In the Watershed Sustainability concentration, students will focus on how human systems interact with the physical, chemical, and biological processes in watersheds. They will combine foundational science courses with background in sociology and economics, in preparation for upper division courses on water resources, water economics, and sustainability. 

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.
  • Describe how social, institutional, governance, and economic factors affect allocation and management of water resources
  • 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

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CHEM 103Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2)3A3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
ESS 120Intro to Ecosystem and Watershed Sciences 1
ESS 129Information Management for Sustainability 1
GES 120Water Sustainability in the Western US 3
GR 204/WR 204Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2)3A3
Select 4 credits from the following: 4
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)3A 
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)3A 
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Physical Geography  
Introduction to Geology-Parks and Monuments (GT-SC2)3A 
Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3A 
The Blue Planet - Geology of Our Environment (GT-SC2)3A 
Geology of Natural Resources (GT-SC2)3A 
Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers3A 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 27-28
Sophomore
 
AREC 342Water Law, Policy, and Institutions 3
ATS 150Science of Global Climate Change 3
LIFE 320Ecology 3
PH 110Physics of Everyday Phenomena (GT-SC2)3A3
STAT 158Introduction to R Programming 1
Select one course from the following: 3
Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)3C 
Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)3C 
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1)1B 
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B 
Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B 
Select one course from the following: 3
Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)3C 
Social Problems (GT-SS3)3C 
Select one course from the following: 3
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics  
Arts and Humanities3B3
Electives 3
 Total Credits 31-32
Summer 
NR 220Natural Resource Ecology and Measurements 5
 Total Credits 5
Junior
 
ESS 312Sustainability Science 3
NR 319Introduction to Geospatial Science 4
WR 416Land Use Hydrology4B3
WR 418Land Use and Water Quality 3
WR 486Watershed Field Practicum 2
Select one course from the following:23
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Specialized Professional Writing2 
Select one course from the following: 3
Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being  
Natural Resources History and Policy  
Arts and Humanities3B3
Watershed Science Department List (see list below) 3
Electives 3
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
WR 440Watershed Problem Analysis4A,4B,4C3
Watershed Science Department List (see list below) 3
Sustainability Elective List (see list below) 9
Electives1 10-12
 Total Credits 25-27
 Program Total Credits: 120

Sustainability Elective List

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

AREC 341Environmental Economics3
AREC 442Water Resource Economics3
ECON 340/AREC 340Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources3
ESS 353Global Change Impacts, Adaptation, Mitigation3
ESS 365Global Climate Justice3
ESS 400Global Perspectives on Sustainability3
GES 460Law and Sustainability3
GR 331Geography of Farming Systems3
NR 425Natural Resource Policy and Sustainability3
SOC 322Environmental Justice3
SOC 362Social Change3
SOC 461Water and Social Justice3

Watershed Science Elective List

Select a minimum of 6 credits from courses not taken elsewhere in the program. Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

