Water Resources Major

Water quality and water quantity are two issues that make daily headlines in American society and are of critical importance on all continents. With a burgeoning human population worldwide, water has become one of our most precious natural resources.

Adequate fresh water of sufficient quality is in increasing demand for drinking water, irrigation of crops, industrial uses, shipping and many other uses. Therefore, the market for trained professionals in fields related to water -- natural resources, aquatic biology, aquatic chemistry, hydrology, water pollution, the environmental sciences and environmental education, among others -- has never been greater. The Water Resources major provides a strong foundation for undergraduates interested in pursuing graduate school or an immediate career with industry, government, academia or grassroots organizations in fields as diverse as wildlife ecology, fisheries biology, aquaculture, water pollution, hydrology and environmental education.

To prepare students for growing career opportunities in water resources management and research, as well as for entry into graduate programs, the Water Resources major offers an interdisciplinary curriculum involving the study of biology, chemistry, geology and hydrology. Emphasis is placed on field study, student research and experiential learning. The major involves completion of an interdisciplinary core followed by several additional courses in one of three tracks: Biology, Chemistry or Geology. These tracks permit the students to develop expertise in an area they view as a potential career. Ample opportunity exists for students to gain practical experience with modern equipment and techniques. In undergraduate courses, we immerse students in research that examines water resources in and around their community and the factors affecting them. Together, these features create an unparalleled opportunity to study the science and policies of water resources management within the attentive setting of a small liberal arts college. Students get to know the faculty personally - in the classroom and in the field.

Our Water Resources Major is closely tied to the college's renowned National Center for Water Quality Research, which has studied water pollution in relation to agriculture and Lake Erie for more than three decades. Students may compete for technician positions in the NCWQR both during the academic year and in summer. In addition, all students work closely with faculty in the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Geology on research projects, and many spend their summers on internships with government agencies. Many students find they also can complete a second major in Environmental Biology, Biology, Chemistry or a non-science field, and a Geology minor is also available.