Course Number

Course Title

Description and prerequisites

Semester Taught

Credits

NR 2220   

General Ecology

Study of the interrelationships among organisms, humans, and their environments, addressing where and how organisms live.  Adaption, population growth, species interactions, biodiversity, and ecosystem function are explored for a wide variety of organisms and ecosystems.  Study of the interrelationships among organisms, humans, and their environments.

Fall and Spring

3

WATS 1020

Watershed Sciences Professional Orientation

Introduction and orientation to natural resource/ environmental disciplines and related professional careers for Watershed Sciences majors. Discussion of education, curricula, faculty, professional societies, and employment opportunities.

Fall

1

WATS 1200 BLS

Biodiversity: Its Conservation and Future

Today, species extinctions are occurring at an alarming rate. These losses of biodiversity occur because of changes humans have made to habitats and biogeochemical cycles of our planet. This course will provide students with an understanding of the biodiversity dilemma and the impacts our species is having on natural ecosystems. Ways to mitigate these impacts will be a focus of the last third of the course.

Fall and Spring

3

WATS 2250

Introductory Internship/Co-op

Introductory-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department.

Fall, Spring and Summer

1-3

WATS 2930

Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences

Introduces students to background and theory behind global position systems and remote sensing.  Through the use and development of maps, students learn to integrate information from different geographic sources.  Includes a weekly laboratory section.

Fall

4

WATS 3000

Oceanography

Examines fundamental interrelationships between physical environment of the oceans and the life forms they support. Suitable for non-biologists.

Spring

3

WATS 3100

Fish Diversity and Conservation

Systematics, physiology, ecology, evolution and conservation of major groups of marine and freshwater fishes. Stresses functional morphology, physiological ecology, and community interactions explaining fish abundance and distribution.

Fall

3

WATS 3110

Fish Diversity Laboratory

Focuses on field collection, identification, and habitat relationships of freshwater fishes in North America. Prerequisite: WATS 3100 (may be taken concurrently)

Fall

1

WATS 3600

Geomorphology

Geomorphic processes, origin of landforms and surficial deposits. Emphasizes fluvial and hillslope landscape elements, and surficial geologic mapping. Three one-hour lectures and one three-hour lab per week. Prerequisite: Geol 1100 or 1150 or Geog 1130. Also taught as Geol 3600

Fall

4

WATS 3700

Fundamentals of Watershed Science

Study of water movement, hillslope processes, and nutrient movement in catchments, and its relevance to the properties, land use and management of watershed as natural resource units.

Spring

3

WATS 3820

Climate Change

Emphasizes physical basis of climate (climate dynamics) as well as the mechanisms and processes for its fluctuations on sub-seasonal to interannual time scales (climate variations), and on regional to hemispheric/global time scales. Prerequisite: Clim 2000 or Geog 1000. Also taught as CLIM 3820

Spring

3

WATS 4250

Advanced Internship/Co-op

Internship/cooperative education work experience; increased complexity to help student gain a more professional level of experience.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-9

WATS 4310 (d6310)

Teaches the physical, chemical, and biological structure of wetlands.  Course will focus on: the major types of wetlands found in North America, their ecology and management; U.S. wetland policy and mitigation; and impacts on restoration of wetlands regionally, nationally, and globally.  Prerequisite: WATS 3700. (S)

WATS 4490

Small Watershed Hydrology

Detailed exploration of concepts of hydrologic processes in small, wildland watersheds. Concentrates on recent research findings concerning examining key hydrological processes. Particular attention paid to study of partitioning of water in the hydrologic cycle, sources for runoff generation, snow and snowmelt, and erosion. Features process modeling and parameter estimation techniques as related to wildland systems. Prerequisites: Math 1210, WATS 3700

Fall

(taught alternate years)

4

WATS 4500 

Limnology: Ecology of Inland Waters

Ecosystem analysis of physical, chemical, and biological interactions in lakes and streams. Application of these concepts for managing aquatic system. Prerequisite: CHEM 1210.

