 3 credits
• Select 4 credits from the following:
• BZ 120 Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1) - 3 credits
• BZ 110 & BZ 111 Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) - 3 credits
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - 1 credit
• Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 credits
• Total Credits: 14-15

Sophomore Year:

• Semester 3:
• SOCR 240 Introductory Soil Science - 4 credits
• Arts and Humanities - 3 credits
• Total Credits: 16
• Semester 4:
• LIFE 320 Ecology - 3 credits
• MATH 161 or 255 Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1) or Calculus for Biological Scientists II - 1 credit
• PH 122 or 142 General Physics II (GT-SC1) or Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1) - 3 credits
• STAT 301 or 315 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods or Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics - 3 credits
• Total Credits: 15

Junior Year:

• Semester 5:
• NR 220 Natural Resource Ecology and Measurements - 5 credits
• Total Credits: 5
• Semester 6:
• NR 319 Introduction to Geospatial Science - 4 credits
• WR 416 Land Use Hydrology - 4 credits
• WR 474 Snow Hydrology - 3 credits
• WR 486 Watershed Field Practicum - 2 credits
• Electives - 3 credits
• Total Credits: 15
• Semester 7:
• AREC 342 Water Law, Policy, and Institutions - 3 credits
• WR 418 Land Use and Water Quality - 3 credits
• Select one course from the following:
• CO 301B Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) - 2 credits
• JTC 300 Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3) - 2 credits
• LB 300 Specialized Professional Writing - 2 credits
• Arts and Humanities - 3 credits
• Electives - 3 credits
• Total Credits: 15

Senior Year:

• Semester 8:
• WR 417 Watershed Measurements - 3 credits
• Select one from the following:
• GEOL 452 Hydrogeology - 4 credits
• SOCR 470 & SOCR 471 Soil Physics - 4 credits
• Select one course from the following:
• BZ 471 Stream Biology and Ecology - 3 credits
• ESS 474 Limnology - 3 credits
• Watershed Science Elective (See list on requirements tab.)
• 3 credits
• Total Credits: 13
• Semester 9:
• WR 440 Watershed Problem Analysis - 4 credits
• Historical Perspectives - 3 credits
• Watershed Science Elective (See list on requirements tab.)
• 3 credits
• Electives - 4-5 credits

Careers:

Students graduating in the watershed science concentration will qualify for federal hydrology jobs under the Office of Personnel Management series 1315.

Other:

The program assumes that students will either test out of or take the prerequisite Mathematics courses (MATH 117, MATH 118, MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126) prior to the courses listed in the plan.