Watershed Science (Pre-fall 2022)

Why study Watershed Science?

The watershed science track trains students in the principles of hydrology, climate as it relates to water, water law, public policy, and links to ecology and soils. Water is a key resource in the western US and in much of the developed World. Watersheds are the natural geographic unit for water management and science, and encompass issues like water quality, water supply, flood management, biodiversity, and climate change. Students in this track are likely to pursue careers in water and watershed management, environmental consulting, government agencies, and environmental non-profits. The track is also very good preparation for graduate school in ecology, hydrology, environmental policy, or especially interdisciplinary environmental management programs.

Preparatory Subject Matter Requirements
Course IDs Course Title Quarters Offered Units Notes
Written and Oral Expression
UWP 101 or any from the 102 or 104 series Upper Division Writing I, II, III, IV 4 May test out of requirement
CMN 1, 3V, 3Y, or DRA 10 Communication I, II, III, IV 4  
Biological Sciences
BIS 2A Essentials of Life on Earth I, II, III, IV 5  
BIS 2B Principles of Ecology and Evolution   I, II, III, IV 5  
BIS 2C Biodiversity and the Tree of Life I, II, III, IV 5  
Geology
choose one of the following
GEL 1 The Earth I, II, III 4  
GEL 50 Physical Geology I, II, III 3 (recommended)
Chemistry
CHE 2A or 2AH General Chemistry I, II, IV 5  
CHE 2B or 2BH General Chemistry II, III, IV 5  
CHE 2C or 2CH General Chemistry I, III, IV 5 (recommended, not required)
Physics
Complete either 1AB or 7ABC
Physics 1A General Physics I, II 3  
Physics 1B General Physics II, III 3  
Physics 7A General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Physics 7B General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Physics 7C General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Economics
ECN 1A Principles of Microeconomics I, II, III, IV 4  
Mathematics
MAT 16A, 17A, or 21A Calculus I, II, III, IV 3-4 Mat 17AB recommended
MAT 16B, 17B, or 21B Calculus I, II, III, IV 3-4  
Environmental Science and Policy
ESP 1 Environmental Analysis I, IV 4  

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
 

 

Depth Subject Matter Requirements
NOTE: Students graduating with this major are required to attain at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses taken at the university in Depth Subject Matter and pass all coursework. See requirements of the College of Agriculture & Environmental Science in the UC Davis General Catalog.
Course IDs Course Title Prerequisites Quarters Offered Units
Global Environment
ESM 120 Global Environmental Interactions One college-level chemistry and biology course II 4
Ecology
(Choose one of the following)
ESP 100 General Ecology BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; STA 13 recommended I, II, IV 4
EVE 101 Introduction to Ecology BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; or equivalent I, II, III, IV 4
Policy
ESP 162 Environmental Policy ECN 1A or ECN 1AV or ECN 1Y II 4
Statistics
(Choose one of the following - Statistics 100 recommended)
STA 13 Elementary Statistics Two years of high school algebra or equivalent in college I, II, III, IV 4
STA 100 Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences MAT 16B or 17B or 21B with a C- or better I, II, III, IV 4
Environmental Monitoring
(Choose one of the following)
ATM 124 Meteorological Instruments & Observations ATM 60 I 3
ESM 108 Environmental Monitoring ESP 100 or EVE 101 or SSC 100 or WFC 100 or equivalent III 3
ESP 151L Limnology Lab ESP 151 (may be concurrent) III 3
ESP 179 Environmental Impact Assessment ESP 1 or the equivalent II, IV 4
Environmental Data Science
(Choose one of the following)
ABT/LDA 150 Introduction to GIS None I, III 4
ESP 106 Environmental Data Science STA 13 or 32 or 100 (can be concurrent) II 4
Internship
ESM/ESP 92 or 192 Internship Upper division standing, permission of instructor

Variable unit – must take at least 3 units of internship
May complete internship in a different area with prior approval
(e.g.: PLS, SSC, ATM)