Spring

3

WATS 4510

Aquatic Ecology Practicum

Integration of limnological theory and methods of conducting field and laboratory analyses of physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Students will design and conduct their own research project within the framework of a general water quality or fishery issue addressed by the class. Development of analytical, statistical, and writing skills.

Field trips required. Prerequisite: WATS 4500. (May be taken concurrently)

Fall

3

WATS 4530

Water Quality and Pollution

Reviews biological and social problems caused by point and nonpoint source water pollution; toxicology; abiotoc and biotic water quality parameters; and use criteria of the Clean Water Act. Graduate level class will require additional readings of the peer-reviewed literature and an additional Each graduate student will be responsible for making a presentation at the beginning of class and leading the discussion.

Spring

3

WATS 4600 (d6600)

Principles of Surface Hydrology

Study of physical elements of the water cycle, surface hydrological processes, and watershed responses. Explores basic hydrologic concepts and terminology, as well as collection, analysis, and presentation of hydrologic data. Includes field laboratory. Prerequisite: Soil 3000 or instructor's permission. Also taught as Soil 4600/6600

Spring

3

WATS 4650

Principles in Fishery Management

Emphasizes management of fish populations within context of community and ecosystem dynamics. Stresses use of simulation models to assess effects of growth, recruitment, and mortality on age-structured populations.

Spring

3

WATS 4750 (d6750)

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing

Develops the scientific principles behind remote sensing. Examines the basic physics of electromagnetic radiation and the interactions of radiations with the surface and the atmosphere. Prerequisites: Math 1060, 1210

Fall

3

WATS 4930 (d6920)

Geographic Information Systems

Examines structure and operation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Explores design, theory and implementation of GIS software, digitizing, fundamentals of vector and raster GIS processing, georeferencing, map accuracy, and site-location. To receive graduate level credit, students must complete a more rigorous final porject directed toward their thesis or dissertation. To qualify for enrollment, students must have achieved a class rank of junior or senior, or receive instructor permission.

Fall

4

WATS 4950

Special Topics

Individual study and research upon selected fisheries and wildlife problems. Prerequisite: Departmental approval required

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-3

WATS 4960

Directed Readings

Provides one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Prerequisite: Departmental approval required.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-3

WATS 4970

Undergraduate Research

Individual or team research. Prerequisite: Deprtmental approval required.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-3

WATS 4980 (d6800/7800)

Watershed Sciences Departmental Seminar

Exposes student to new developments in research and management in the fields of watershed sciences. Features participation by students, faculty, and guest lecturers. Graduate students should register for only one semester each year, but attend all year. Undergraduate students are only required to register once. Graduate students will participate in an additional reading and discussion group for the seminars. Graded Pass/Fail only.

Fall, Spring

1

WATS 5150 (d6150)

Fluvial Geomorphology

Focuses on physical processes in streams that control their shape, plan form, slope, bed material, and distribution of channel bars. Emphasizes field analysis of these topics, and application of geomorphology to aquatic ecology and environment restoration. Prerequisite: Geol/WATS 3600. Also taught as Geol 5150/6150

Fall

4

WATS 5170

Fluvial Geomorphology Lab

Field analysis focuses on physical processes in streams which control their shape, plan form, slope, bed material, and distribution of channel bars. Application of geomorphology to aquatic ecology and environmental restoration. Prerequisites: Geol/WATS 3600. Also taught as Geol 5170/6170

Fall

2

WATS 5200

Fish Habitat Relationships in Managed Forests

Examines biological and social factors influencing aquatic ecosystems and fish habitats within the context of forest management. Analyzes ecological relationships of fish habitats within forest ecosystem, and how these are influenced by forest management practices. Provides examples of forest habitat issues in major regions of North America, illustrating that both biological and social factors must be considered in developing management strategies and programs.

