Major in Watershed Science and Sustainability, Watershed Data Concentration

The Watershed Data concentration focuses on fusing data science skills and techniques with deep knowledge of the physical, chemical, social, and biological factors that affect the quantity and quality of water as it moves through ecosystems. Students will engage in field, laboratory, and classroom research in both watershed and data science courses, and graduate with a Minor in Applied Data Science in addition to their major. The program starts with students taking core foundational physical and mathematical courses that build towards an understanding of how to use watershed data to better understand watershed function and management. Core classes emphasize watershed science, data analysis, data science techniques, and combining these skills for dynamic research and reporting.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• 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.
• Apply data science techniques to spatial and temporal datasets to address watershed and water resource problems.
• 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.

Effective Fall 2023

Data Science Elective List

Select a minimum of 3 credits from courses not taken elsewhere in the program. Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

Watershed Science Department List

Select a minimum of 9 credits from courses not taken elsewhere in the program. Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

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).

²

Completion of this major may satisfy requirements for a minor. Contact a Watershed Science advisor for more information.

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.