Freshwater and terrestrial environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the processes that shape inland waters and land ecosystems. The freshwater and terrestrial concentration connects knowledge about rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, and landscapes to marine environments, and human communities and activities. We incorporate the tools and insights of physical, chemical, biological, and geological sciences to better understand freshwater and terrestrial systems, how they interact with local and global processes, and how they support communities.
Students can select courses in hydrology, ecology, environmental chemistry, and watershed science to build an understanding of the various human impacts on freshwater and terrestrial systems. The major includes a capstone course where students integrate concepts from environmental science to address environmental problems affecting land and freshwater ecosystems. It also includes an internship, senior thesis or project, or foreign study that enables students to gain experience in their chosen field.