AREC 305Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis3
AREC 310Agricultural Marketing3
AREC 375Agricultural Law3
ATS 350Introduction to Weather and Climate2
ATS 351Introduction to Weather and Climate Lab1
BZ 440Plant Physiology3
BZ 441Plant Physiology Laboratory2
BZ 471Stream Biology and Ecology3
BZ 472Stream Biology and Ecology Laboratory1
CHEM 334Quantitative Analysis Laboratory1
CHEM 335Introduction to Analytical Chemistry3
CHEM 338Environmental Chemistry3
CIVE 322Basic Hydrology3
CIVE 330Ecological Engineering3
CIVE 413Environmental River Mechanics3
CIVE 423Groundwater Engineering3
CIVE 425Soil and Water Engineering3
CIVE 440Nonpoint Source Pollution3
ERHS 448Environmental Contaminants3
ESS 311Ecosystem Ecology3
ESS 471Special Topics in Ecosystem Sustainability1-6
ESS 474Limnology3
F 311Forest Ecology3
F 324Fire Effects and Adaptations3
FW 300Biology and Diversity of Fishes2
FW 301Ichthyology Laboratory1
GEOL 446Environmental Geology3
GEOL 452Hydrogeology4
GEOL 454Geomorphology4
GEOL 551Groundwater Modeling3
GEOL 552Advanced Topics in Hydrogeology2-3
GEOL 553Use of Tracers in Hydrogeology3
GES 440/ATS 440Sea Level Rise and a Sustainable Future3
GES 470Applications of Environmental Sustainability3
GR 320Cultural Geography3
GR 330Urban Geography3
GR 333Glaciers and Climate Change3
GR 345Geography of Hazards3
GR 348Biogeography3
GR 410Climate Change: Science, Policy, Implications3
GRAD 592Water Resources Seminar1
NR 310Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being3
NR 320Natural Resources History and Policy3
NR 323/GR 323Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation3
NR 330Human Dimensions in Natural Resources3
NR 365Environmental Education3
NR 370Coastal Environmental Ecology3
NR 375Environment and Natural Resources Leadership1
NR 400Public Communication in Natural Resources3
NR 422GIS Applications in Natural Resource Management4
NR 450Geospatial Project Design and Analysis4
NRRT 330Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management3
NRRT 362Environmental Conflict Management3
RS 478Ecological Restoration3
SOC 323Soc. of Environmental Cooperation & Conflict3
SOC 324Food Justice3
SOC 463Sociology of Disaster3
SOCR 322Principles of Microclimatology3
SOCR 370Climate-Smart Irrigation Principles2
SOCR 371Climate-Smart Irrigation Management1
SOCR 375Soil Biogeochemistry3
SOCR 440Pedology4
SOCR 500Environmental Measurement Laboratory1
WR 406Seasonal Snow Environments3
WR 492Seminar3
WR 575Snow Hydrology Field Methods1
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 ProgramThis program assumes that students will either test out of or take the prerequisite Mathematics courses (MATH 117, MATH 118MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126) prior to the courses listed in this plan.
 

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 103Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2)X 3A3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
ESS 120Intro to Ecosystem and Watershed SciencesX  1
ESS 129Information Management for SustainabilityX  1
GES 120Water Sustainability in the Western USX  3
GR 204/WR 204Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2)X 3A3
 Total Credits   14
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select 4 credits from the following:X  4
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)  3A 
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)  3A 
Select one course from the following:X  3-4
Physical Geography  3B 
Introduction to Geology-Parks and Monuments (GT-SC2)  3A 
Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2)  3A 
The Blue Planet - Geology of Our Environment (GT-SC2)  3A 
Geology of Natural Resources (GT-SC2)  3A 
Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers  3A 
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionX 1C3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
 Total Credits   13-14
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ATS 150Science of Global Climate ChangeX  3
ECON 202 or AREC 202Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)
Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)
X 3C3
PH 110Physics of Everyday Phenomena (GT-SC2)X 3A3
Select one course from the following:X  3-4
Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1)  1B 
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
Electives   3
 Total Credits   15-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 342Water Law, Policy, and InstitutionsX  3
LIFE 320EcologyX  3
SOC 100 or 105Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)
Social Problems (GT-SS3)
X 3C3
STAT 158Introduction to R ProgrammingX  1
STAT 301 or 315Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics
X  3
Arts and Humanities X3B3
WR 204/GR 204 must be completed by the end of SemesX   
 Total Credits   16
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 220Natural Resource Ecology and MeasurementsX  5
 Total Credits   5
Junior
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
NR 320 or 310Natural Resources History and Policy
Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being
   3
NR 319Introduction to Geospatial Science   4
WR 416Land Use HydrologyX 4B3
WR 486Watershed Field PracticumX  2
Watershed Science Department List (see list on Concentration Requirements tab)   3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ESS 312Sustainability ScienceX  3
WR 418Land Use and Water QualityX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
Specialized Professional Writing  2 
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Electives X 3
 Total Credits   15
Senior
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Sustainability Elective List (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) X 6
Watershed Science Department List (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) X 3
Electives X 3
 Total Credits   12
Semester 9CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
WR 440Watershed Problem AnalysisX 4A,4B,4C3
Sustainability Elective List (see list on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
ElectivesX  7-9
The benchmark courses for the 9th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   13-15
 Program Total Credits:   120