Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration Certificate

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

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Department of Environmental Sciences, College of the Environment

27-28 credits

Introduction

The Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration Certificate provides the training and experience needed for College of the Environment students to apply a variety of skills to critical work in watershed restoration and community education and engagement. Throughout the two-year program, CENV students engage in courses to learn the current environmental issues in fisheries habitat and how best to design research, education, science, policies, and community action while also participating in hands-on practicum work through paid internships with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) a local salmon recovery organization.

Why Consider a Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration Certificate?

Do you care about watershed health and freshwater fish habitat? Are you interested in environmental restoration and watershed science? Do you want to learn more about careers in ecological restoration? Are you looking for work experience with a local nonprofit dedicated to salmon restoration? Consider this certificate in Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration.

Contact Information

Department Chair
Ruth Sofield
Environmental Studies 344
360-650-2181
Ruth.Sofield@wwu.edu

Certificate Advisor
Jim Helfield
360-650-7285
James.Helfield@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Admissions to the Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration Certificate is competitive and space is limited. Applications are reviewed twice a year: 1) mid-October, with internship activities and coursework starting in Winter quarter, and 2) mid-April, with internship activities starting in Summer and coursework starting the following Fall quarter. Applicants should be declared ESCI majors, enrolled in or have completed at least one of the classes required for the certificate by the time they apply.

To apply, see our website for detailed instructions and deadlines cenv.wwu.edu/nsea. Application will include an essay and transcript.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s certificate courses, and supporting courses for certificates.

Requirements

Fundamental Ecological Knowledge (4-5 credits)

❑ Complete one of the following courses:

ESCI 330 - Natural History of the Pacific Northwest Credits: 4
ESCI 361 - Water Quality Credits: 5

Aquatic Ecosystem Knowledge (5 credits)

❑ Complete one of the following courses:

ESCI 429 - Stream Ecology Credits: 5
ESCI 430 - Limnology and Limnology Lab Credits: 5
ESCI 431 - Watershed Biogeochemistry Credits: 5
ESCI 440 - Wetlands Ecology Credits: 5
ESCI 470 - Ecological Restoration Credits: 5

Fish and Habitat Knowledge (3-5 credits)

❑ Complete one of the following courses:

ESCI 410 - Habitat and Ecology of Pacific Salmon and Trout Credits: 3
ESCI 411 - A Field Practicum in Fish Habitat Assessment Credits: 2
(ESCI 410 and ESCI 411 may sometimes be offered concurrently)
ESCI 412 - Fisheries Science Credits: 5
ESCI 425 - Environmental Biology of Fishes Credits: 3

Electives (4-7 credits)

❑ Complete 4-7 credits to get to a minimum of 19 non-internship credits.

ESCI 410 - Habitat and Ecology of Pacific Salmon and Trout Credits: 3
ESCI 411 - A Field Practicum in Fish Habitat Assessment Credits: 2
ESCI 412 - Fisheries Science Credits: 5
ESCI 425 - Environmental Biology of Fishes Credits: 3
ESCI 429 - Stream Ecology Credits: 5
ESCI 430 - Limnology and Limnology Lab Credits: 5
ESCI 431 - Watershed Biogeochemistry Credits: 5
ESCI 440 - Wetlands Ecology Credits: 5
ESCI 470 - Ecological Restoration Credits: 5
Note: Courses may not count twice toward the certificate requirements.

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association Internship (8 credits)

Students accepted into this certificate program will have guaranteed paid internship with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) of Whatcom County. Students will participate in public outreach, education, stream restoration, or other NSEA project as directed by NSEA staff.

❑ Eight credits of combined credit from:

ENVS 498B - Internship Credits: 1-15
ESCI 498B - Internship Credits: 1-15
UEPP 498B - Internship Credits: 1-15
Students may complete additional internship hours for experience in consultation with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. These additional hours do not have to be taken for credit. Before registering for internship credits beyond the eight credits required here, students should consult with their advisers to ensure credits support degree requirements.
Certificates on their own may not be eligible for financial aid. See a financial aid advisor for eligibility.

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements 2023-24
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement