Major in Watershed Science

Why Watershed Science at CSU?

Sustainable management of freshwater resources is an increasingly important and complex challenge in Colorado and worldwide, and we need scientists who can address complex water issues. The Watershed Science program focuses on how water moves through the landscape, what factors affect its quality, and how to manage water resources. Students begin their program by building a strong foundation in the physical and natural sciences in preparation for upper-division coursework in land-use hydrology, snow hydrology, water quality, and watershed problem analysis. Students gain hands-on experience with water measurements outside and in the lab, and build technical and writing skills to prepare them for careers in hydrology and water resources.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate:

• An understanding of the key concepts in watershed science including surface and subsurface hydrology and water quality.
• An understanding of land use effects on fresh water resources.
• Field and lab-based watershed measurement and data analysis skills.
• Skills in watershed problem analysis, including the use of GIS and watershed models.
• Strong critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills.

Potential Occupations

The B.S. in Watershed Science qualifies students for a wide variety of careers in hydrology and water resources management. Examples include: watershed scientist, hydrologist, water quality analyst, watershed manager, environmental consultant, watershed use specialist, and water conservation specialist. Employment opportunities for graduates are found in consulting firms, governmental agencies, international development and resource management agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private industry. Graduates are also well positioned for advanced science degrees. The B.S. curriculum includes all of the requirements for graduates to meet the U.S. governmental hydrologist certification.

Effective Spring 2021

Watershed Science Department List

Select a minimum of 4 credits from courses not taken elsewhere in the program. Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AREC 442	Water Resource Economics	3
ATS 350	Introduction to Weather and Climate	2
ATS 351	Introduction to Weather and Climate Lab	1
BSPM 445	Aquatic Insects	4
BZ 440	Plant Physiology	3
BZ 441	Plant Physiology Laboratory	2
BZ 471	Stream Biology and Ecology	3
BZ 472	Stream Biology and Ecology Laboratory	1
CHEM 338	Environmental Chemistry	3
CIVE 322	Basic Hydrology	3
CIVE 330	Ecological Engineering	3
CIVE 413	Environmental River Mechanics	3
CIVE 423	Groundwater Engineering	3
CIVE 424/GEOL 424	Modern Gas and Oil	3
CIVE 425	Soil and Water Engineering	3
CIVE 440	Nonpoint Source Pollution	3
ERHS 448	Environmental Contaminants: Exposure and Fate	3
ESS 311	Ecosystem Ecology	3
ESS 312	Sustainability Science	3
ESS 412	Sustainable Cities	3
ESS 471	Special Topics in Ecosystem Sustainability	1-6
ESS 474/BZ 474	Limnology	3
F 311	Forest Ecology	3
F 324	Fire Effects and Adaptations	3
FW 300	Biology and Diversity of Fishes	2
FW 301	Ichthyology Laboratory	1
GES 470	Applications of Environmental Sustainability	3
GEOL 446	Environmental Geology	3
GEOL 452	Hydrogeology	4
GEOL 454	Geomorphology	4
GEOL 551	Groundwater Modeling	3
GEOL 552	Advanced Topics in Hydrogeology	2-3
GEOL 553	Use of Tracers in Hydrogeology	3
GR 410	Climate Change: Science, Policy, Implications	3
GRAD 592	Water Resources Seminar	1
NR 310	Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being	3
NR 320	Natural Resources History and Policy	3
NR 323/GR 323	Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation	3
NR 370	Coastal Environmental Ecology	3
NR 422	GIS Applications in Natural Resource Management	4
NRRT 330	Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management	3
NRRT 362	Environmental Conflict Management	3
RS 478	Ecological Restoration	3
SOC 461	Water, Society, and Environment	3
SOCR 322	Principles of Microclimatology	3
SOCR 370	Irrigation Principles	2
SOCR 371	Irrigation of Field Crops	1
SOCR 440	Pedology	4
SOCR 500	Environmental Measurement Laboratory	1
WR 406	Seasonal Snow Environments	3
WR 492	Seminar	3
WR 575	Snow Hydrology Field Methods	1

1	Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program: This 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 this plan.