Concentrations

The mission of the Watershed Systems concentration is to educate and train students for successful careers with organizations that make land-use decisions, particularly in coastal areas where a variety of land-use needs must be reconciled with the need to maintain long-term ecosystem stability. This mission is consistent with the CSU mission of educating students for immediate post-baccalaureate employment. At the same time, students will also have the background and skills necessary to pursue graduate degrees in watershed science, policy or related disciplines. The ESTP core curriculum (MLO's 1 and 2) provides fundamental skills in math, chemistry and physics, as well as an understanding of the important components and interactions of the earth system. The Watershed Systems concentration extends the students learning experience by utilizing core ESTP skills to study the interactions of science, policy and economics at the watershed scale. Students develop critical thinking and writing skills, as well as technical skills useful in acquiring and interpreting environmental information across a variety of space and time scales. These technical skills include an ability to develop environmental monitoring programs, as well as the application of geographic information systems to local watershed issues and concerns.