Program: Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems - BS - Utah State University

Apr 08, 2025

2023-2024 General Catalog

S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department of Watershed Sciences

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For more information about Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems, see the website.
Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
Admitted students must meet with an academic advisor for semester by semester planning. Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Minimum University Requirements
Total Credits	120	Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100	Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
Total USU Credits	30	Upper-division USU Credits	20
USU Credits within the Major	10	Credits in Minor (if required)	12
Credits in Major	see below	Credits in American Institutions	3
General Education Requirements	see link	University Studies Depth Requirements	see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) . All courses required for the major must be taken on an A-B-C-D-F basis. A grade of C- or better is required for all courses taken in the major department. The grade point average for all courses taught by the Quinney College of Natural Resources must be 2.5 or higher.

Admissions Requirements for this Program
New freshmen	Admitted to USU in Good Standing			Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU	2.5 GPA

First Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
BIOL 1610 - Biology I	3		BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS)	3
ENGL 1010 - Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)	3		ENGL 2010 - Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)	3
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL)	4		MATH 1100 - Calculus Techniques (QL)	3
WATS 2000 - Natural Resources Professional Orientation	1		Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) Course	3
Electives	4		WATS 2220 - General Ecology	3
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Second Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I	4		CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II (BPS)	4
CHEM 1215 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I	1		CHEM 1225 - Chemical Principles Laboratory II	1
WATS 3050 - Data Management for Natural Resources – Cleaning and Shaping Data and WATS 3060 - Data Management for Natural Resources – Data Display and Analysis	1 and 1		Breadth American Institutions (BAI) Course	3
STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI)	3		Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) Course	3
GEO 1110 - Physical Geology (BPS)	3		GEOG 2800 - Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences or WILD 2800 - Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences or WATS 2800 - Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences	4 or 4 or 4
GEO 1115 - Physical Geology Laboratory	1
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Third Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
ENVS 3010 - Fundamentals of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy or WATS 4600 - Environmental Water Management	3 or 3		Electives	4
WATS 4500 - Limnology: Ecology of Inland Waters	3		WATS 3700 - Fundamentals of Watershed Science (CI)	3
WATS 3600 - Geomorphology or GEO 3600 - Geomorphology	4 or 4		APEC 3012 - Introduction to Natural Resource Economics (DSS)	3
Breadth Humanities (BHU) Course	3		WATS 4930 - Advanced GIS and Spatial Analysis	3
WATS 3910 - Climatology and Hydrology for Western Watersheds (DSC/QI) or PSC 4810 - Climate and Climate Change (DSC/QI)	3 or 3		WATS 4980 - Watershed Sciences Departmental Seminar	1
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Fourth Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
WATS 5300 - Principles of Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration	2		WATS 5150 - Fluvial Geomorphology	3
WATS 5340 - Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems Capstone I	2		WATS 5350 - Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems Capstone II	2
ENVS 4000 - Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management (DSS)	3		Area of Emphasis Electives	3
WATS 4530 - Water Quality and Pollution	3		WATS 4490 - Small Watershed Hydrology (QI)	4
Area of Emphasis Electives	6		Depth Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) / Communications Intensive (CI) Course	3
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Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems Required Courses

All courses required for the major must be taken on an A-B-C-D-F basis. A grade of C- or better is required for all WATS and GEOG courses used to meet requirements for a major in Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems. The grade point average for all courses taught by the College of Natural Resources must be 2.5 or higher.

Capstone Experience

Directed Electives

Students majoring in Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems are required to select a minimum of 9 elective credits, chosen from one of five areas of emphasis. The majority of these elective credits must come from courses directly related to the degree program. All elective courses must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor before enrollment. The following is a list of recommended courses within each area of emphasis.

