Understand, Protect, and Restore Water Systems

Healthy streams and watersheds are vital for providing clean drinking water, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining agricultural and natural resources. This certificate offers a concise yet powerful way to develop specialized expertise in managing stream and watershed ecosystems. Students gain applied knowledge in the areas of engineering and science, water quality, and policy and management as it relates to natural water systems. Designed to complement existing graduate programs or serve as a stand- alone credential, this certificate is ideal for students looking to enhance their water-related professional credentials.

Program Requirements

To complete the Stream and Watershed Science (SWS) certificate, students must complete 12 credit hours. All certificate students must take BAE 532 / CE 542 Introduction to Stream Restoration and three credits from each of the three primary focus areas: stream and floodplain engineering science, water quality, and policy and management. At least six credits must be from outside the student’s major area of study.

BAE 532/CE 542 Introduction to Stream Restoration
Introduction to the principles of fluvial geomorphology for application in restoring impaired streams. Topics include channel formation processes (hydrology/hydraulics), stream assessment, sediment transport, in-stream structure, erosion control, habitat, and monitoring. (3 credits) Prereq: CE 341 and engineering standing or consent of instructor

Aquatic Biologist Greg Pond led a group of NRES students in a creek survey inside Robinson Forest.

Approved Electives

Students must complete three credits of pre-approved electives.

  • BAE 536/CE 546 Fluvial Hydraulics
  • BAE/CE 642 Open Channel Flow
  • BAE/CE 643 Mechanics of Sediment Transport
  • GEO 451G Fluvial Forms and Processes
  • GEO 720 Topical Seminar in Physical Geography (Subtitle Required)*
  • EES 585 Hydrogeology

*Approved subtitles only

Students must complete three credits of pre-approved electives.

  • AEC 445G Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics
  • BAE 538/CE 568 GIS Applications for Water Resources
  • BAE/CE 664 Watershed Management
  • CE 525 Civil Engineering Applications of Geographic Information Systems
  • FOR 510 Herpetology
  • NRE/LA 556 Contemporary Geospatial Applications for Land Analysis

Students must complete three credits of pre-approved electives.

  • BAE/CE 547 Watershed Sedimentation
  • BAE/CE 653 Water Quality for Surface Waters
  • CE 555 Microbial Aspects of Environmental Engineering
  • EES 530 Low Temperature Geochemistry
  • PLS 566 Soil Microbiology

Admission Instructions

Applying to Graduate School
All applicants must meet both program and Graduate School admission requirements. Consult the Graduate School or the Certificate Director for program-specific information related to deadline dates and any supplemental materials required for your application. All application materials must be uploaded to UK’s online graduate application system. For questions about UK’s online graduate application process, email GSAdmissions@uky.edu or contact the Certificate Director.

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Director of Graduate Certificate
Bill Ford, PhD

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