Fall

3

WATS 5250 (d6250)

Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces

Basic principles of radiation and remote sensing. Techniques for ground-based measurements of reflected and emitted radiation, as well as ancillary data collection to support airborne and satellite remote sensing studies in agriculture, geography, and hydrology. Prerequisites: Math 1100 or 1210; and Phyx 2110 or 2210. Also taught as BIE 5250/6250

Spring

4

*** WATS 5490 (d4490)

Small Watershed Hydrology

Detailed exploration of concepts of hydrologic processes in small, wildland watersheds. Concentrates on recent research findings concerning examining key hydrological processes. Particular attention paid to study of partitioning of water in the hydrologic cycle, sources for runoff generation, snow and snowmelt, and erosion. Features process modeling and parameter estimation techniques as related to wildland systems. Additional oral and written assignments required written for graduate students.Prerequisites: Math 1210, WATS 3700

Fall

4

WATS 5550

Freshwater Invertebrates

Ecology, collection, and systematics of freshwater aquatic invertebrates. Focuses on insects, but also covers crustaceans, molluscs, and annelids. Several weekend field trips and a collection are required. Prerequisite: One year of general biology or zoology, or permission of instructor.

Spring

3

* WATS 5600

Surface Hydrologic Field Methods

Hydrologic concepts and terminology taught through collection, analysis, and interpretation of hydrologic data. Emphasizes principles and practice of several hydrologic measurments and water sampling in natural and manmade environments.

Spring

(taught alternate years)

3

WATS 5640 (d7640)

Riparian Ecology and Management

Explores structure and function of riparian ecosystems and management options for maintaining sustainable ecological function. Prerequisite: NR/Biol 2220, WATS 3700

Spring

3

WATS 5660

Watershed and Stream Restoration

Overview of the current theory and practice of watershed and streams. Emphasizes field visits with restoration projects and specialists. Prerequisites: WATS/FRWS 4490/5490, WATS/Geol 5150, FRWS 5610 (or equivalent)

Taught as summer workshop

2

WATS 5670

Watershed and Stream Restoration Practicum

Capstone experience. Development of a restoration plan for a site, involving site planning and design.

Taught as summer workshop

2

* WATS 5680 (d6680)

Paleoclimatology

Covers climate through the past four billion years of geologic time. Explores driving forces behind climate changes. Examines data and methods used in paleoclimate research. Includes discussion of literature and stresses local paleoclimate records. Three lectures per week, along with field trips. Prerequisite: Geol/WATS 3600 or permission of instructor. Also taught as Geol 5680/6680 and Bmet 5680/6680

Spring

3

WATS 5760 (d6760)

Remote Sensing: Modeling and Analysis

Advanced techniques in the analysis in the analysis of the earth's surface using remotely-sensed imagery and data in a digital format. Projects employ and/or develop research models.

Spring

3

WATS 5930 (6930)

Geographic Information Analysis

Techniques of geographic information system, data structures, data input and output, and data manipulation and analysis. Prerequisites:STAT 2000 or higher, WATS 4930 or ENVS 3500, or instructor's permission.

Spring

3

WATS 6150 (d5150)

Fluvial Geomorphology

Focuses on physical processes in streams that control their shape, plan form, slope bed material, and distribution of channel bars. Emphasizes field analysis of these topics and application of geomorphology to aquatic ecology and environmental restoration. Prerequisite: Geol/WATS 3600. Also taught as Geol 5150/6150

Fall

4

WATS 6170 (d5170)

Fluvial Geomorphology Lab

Field analysis focuses on physical processes in streams which control their shape, plan form, slope, bed material, and distribution of channel bars. Application of geomorphology to aquatic ecology and environmental restoration. Prerequisites: Geol/WATS 3600. Also taught as Geol 5170/6170

Fall

2

*** WATS 6200

Watershed Analysis

Watershed analysis is a procedure used to characterize the human, aquatic, riparian, and upland features, conditions, processes and interactions within a watershed. It is ecosystem analysis at the watershed level and provides a systematic way to understand and organize system information for the purpose of understanding the consequences of management actions before implementation.

