Office in Engineering Building, Room E102
watercenter.colostate.edu
Coordinated by the Colorado Water Center in partnership with the School of Global Environmental Sustainability.
Water is a complex, interdisciplinary topic that is critical to our economic, societal, and environmental well-being. Issues surrounding water supply, water quality, and ecological relationships have become increasingly important in Colorado, the American West, and internationally as water demands increase. The complexity of these issues and competition among various water users demands that students interested in pursuing careers in water gain a broad introduction to the issues while specializing in a particular discipline.
CSU has developed considerable water resources expertise in many academic fields over the past century. The Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary Minor (SWIM) requires 21 credits and a minimum of 12 upper-division (300- 400-level) courses which allow undergraduates to take advantage of this expertise and broaden their background in water resources to prepare for employment or graduate-level work.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Describe the physical and biological basis for sustainable water resources.
- Explain basic concepts in watershed function.
- Analyze and discuss important issues in the economics and policies of water resources.
- Apply knowledge and skills from their major discipline to water-related issues.
Effective Fall 2022
Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- to 400-level) credits.
Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses (9 credits) | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Issues in Environmental Economics (GT-SS1) | ||
| Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| AREC 342 | Water Law, Policy, and Institutions | 3 |
| GES 120 | Water Sustainability in the Western US | 3 |
| Foundations of Water (3 credits) | ||
| Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following Foundation course groups: | 3 | |
| Select no more than one course from the following: | ||
| Basic Concepts of Plant Life (GT-SC2) | ||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | ||
| Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1) | ||
| Introduction to Fishery Biology | ||
| Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1) | ||
| Select no more than one course from the following: | ||
| Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2) | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Select no more than one course from the following: | ||
| Physical Geography | ||
| Introduction to Geography (GT-SS2) | ||
| Select no more than one course from the following: | ||
| Foundations in Ecosystem Science | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2) | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Select no more than one course from the following: | ||
| Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | ||
| The Blue Planet - Geology of Our Environment (GT-SC2) | ||
| Geology of Natural Resources (GT-SC2) | ||
| Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers | ||
| Select no more than one course from the following: | ||
| Physics of Everyday Phenomena (GT-SC2) | ||
| General Physics I (GT-SC1) | ||
| Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1) | ||
| Contexts of Water (9 credits) | ||
| Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following courses. At least 3 credits must be taken in each Context category. | 9 | |
| Sociological-Economic Context | ||
| World Interdependence-Population and Food (GT-SS3) | ||
| Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources 1 | ||
| Environmental Economics 1 | ||
| Sustainable Practice-Design and Construction | ||
| Literature of the Earth | ||
| Foundations of Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Writing About Science, Health, and Environment | ||
| Social and Sustainable Venturing | ||
| Natural Resources History and Policy | ||
| Ethics of Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| Soc. of Environmental Cooperation & Conflict | ||
| Water and Social Justice | ||
| Biological and Physical Context | ||
| Science of Global Climate Change | ||
| Marine Biology | ||
| Stream Biology and Ecology | ||
| Basic Hydrology | ||
| Ecological Engineering | ||
| Environmental River Mechanics | ||
| Groundwater Engineering | ||
| Nonpoint Source Pollution | ||
| Environmental Health--Water Quality | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Biology and Diversity of Fishes | ||
| Ichthyology Laboratory | ||
| Conservation of Fish in Aquatic Ecosystems | ||
| Hydrogeology | ||
| Landscape Irrigation and Water Conservation | ||
| Climate-Smart Irrigation Principles | ||
| Irrigation of Field Crops | ||
| Sustainable Watersheds (GT-SC2) | ||
| Seasonal Snow Environments | ||
| Land Use Hydrology | ||
| Land Use and Water Quality | ||
| Snow Hydrology | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 21 | |