Aquatic Habitats (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

WATS 4650 - Principles in Fishery Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 5200 - Fish Habitats 2 credit(s)
WATS 5310 - Ecology and Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Plants 3 credit(s)
WATS 5550 - Freshwater Invertebrates 3 credit(s)

Elective Courses

BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1625 - Biology II Laboratory 1 credit(s)
CEE 5930 - Independent Study 1-3 credit(s)
ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4110 - Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4860 - Python Programming for GIS 3 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 5350 - Wildland Soils 3 credit(s) or
WILD 5350 - Wildland Soils 3 credit(s)
WATS 3100 - Fish Diversity and Conservation (CI/DSC) 3 credit(s)
WATS 3110 - Fish Diversity Laboratory 1 credit(s)
WATS 3450 - Introduction to Coral Reefs-Field Course (DSC) 3 credit(s)
WATS 4110 - Biogeochemistry: Tracking Environmental Processes and Change 3 credit(s)
WATS 4931 - GIS Research Projects 2 credit(s)
WATS 4250 - Advanced Internship/Co-op 1-9 credit(s)
WATS 4310 - Wetland Ecology and Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4510 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum I: Lab Methods 2 credit(s)
WATS 4520 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum II: Analysis 2 credit(s)
WATS 4580 - Base R: Data Management and Manipulation Using R 1 credit(s)
WATS 4970 - Undergraduate Research 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 4990 - Senior Thesis 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 5610 - Field Introduction to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5620 - Intro to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5621 - Science and Case Studies of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5622 - Planning Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5623 - Designing Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5624 - Implementation of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5625 - Adaptive Management and Monitoring of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5640 - Riparian Ecology and Management 3 credit(s)
WILD 4600 - Conservation Biology 3 credit(s)
WILD 4880 - Genetics in Conservation and Management 3 credit(s)
WILD 5560 - Applied Avian Ecology (CI) 3 credit(s)
WILD 5750 - Applied Remote Sensing 3 credit(s)
Other courses as approved by faculty advisor

Water Quality (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

WATS 4110 - Biogeochemistry: Tracking Environmental Processes and Change 3 credit(s)
WATS 4510 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum I: Lab Methods 2 credit(s)
WATS 5550 - Freshwater Invertebrates 3 credit(s)

Elective Courses

ADVS 5400 - Environmental Toxicology 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1625 - Biology II Laboratory 1 credit(s)
CEE 2620 - Environmental Engineering Microbiology 2 credit(s)
CEE 3610 - Environmental Management 3 credit(s)
CEE 5600 - Environmental Chemistry of Inorganic Contaminants 2 credit(s)
CEE 5610 - Environmental Quality Analysis 3 credit(s)
CEE 5620 - Aquatic Chemistry 3 credit(s) or
PSC 5620 - Aquatic Chemistry 3 credit(s)
CEE 5730 - Environmental Chemistry of Organic Contaminants 3 credit(s) or
PUBH 5730 - Environmental Chemistry of Organic Contaminants 3 credit(s)
ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
GEO 5510 - Groundwater Geology (QI) 3 credit(s)
GEO 5520 - Techniques of Groundwater Investigations (CI) 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4860 - Python Programming for GIS 3 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2110 - General Physics - Life Sciences I 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2210 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)
WATS 4000 - Natural Resources Teaching Experiences 1 credit(s)
WATS 4250 - Advanced Internship/Co-op 1-9 credit(s)
WATS 4520 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum II: Analysis 2 credit(s)
WATS 4580 - Base R: Data Management and Manipulation Using R 1 credit(s)
WATS 4650 - Principles in Fishery Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4970 - Undergraduate Research 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 4990 - Senior Thesis 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 5310 - Ecology and Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Plants 3 credit(s)
Other courses as approved by faculty advisor

Hydrology and Water Resources (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

CEE 3500 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Fluid Mechanics 3 credit(s)
CEE 4200 - Engineering Economics 3 credit(s)
MATH 1220 - Calculus II (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 2250 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2210 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)

Elective Courses

CEE 3430 - Engineering Hydrology 3 credit(s)
CEE 6110 - Hydroinformatics 3 credit(s)
CEE 6440 - Advanced Hydrology Through CUAHSI Virtual University 1-4 credit(s)
ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4860 - Python Programming for GIS 3 credit(s)
GEO 5510 - Groundwater Geology (QI) 3 credit(s)
GEO 5520 - Techniques of Groundwater Investigations (CI) 3 credit(s)
WATS 3450 - Introduction to Coral Reefs-Field Course (DSC) 3 credit(s)
WATS 4250 - Advanced Internship/Co-op 1-9 credit(s)
WATS 4510 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum I: Lab Methods 2 credit(s)
WATS 4580 - Base R: Data Management and Manipulation Using R 1 credit(s)
WATS 4520 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum II: Analysis 2 credit(s)
WATS 4970 - Undergraduate Research 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 4990 - Senior Thesis 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 5610 - Field Introduction to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5620 - Intro to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5621 - Science and Case Studies of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5622 - Planning Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5623 - Designing Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5624 - Implementation of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5625 - Adaptive Management and Monitoring of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5640 - Riparian Ecology and Management 3 credit(s)
Other courses as approved by faculty advisor

