With climate change decreasing water supplies by 20-30 percent and the population predicted to double by 2050 in the American Southwest, water is becoming an increasingly more valuable resource. Environmental scientists play the essential role of monitoring the supply and quality of water to ensure the survival of earth’s living organisms.
Program Overview
Find your purpose protecting life on earth.
The Water Studies emphasis provides a holistic approach to the science, politics, history, and economics of water. To gain valuable hands-on experience, you will complete three credits of an independent project (internship, research assistantship, or independent study) on a water topic that interests you. As one of the few undergraduate interdisciplinary water programs in the nation, the Water Studies emphasis is a unique opportunity to gain a broad foundation in this field. Through the program, you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills you’ll need to play an increasingly important role in the scientific community as a water conservationist.
One-of-a-kind opportunities
Located at the headwaters of the most important rivers serving the American Southwest, Western is uniquely positioned to educate students on water science and management. It is also one of the few undergraduate interdisciplinary water programs in the nation.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 71 credits is required for the Environment & Sustainability Comprehensive Major: Water Emphasis.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 130 | Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| BIOL 135 | Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| ECON 215 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| ENVS 250 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| ENVS 301 | Science of Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| ENVS 350 | U.S. and Western Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ENVS 370 | Water Policy and Politics | 3 |
| ENVS 373 | The Water Planet | 3 |
| ENVS 376 | The Colorado Water Workshop | 1 |
| ENVS 375 | Seminar in Water Topics | 3 |
| ENVS 390 | Environmental Monitoring | 4 |
| ENVS 400 | Applied Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 410 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| GEOG 340 | INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS | 3 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| PHYS 125 | Energy and the Environment (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
HWTR 200 | This Is The Headwaters | |
HWTR 398 | Headwaters Conference | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
CHEM 101 | Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (GT-SC2) | |
CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ECON 216 | Statistics for Business and Economics | |
MATH 113 | Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) | |
MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | |
SOC 211 | Quantitative Research Methods | |
| Select two of the following: | 6-7 | |
BIOL 476 | Aquatic Ecology (with laboratory) | |
BUAD 410 | Water Law | |
ECON 370 | Natural Resource Economics | |
ENVS 360 | Global Environmental Policy | |
ROE 293 | OTDR PURSUITS EDUC-WATER W/LAB | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-6 | |
ENVS 420 | Natural History of the Gunnison Basin | |
ENVS 430 | Watersheds of the World | |
ENVS 499 | Internship in Environmental Studies | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ANTH 230 | Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory) | |
ANTH 320 | Cultural Ecology | |
ENG 151 | Borderlands: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality | |
POLS 250 | Politics of the Environment | |
POLS 340 | Politics of Social Movements | |
POLS 350 | Human Rights | |
POLS 355 | The Global South | |
POLS 370 | Political Economy | |
PSY 308 | Environmental Psychology | |
PSY 410 | Multicultural Psychology | |
PSY 457 | Social Psychology | |
SOC 150 | Environmental Sociology | |
SOC 168 | Social Problems | |
SOC 340 | Social Movements | |
SOC 380 | Social Class, Status, and Power | |
| Total Credits | 71-75 | |
Admission to Recreation and Outdoor Education courses for declared Water Emphasis students is based on instructor permission and available seats.
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course in the Environment and Sustainability Major fulfills the capstone course requirement: ENVS 400 Applied Sustainability.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
| BIOL 130 & BIOL 135 |
Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) and Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| CHEM 101 or CHEM 111 |
Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (GT-SC2) or General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) |
3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 113 | Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 125 | Energy and the Environment (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) (Area II Gen Ed) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) (Area II Gen Ed) | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| ENVS 250 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| HWTR 398 | Headwaters Conference | 1 |
| Gen Ed | General Education (Area I or III) | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education (Area I or III) | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 215 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education (Area I or III) | 12 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 301 | Science of Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| ENVS 350 | U.S. and Western Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ENVS 370 or ENVS 375 |
Water Policy and Politics or Seminar in Water Topics |
3 |
| ENVS 370 and ENVS 375 are offered in alternating fall semesters. | ||
| ENVS 373 | The Water Planet | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | Elective | 1 |
| ENVS 390 | Environmental Monitoring | 4 |
| BIOL 301 | GENERAL ECOLOGY | 3 |
| Elective | chosen from selection of classes on cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, sex, sexuality, and/or class contexts | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| ENVS 376 | The Colorado Water Workshop | 1 |
| Credits | 1 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOG 340 | INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS | 3 |
| ENVS 370 or ENVS 375 |
Water Policy and Politics or Seminar in Water Topics |
3 |
| ENVS 370 and ENVS 375 are offered in alternating fall semesters. | ||
| Water Elective | ROE 293 or ECON 370 or ENVS 360 or BIOL 467 or BIOL 476 | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| ENVS 410 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Water Elective | ROE 293 or ECON 370 or ENVS 360 or BIOL 467 or BIOL 476 | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| ENVS 499 or ENVS 420 or ENVS 430 |
Internship in Environmental Studies or Natural History of the Gunnison Basin or Watersheds of the World |
3 |
| ENVS 400 | Applied Sustainability | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- Clubs & Organizations: Join the Organics Guild, Sustainability Coalition or Wildlife Society.
- Coldharbour Institute: Experiment with sustainable building design, resilient food systems or community organizing in the Gunnison Valley.
- Conferences: Attend the Headwaters Conference, the Colorado Water Workshop and Sage Grouse Spring Symposium.
- Earthship Academy: Learn how to construct a self-sustaining building capable of producing food and saving energy.
- High Country News: Check out the independent news source’s new satellite office located in Kelley Hall.
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory: Find a research assistantship at one of the premier biological research stations in the world.
- Solar Energy International: Engage in the local, regional or global conversation about the renewable energy era.
- Research: Looking for an internship or research experience? Meet with the Water Studies coordinator, Dr. Susan Washko, to find the perfect opportunity.
Water studies
Western’s Water emphasis offers a strong foundation of courses in Biology, Environment and Sustainability, Geology, Math and Physics tailored around water science, policy and the humanities.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability
Dean
Micah Russell, M.S.Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability, Integrative and Public Land Management Director; MEM Director
Program Facilitator
Lindsay DolezalProgram Facilitator and Grants Administrator
Campus Location
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81230
