Course Goals

The field of watershed science is inherently multidisciplinary, involving a broad array of physical, biological and social sciences. Traditional hierarchical undergraduate and graduate education programs that train students in the fields that support watershed science necessarily emphasize in-depth study within a specific discipline. This focused education is vital to producing professionals with useful technical and analytical skills. However, most students who pursue careers in watershed science rarely work solely within their discipline. Rather, their work is inevitably integrated with other professionals addressing related issues with different skill sets. The ability to work closely and collaboratively with professionals from different backgrounds is fundamental to success in the field of watershed science.

This course seeks to introduce advanced undergraduate students to multidisciplinary collaborative watershed analysis through combined laboratory and field study of a selected watershed. Students from diverse backgrounds will work in cooperative research teams to assemble and analyze published information on a selected watershed. These teams will identify and report upon key geologic, hydrologic, biologic, or conservation issues within the watershed. In addition, each team will develop a plan for field observations or experiments that will inform these issues. This will include development of hypotheses and proposed location and methods of field study. Upon completion of the field study, students will report on their conclusions.