Spring - Alternate years

2

**WATS 6230 (d7230)

Fish Ecology

Reviews current literature on physiological, behavioral, population and community ecology of fishes. Particular emphasis placed on current literature relevant to management of sport and endangered fresh water species. Prerequisite: WATS 4500 or equivalent, or instructor's permission.

Spring

2

WATS 6240

Graduate Internship/Co-op

Graduate-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-9

WATS 6250 (d5250)

Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces

Basic principles of radiation and remote sensing. Techniques for ground-based measurements of reflected and emitted radiation, as well as ancillary data collection to support airborne and satellite remote sensing studies in agriculture, geography, and hydrology. Prerequisites: Math 1100 or 1210, and Phyx 2110 or 2210. Also taught as BIE 5250/6250 and Bmet 5250/6250

Spring

4

WATS 6310 (d4310)

Wetland Ecology and Management

Teaches the physical, chemical, and biological structure of wetlands.  Course will focus on: the major types of wetlands found in North America, their ecology and management; U.S. wetland policy and mitigation; and impacts on restoration of wetlands regionally, nationally, and globally.  Prerequisite: WATS 3700. (S)

Spring

3

WATS 6330 (d5330)

Large River Management

Focuses on the scientific basis of river management and the constituencies participating in modern management of large rivers, including water developers, irrigators, municipalities, power consumers, recreationists, environmentalists, and scientists. Primary examples drawn from Colorado, Columbia, Rio Grande, and Missouri river basins.

Fall

3

WATS 6500 (d4500)

Limnology: Ecology of Inland Waters

Ecosystem analysis of physical, chemical, and biological interactions in lakes and streams. Application of these concepts for managing aquatic system. Prerequisite: CHEM 1210.

Spring

3

**WATS 6520

Applied Hydraulics

Basic fluid mechanics applied to wildland watershed systems and directed at non-engineering students. Explores nature of fluid state, fluid motion, and steady uniform and varied flow in open channels, under both subcritical and supercritical conditions. Surveys concepts of boundary layers, turbulence, convection, dispersal, and wave formation in unsteady flows. Emphasizes problem formulation and solving. Prerequisites: WATS 5490/4490, Mathe 2280 (reccomended). Also taught as CEE 6520

Spring

3

WATS 6530 (d4530)

Water Quality and Pollution

Reviews biological and social problems caused by point and nonpoint source water pollution; toxicology; abiotic and biotic water quality parameters; and use of Clean Water Act. Graduate level class will require additional readings of the peer-reviewed literature and an additional class-meeting to have in-depth discussions of those readings. Each graduate student will be responsible for making a presentation at the beginning of class, and leading the discussion.  

Spring

3

WATS 6600 (d5600)

Surface Hydrologic Field Methods  

Study of physical elements of the water cycle, surface hydrological processes, and watershed responses. Explores basic hydrologic concepts and terminology, as well as collection, analysis, and presentation of hydrologic data. Includes field laboratory. Prerequisite: Soil 3000 or instructor's permission. Also taught as Soil 6600/5600

Spring

3

WATS 6650 (d4650)

Principles of Fishery Management

Emphasizes management of fish populations within context of community and ecosystem dynamics. Stresses use of simulation models to assess effects of growth, recruitment, and mortality on age-structured populations.

Spring

3

* WATS 6680 (d5680)

Paleoclimatology

Covers climate through the past four billion years of geologic time. Explores driving forces behind climate changes. Examines data and methods used in paleoclimate research. Includes discussion of literature and stresses local paleoclimate records. Three lectures per week along with field trips. Prerequisites: Geol/WATS 3600 or permission of intructor. Also taught as Geol 6680/5680 and Bmet 6680/5680

Spring

3

* WATS 6760 (d5760)

Remote Sensing: Modeling and Analysis

Advanced techniques in the analysis of earth's surface using remotely sensed imagery and data in a digital format. Projects employ and/or develop research models.  

