Watershed Science
Program Description
A minor in Watershed Sciences will complement majors in Physical & Environmental Science, specifically in Geosciences (GEOL) and Environmental Science (ENVS), as well as Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) and Biology (BIOL). However, students in many other majors interested in “water” would also benefit by the addition of this minor to their degree program.
The Watershed Science minor will provide students experience in the three critical components of watershed science that are each a semester-long course: surface water (including river dynamics and hydrology), groundwater (including confined and unconfined aquifers), and water chemistry (including both “clean” and “contaminated” water). Additional coursework electives for the minor add flexibility to focus on a particular subspecialty of interest. The proximity of Colorado Mesa University to the high semiarid environments of the Colorado, Gunnison, and Green Rivers, as well as the drainages of the Colorado National Monument and the surrounding mountain arroyos create an ideal location for the study of watershed science.
The minor in watershed science is an interdisciplinary program designed to serve both the national and also regional needs for scientists with a strong background in water-related issues (e.g., Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife). Some government agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, have shifted their management organization to focus on watersheds and this minor supports those needs in this area. Combined with a relevant B.S., plus additional calculus and physics courses, the minor satisfies the current federal government’s requirements for qualification as a "hydrologist."
Contact Information
Dr. Greg Baker
gbaker@coloradomesa.edu
970.248.1737
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences
Wubben Science 232
970.248.1993