Geomorphology (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

GEO 2200 - The Earth Through Time 3 credit(s)
PHYS 2210 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)

Elective courses

CEE 3430 - Engineering Hydrology 3 credit(s)
CEE 3500 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Fluid Mechanics 3 credit(s)
ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
GEO 2800 - Minerals and Rocks 4 credit(s)
GEO 3550 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy 4 credit(s)
GEO 3700 - Structural Geology 4 credit(s)
GEOG 4860 - Python Programming for GIS 3 credit(s)
GEO 5510 - Groundwater Geology (QI) 3 credit(s)
GEO 5520 - Techniques of Groundwater Investigations (CI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 1220 - Calculus II (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 2250 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI) 4 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 5350 - Wildland Soils 3 credit(s) or
WILD 5350 - Wildland Soils 3 credit(s)
WATS 3450 - Introduction to Coral Reefs-Field Course (DSC) 3 credit(s)
WATS 4250 - Advanced Internship/Co-op 1-9 credit(s)
WATS 4310 - Wetland Ecology and Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4510 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum I: Lab Methods 2 credit(s)
WATS 4520 - Aquatic Ecology Practicum II: Analysis 2 credit(s)
WATS 4580 - Base R: Data Management and Manipulation Using R 1 credit(s)
WATS 4650 - Principles in Fishery Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4970 - Undergraduate Research 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 4990 - Senior Thesis 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 5310 - Ecology and Restoration of Wetland and Riparian Plants 3 credit(s)
WATS 5620 - Intro to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5621 - Science and Case Studies of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5622 - Planning Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5610 - Field Introduction to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5623 - Designing Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5624 - Implementation of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5625 - Adaptive Management and Monitoring of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes 1 credit(s)
WATS 5640 - Riparian Ecology and Management 3 credit(s)

Human Dimensions (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

ENVS 4020 - Foundations of Environmental Studies (CI/DHA) 3 credit(s)
SOC 4620 - Sociology of the Environment and Natural Resources (DSS) 3 credit(s)
WATS 4931 - GIS Research Projects 2 credit(s)

Elective Courses

ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
TCR 2100 - Introduction to Technical Communication 3 credit(s)
ENVS 3500 - Environmental Data Science (QI) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 4700 - Communicating Sustainability (CI) 3 credit(s)
ENVS 5000 - Environmental Nonprofit and Volunteer Management 3 credit(s)
ENVS 6320 - Water Law and Policy in the United States 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4400 - Natural Hazards and Society 3 credit(s)
GEOG 4860 - Python Programming for GIS 3 credit(s)
PUBH 3610 - Environmental Management 3 credit(s) or
CEE 3610 - Environmental Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4000 - Natural Resources Teaching Experiences 1 credit(s)
WATS 4250 - Advanced Internship/Co-op 1-9 credit(s)
SOC 4640 - Managing Community Conflict (CI) 3 credit(s)
WATS 4650 - Principles in Fishery Management 3 credit(s)
WATS 4970 - Undergraduate Research 1-3 credit(s)
WATS 4990 - Senior Thesis 1-3 credit(s)
WILD 5750 - Applied Remote Sensing 3 credit(s)
Other courses as approved by faculty advisor

Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems - BS

S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department of Watershed Sciences

Navigation Help:

Minimum University Requirements

Admissions Requirements for this Program

First Year

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Second Year

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Third Year

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Fourth Year

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Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems Required Courses

Scientific Foundation

Common Departmental Core

Required Courses for the MRAE Major

Capstone Experience

Directed Electives

Aquatic Habitats (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

Elective Courses

Water Quality (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

Elective Courses

Hydrology and Water Resources (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

Elective Courses

Geomorphology (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

Elective courses

Human Dimensions (9 credits)

Recommended Courses

Elective Courses

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