 I, II, III, IV 3
Capstone
ESM 195 Integrating Env Science & Management Senior standing in ESM III 2
Honors Thesis (Optional)
ESM 194H Senior Honors Thesis Senior standing, Overall GPA of 3.50 or higher

Consent of the lead faculty advisor

   2-6

 

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
 

 

Track Courses
NOTE: Courses taken for the depth subject matter or track cannot be used to fulfill more than one major requirement.
Course IDs Course Title Prerequisites Quarters Units
Select one course
ESM 121 Water Science & Management PHY 10 or GEL 1 III 3
HYD 10 Water, Power, Society None III 3
Complete
SSC 100 Principles of Soil Science College-level course in each of CHE, PHY, BIS, and GEL recommended I 5
Select two hydrology courses
ESM 100 or Principles of Hydrologic Science CHE 2B; MAT 16B; PHY 7A or 9A I 4
HYD 141 Physical Hydrology PHY 9B, MAT 21B   4
ESM 108 Environmental Monitoring Entry level course in the environmental sciences III 3
HYD 142 Systems Hydrology HYD 141 or ECI 142 4
HYD 143** Hydrological Processes in Ecosystems HYD 10 or 141 or ESP 1 or ESM 100 or ESM 108 or ESM 120 or GEL 1 or 50 or SSC 100 II 3
HYD 145 Water Science and Design HYD 141 or ESM 100; MAT 16B or 17B or 21B or consent of instructor II 4
Note: Cannot complete this section with ESM 100 and HYD 141
Select one geology course
ESP 151L Limnology Lab ESP 151 (can be concurrent) III 3
GEL 35 Rivers None III 3
GEL 136 Ecogeomorphology of Rivers & Streams Enrollment by application only, not offered every year III 5
GEL 140** Intro to Process Geomorphology GEL 1 or 50; MAT 16B or 17B or 21B I 4
Select one GIS course
ABT 181N* Concepts & Methods in GIS LDA 150 or consent of instructor II 4
ABT/HYD 182** Environmental Analysis with GIS ABT 150 or equiv GIS experience, biology and/or ecology courses rec. II 4
Select one soil science course
SSC 105 Field Studies of Soils in CA Ecosystems SSC 100 and 120 or equivalent recommended IV 5
SSC 118 Soils in Land Use & the Environment SSC 100 or equivalent recommended III 4
SSC 120 Soil Genesis, Morphology, & Classification SSC 100; GEL 50 recommended III 5
Select two environmental studies courses
ESP 166 Ocean & Coastal Policy ESP 1 I 3
ESP 168A Methods of Env Policy Analysis ESP 1 or 10; STA 13 or 100; ECN 1A or 1AV or 1AY; ECN 100A recommended I 5
ESP 169** Water Policy & Politics POL 1 or ECN 1A recommended III 3
ESP 172 Public Lands Management ECN 1A and POL 1 recommended I 4
ESP 174 Environmental Justice Policy & Practice ESP 1 or the equivalent III 4
ESP 179 Environmental Impact Assessment ESP 1 or the equivalent II, IV 4
HYD 150 Water Law Consent of instructor or upper division standing II 3
SOC 160 Sociology of the Environment SOC 1 or 2 or 3 recommended Varies 4
Complete
ATM 133 Biometeorology MAT 16B; One course in a biological discipline or consent of instructor II 4
Select one aquatic habitats course
ESP 151 Limnology BIS 2A; BIS 2B; BIS 2C and ESP 100 or EVE 101 recommended III 4
EVE 115* Marine Ecology ESP 100 or EVE 101 or BIS 2B, or consent of instructor II 4
WFC 120 Biology & Conservation of Fishes BIS 2A-C: upper division ecology course recommended I 3
WFC 134 Herpetology BIS 2A-C; upper division ecology course recommended II 3

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
*Course is offered in odd years only (2023, 2025, etc.)
**Course is offered in even years only (2024, 2026, etc.)

Attachments
Watershed Science track requirements