Freshwater Science and Management (FSM) Minor

Explore the physical, biological, and social dimensions of freshwater ecosystems to help solve the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow, with the Freshwater Science and Management (FSM) Minor.

Water is the world’s most precious resource, fueling everything from the food we eat, to the cotton we wear, to the energy we depend upon every day. Where fresh water is available, accessible, and well-managed, biodiversity can be sustained, economies can grow, and communities can thrive. Yet when fresh water is compromised, life as we know it deteriorates and social conflicts that further degrade the environment often manifest. Failure to address these issues puts people and nature at risk.

Students completing the Freshwater Science and Management Minor will gain strong disciplinary knowledge of the complex relationships between freshwater ecosystems and human societies, including topics associated with freshwater ecology, water quality, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, watershed management and restoration, environmental engineering, stakeholder processes, and water policy. With a focus on science, management and sustainability, students work with faculty and teaching assistants to understand the myriad of environmental challenges facing freshwater ecosystems and explore the management and policy solutions available. Hands-on instruction and fieldwork offer students rich opportunities for experiential learning and service in a rapidly growing job market.

Minor Requirements

The Freshwater Science and Management Minor requires a minimum of 27 credits, as follows:

  1. Core (19-21 credits)
  2. Electives (minimum 6-8 credits): at least one course must be taken in each of these categories: (1) physical processes; (2) biological and management
  3. Minimum 15 credits of upper-division courses
  4. Minimum 17 credits taken outside student’s major requirements
  5. Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for courses applied to the minor

A printable minor checklist is available for your convenience.

Core Courses

19–21cr – If taking 3cr of FISH 200, students will need to increase the number of elective credits to meet the 27cr minimum

Students must take all of the following courses:

  • FISH 200 (3 or 5) Freshwater Ecology & Conservation
  • FISH/ESRM 447 (5; prereq BIOL 180, ESRM 201, or FISH 200) Watershed Ecology & Management
  • CEE 478 (3) Water Systems Management & Operations
  • FISH 400 (3) Seminar in Freshwater Sustainability

And students must take one of the following pairs of courses:

  • FISH/BIOL 473 (3; prereq BIOL 180) & FISH/BIOL 474 (2) Limnology & Lab
  • CEE 462 (3) & CEE 463 (2) Applied Limnology & Pollutant Effects on Freshwater & Lab

Elective Courses

6–8cr – If taking 3cr of FISH 200, students will need to take a minimum of 8cr in elective courses

At least one course must be taken in each of these categories: (1) physical processes; (2) biological and management. Other courses may be approved by petition. Note that not all courses listed are currently available, and some courses may have major restrictions during registration period 1.

Students must take one of the following Physical Processes courses:

  • CEE 250 (3; prereq MATH 120 or 124) Environmental Processes & Flows
  • CEE 348 (4; prereqs CEE 347; PHYS 123 or PHYS 143) Hydrology & Environmental Fluid Mechanics
  • CEE 357 (5; prereq CHEM 142, 143, or 145) Environmental Engineering
  • CEE 476 (3; prereq CEE 347) Physical Hydrology
  • CEE 477 (3; prereq CEE 347) Open-Channel Flow
  • ESRM 426 (4) Wildland Hydrology
  • ESS/OCEAN 230 (3 or 5) Rivers & Beaches
  • ESS 326 (5; prereq PHYS 114 or 121) Geomorphology
  • ESS 426 (5; prereq ESS 311 or 326) Fluvial Geomorphology
  • ESS 454 (4; prereq ESS 311 or 314) Hydrogeology
  • ESS 457 (4; prereq ESS 316, CHEM 152, or CHEM 155) Environmental Geochemistry

Students must take one of the following Biological and Management courses:

  • FISH 423 (4; prereq BIOL 180) Aquatic Invasion Ecology
  • FISH 428 (5; prereq BIOL 356, ESRM 304, or FISH 312) Stream & Watershed RestorationFISH 450 (4) Salmonid Behavior and Life History

NOTE: No more than 10 credits may overlap with the student’s major requirements

Enrollment in the Minor

The minor is open to all UW students who have reached 45 credits. Contact your major adviser to declare a minor in Freshwater Science and Management. Questions about minor coursework may be directed to the SAFS Undergraduate Adviser.

Recommended courses

Please pay attention to prerequisites and recommended courses for each of our classes. We recommend some biology, chemistry, and pre-calculus.

Our minors

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