Spring,

3

# WATS 6800 (d4980, 7800)

Watershed Sciences Departmental Seminar

Exposes student to new developments in research and management in the fields of watershed sciences. Features participation by students, faculty, and guest lecturers. Graduate students should register for only one semester each year, but attend all year. Undergraduate students are only required to register once. Graduate students will participate in an additional reading and discussion group for the seminars. Graded Pass/Fail only.

Fall, Spring

1

WATS 6820

Stream Ecology

Explores structure, function , and dynamics of flowing water ecosystems. 

Fall

3

# WATS 6870

Ecology Seminar

The Ecology Center schedules regular seminars throughout the school year with ecological scientists from other institutions participating. Ecology majors are required to attend a minimum of 10 such lectures. Students should register for fall semester, but attend through spring semester. Also taught as Bio 6870, ENVS 6870, and FRWS 6870

Fall, Spring

1

# WATS 6900

Graduate Special Topics

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Stream Restoration Shortcourse is offered as a Graduate Special Topics.  Please see course website for additional information.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-6

# WATS 6910

Directed Study

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-6

WATS 6920 (d4930)

Geographic Information Systems

Examines structure and operation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Explores design, theory and implementation of GIS software, digitizing, fundamentals of vector and raster GIS processing, georeferencing, map accuracy, and site-location. To receive graduate level credit, students must complete a more rigorous final project directed toward their thesis or dissertation.

Fall

4

WATS 6930 (d5930)

Geographic Information Analysis

Techniques of geographic information systems, data structures, data input and output, and data manipulation and analyisis. Prerequisites: STAT 2000, WATS 4930 or NR 3600, or instructor's permission.

Spring

3

WATS 6960

Graduate General Ecology

General concepts, history, and issues in all major areas of the science of ecology including: environmental biophysics; and physiological, behavioral, evolutionary, community, ecosystem, and applied ecology in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Also taught as Biol 6960, ENVS 6960, and FRWS 6960

Fall

4

# WATS 6970

Thesis Research

Offers credit for field or laboratory research at master's level.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-12

# WATS 6990

Continuing Graduate Advisement

Offers credit for students currently enrolled in a master's program, who are not currently taking classes. Students may be conducting research or waiting for final approval from School of Graduate Studies.  

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-9

WATS 7230 (d6230)

Fish Ecology

Reviews current literature on physiological, behavioral, population and community ecology of fishes. Particular emphasis placed on current literature relevant to management of sport and endangered fresh water species. Prerequisite: WATS 4500 or equivalent, or instructor's permission.

Spring

2

WATS 7640 (d5640)

Riparian Ecology and Management

Explores structure and function of riparian ecosystems and management options for maintaining sustainable ecological function. Prerequisite: NR/Biol 2220, WATS 3700

Spring

3

# WATS 7800 (d6800)

Watershed Sciences Departmental Seminar

Exposes student to new developments in research and management in the fields of watershed sciences. Features participation by students, faculty, and guest lecturers. Graduate students should register for only one semester each year, but attend all year. Undergraduate students are only required to register once. Graduate students will participate in an additional reading and discussion group for the seminars. Graded Pass/Fail only.

Fall, Spring

1

WATS 7820 (d 6820)

Population Ecology

Explores structure, function , and dynamics of flowing water ecosystems. 

Fall

3

# WATS 7900

Graduate Special Topics

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-6

WATS 7910

Directed Study

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-12

WATS 7970

Dissertation Research

Offers credit for field or laboratory research at doctoral level.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-12

WATS 7990

Continuing Graduate Advisement

Offers credit for students currently enrolled in a doctoral program, who are not currently taking classes. Students may be conducting research or waiting for final approval from School of Graduate Studies.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-9