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University of Montana Catalog 2024-2025

Water Science and Society Certificate

The Water Science and Society Certificate provides students from a range of majors with foundational knowledge in water science and policy. Students take courses in the biological, physical, and policy sciences, and courses focused on skills relevant to understanding and managing water. The certificate culminates in a capstone experience that enables students to apply conceptual water knowledge to a project.

General Certificate Requirements

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

POST-SECONDARY CERTIFICATE - WATER SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

Course Requirements

Social/Policy
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Water Policy
Water and Sustainability
Physical
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Weather and Climate
The Water Planet
Hydrogeology
Hydrology
Watershed Hydrology
Biological/Ecolgoical
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Freshwater Ecology
Stream Ecology
Lake Ecology
Biology and Management of Fishes
Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology
Skills
Complete one of the following courses:3
Data Visualization
Principles of Microeconomics
Economics of the Environment
Introduction to Environmental Economics & Climate Change
Intro to GIS and Cartography
Field Techniques
Planning Principles & Processes
Environmental Planning
Community & Regional Analysis
Spatial Analysis & GIS
Remote Sensing/Raster GIS
Collaborations in Natural Resource Decisions
Public Administration
Special Topics (Agency Policy-Making)
Natural Resource Interpretation and Communication
Capstone 1
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Environmental Drawing
Painting II
A thesis or internship course in the student's home department.
A field course with a project or research component.
Total Hours15
1

The course that satisfies this requirement must include a substantive project that is focused on water. To meet this requirement, students can complete a thesis, an internship, or a field course. Alternatively, they can complete one of the art courses listed below. In all cases, the project needs to be focused on water.

 
 

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