Water Based Curriculums

Study of freshwater ecosystems, including physiography, biogeochemistry, and ecology. Prerequisites: BIOL 208/208L. Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

Physical, chemical, and biological properties of aquatic systems. Includes movement of water in the watershed, stream classification and stability, lake circulation, aquatic ecology, chemistry and biology of natural and polluted waters, water quality monitoring, regulation and protection of surface water, and watershed assessment and management. Lab focuses on practical skills and field measurements culminating in assessment of a local watershed. Prerequisites: CHEM 121 or higher and STAT 200. Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

Examination of the structure and organization of macroinvertebrate assemblages in streams and rivers. Topics include sample collection, sample preservation, sample identification, and analysis using the State of Colorado Multimetric Index for assessing water quality. Prerequisites: ENVS 204/204L and BIOL 105/105L. Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

Introduction to the essential nature of water on Earth. Comprehensive foundation in the water cycle, human use of water, politics of water, and critical issues surrounding water as a resource. Overview of global water issues, with focus on the American West, including sources and uses of water, water conservation, and the legal, political, economic, and physical infrastructure of water control. Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

Exploration and analysis of the hydrologic cycle and river forms and processes in the context of watershed science. Prerequisites: MATH 113 or MATH 151. Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

Fundamentals of GIS and digital mapping, including basic GIS skills and an introduction to geospatial databases and analyses. Two one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: GIST 305 or GEOG 131.

GPS techniques and applications as they relate to GIS data collection. Prerequisites: GIST 332/332L.

Study of politics and public policy surrounding natural resource allocation, preservation, development and consumption by human social systems. Emphasis on challenges of public policy formation and implementation in areas of land, water, energy, minerals, food, and habitat at domestic and global levels. Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

Introduction to the political issues and problems associated with patterns of socio-economic growth and its environmental impact at both domestic and global levels of analysis. Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

Introduction to basic kayak and water reading skills. Students will learn kayaking safety, hazard evaluation, terminology, whitewater river reading skills, and paddling strokes. Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Exploration of the field of public lands and resource management. Examines the role of federal, state, tribal, and local governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, recreation users, and wildlife in public lands. Examines histories, current issues, and cultural trends in public lands agencies, as well as policies that govern land management. Prerequisites: OREC 205. Terms Typically Offered: Spring.