Graduate Certificate in Wetland Sciences / Interdisciplinary Concentration in Wetland Sciences

Introduction

The goal of both the Graduate Certificate in Wetland Sciences and the Interdisciplinary Concentration in Wetland Sciences (ICWS) is to establish a standard set of courses and activities that provide students knowledge and experience that complement their majors with preparation for wetland related careers. Students meeting the curriculum requirements will receive official recognition of having completed the Certificate or Concentration by a statement on the participating student’s transcript. The Graduate Certificate is aimed at professionals and non-degree seeking students, while the Concentration is more appropriate for degree-seeking graduate students. Both programs have identical course requirements, but the Concentration requires an additional two credits of graduate research. The Certificate credits cannot be used to earn the Concentration at a later date.

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of wetland science and management, educational programs in wetlands must involve the cooperative efforts of various natural science disciplines (e.g., limnology, ecology, pedology, botany), engineering disciplines (e.g. environmental, agricultural, civil), social sciences (e.g., resource economics, political science), and law. The emphasis of the ICWS and Graduate Certificate is to ensure that students gain a solid understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of wetland processes occurring at a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, as well as develop skills in wetland management and policy. To address existing and emerging issues related to wetland science and policy, the program emphasizes broad training, but not at the expense of rigor in specific areas of expertise. Furthermore, the program requirements recognize the inherent diversity of academic backgrounds and professional goals of the students. Thus, flexibility in selection of a suite of courses, while maintaining exposure to the multidisciplinary subject matter of wetlands, is an essential feature of the program allowing students to develop individualized academic plans of study.

Eligibility

Interdisciplinary Concentration in Wetland Sciences (ICWS)

Students wishing to participate in the ICWS should notify the student services personnel in their academic department as early in their graduate program as possible. To participate in the ICWS, a student must be admitted and enrolled in one of the academic units participating in the ICWS: Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Botany, Civil Engineering, College of Law, Environmental Engineering Sciences, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Geography, Geology, Landscape Architecture, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Soil and Water Sciences, Urban and Regional Planning, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and Zoology. Students will complete the concentration for either the Master’s or Ph.D. but not for both degrees if awarded at the University of Florida.

Graduate Certificate in Wetland Sciences

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. Students without a background in environmental science or engineering, soil and water science, geology, natural resources, biology, ecology, hydrology, microbiology, horticultural science, agricultural engineering, agronomy or a related field may have to complete pre-requisite courses at a local institution before applying for admission to the graduate certificate program. Because we offer a non-degree option, it is not necessary to be admitted to the Graduate School to earn a certificate, but students who later enroll in a graduate program may petition to transfer up to 15 UF graduate-level credit hours (grade B or better) to their graduate degree program (but not the ICWS). To qualify for a certificate, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better for the entire program. A grade of C in one course only will be accepted, providing the overall 3.0 average is maintained. No grade below C will be accepted, and any C grade credit will not transfer.

Enrollment

Interdisciplinary Concentration in Wetland Sciences (ICWS)

Contact the Academic Services personnel within your department in order to enroll in the Concentration. Procedures may vary by department, but a general rule is that you must enroll by the mid-point of the semester in which you will graduate.

Graduate Certificate in Wetland Sciences

APPLY AT LEAST 1 MONTH BEFORE THE SEMESTER BEGINS. Submit the online application and pay the $30 application fee plus $7 processing fee for the graduate certificate program you are interested in joining, at least one month prior to the semester beginning. Be sure to also upload an unofficial transcript showing awarding of a Bachelor’s degree, which is part of the online application process. You are required to send an official transcript to the UF Office of Graduate Admissions as soon as possible after applying:

Mailing address:

UF Office of Graduate Admissions
201 Criser Hall
P.O. Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

You will not be merged into the Registrar’s system and set up with a registration appointment until the official transcript has been received.

Completion of Graduate Certificate or ICWS

Below is a list of the 16 credits of course requirements to be met for earning the Certificate or the 18 credits for the ICWS.

REQUESTING THE CERTIFICATE DESIGNATION DURING THE FINAL SEMESTER: At the beginning of the semester in which you are taking your last course or courses in the graduate certificate program, please visit ONE.UF and apply for the graduate certificate in order to have the designation of completion of the certificate placed on your UF transcript.

Course and Research Requirements

Check the UF Course Schedule to see when each course is offered.

WETLANDS RESEARCH (Concentration only) (2 credits)
  • Two credit hours of research are required for the Concentration. Candidates may fulfill this requirement with thesis/dissertation research, individual work, supervised research or a special topics course dealing with wetlands.
WETLANDS (required, 10 credits)
  • ENV 6935 (also SWS S6932) Wetlands Seminar (1 credit, available online)
  • SWS 5248 Wetlands and Water Quality (3 credits, available online) – or – EES 6309 Wetland Design and Restoration (3 credits)
  • ENV 6508 Wetland Hydrology (3 credits, available online)
  • SWS 6448 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands and Aquatic Systems (3 credits, available online)
POLICY / LAW (select 1 course)
  • ENV 5075 Environmental Policy (3 credits)
  • FNR 6669: Policy and Economics of Natural Resources (3 credits, available online)
  • LAA 6382 Ecological and Environmental Policy (3 credits)
  • LAW 6471 Environmental Law (3 credits)
  • LAW 6472 Natural Resources Law (3 credits)
  • LAW 6930 Conservation Clinic (3-6 credits)
ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS / METHODS (select 1 course)
  • BOT 5695C Ecosystems of Florida (3-4 credits)
  • EES 6309 Wetland Design and Restoration (3 credits)
  • EES 6307 Advanced Ecological Engineering (3 credits)
  • EES 5305C Ecological and General Systems (3 credits)
  • EES 6335 Springs Ecosystems (3 credits)
  • ENV 6932 Special Problems in Environmental Engineering – Section Title: Coastal Systems (3 credits)
  • PCB 5307C Limnology (4 credits)
  • PCB 5338 Principles of Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)
  • SWS 5235 South Florida Ecosystems (3 credits)
  • FNR 6564 Ecohydrology (3 credits)
  • SWS 5247 Hydric Soils (2 credits)
  • WIS 6934 Topics in Wildlife and Range Sciences – Section Title: Wetlands Management and Restoration (3 credits)

Forms

Certificate completion forms for departmental use: