Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration Certificate

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

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.

Student Resources

Department website: Environmental Sciences

Contact information: Jim Helfield, 360-650-7285, James.Helfield@wwu.edu

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample Careers: Wildlife Biologist, Naturalist, Endangered Species Biologist, Environmental Inspector, Environmental Scientist, Fisheries Biologist, Marine Biologist, Safety and Health Specialist, Park Ranger, Aquatic Toxicologist, Wetlands Ecologist, Biological Survey, Water Resources Specialist, Environmental Chemist, Soil Conservation

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Admissions to the Salmon Enhancement: Habitat Restoration Certificate is competitive, and space is limited. Students apply to be a Community Program Intern through NSEA’s FLOW Internship Program. Applications are open late spring each year.

To see application dates and apply, see the NSEA Certificate Programs webpage for more information.

Grade Requirements

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

Requirements (27-28 credits)

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 - Salmonid Fish Habitat and Ecology Credits: 3
ESCI 411 - Salmonid Fish Field Practicum 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 - Salmonid Fish Habitat and Ecology Credits: 3
ESCI 411 - Salmonid Fish Field Practicum 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 projects 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 2025-26
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement