2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Department website: https://www.uwgb.edu/water-science/

(Bachelor of Science)

Overview of the Program

The UW-Green Bay Water Science program is an integrated program designed to provide students with the tools necessary to solve the water related challenges of today and tomorrow. Students may complete program requirements in four years. The curriculum is interdisciplinary, with a core set of courses drawn from geoscience, chemistry, environmental science, biology, physics, math, and statistics. In addition, a diverse set of elective courses allow students to focus on subdisciplines in water science that can meet their career needs and interests. The major requirements are comprised of 68 credits, which include 33 credits of supporting courses, 19 credits of upper level core courses, and 16 credits of upper level electives. The comprehensive major has a principal focus on water’s role in natural processes in Earth’s systems. These skills include a solid understanding of the chemistry, surface water hydrology, groundwater, and biology of freshwater systems. UW-Green Bay Water Science majors have opportunities to work as research assistants on faculty projects, develop internships, or to conduct their own independent projects. UW-Green Bay faculty members are very active in research on water and wastewater treatment, runoff pollution, stream hydrology, groundwater quantity and quality, soils, limnology, and aquatic ecology.

Student Learning Outcomes and Program Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe the role water plays in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, with emphasis on interactions between these reservoirs.
2. Students will apply the scientific method to investigations of hydrologic processes, Earth systems, and interactions among the various physical and biological realms utilizing standard scientific field and laboratory methods.
3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the hydrology of streams and lake systems and the role water has in landscape‑forming processes that act on the Earth's surface.
4. Students will be able to describe the processes of and importance of groundwater flow and aquifer systems.
5. Students will be able to compare chemical interactions that occur in various hydrologic settings and their importance to water resources, geological and biological systems, and water/wastewater treatment.
6. Students will be able to describe the role water plays in atmospheric systems and the climate system.
7. Students will be able to describe the interactions between water systems and ecosystems.
8. Students will be able to describe the challenges of maintaining surface and ground water quality.
9. Students will apply their knowledge base and research skills to current issues pertaining to water resources, management, and remediation, with emphasis on related economic, social, and public policy dimensions.
10. Students will analyze, interpret, and report on laboratory and field findings using appropriate statistical techniques and computer applications.

Major* 

*

includes an accelerated option - Integrated with graduate Environmental Science and Policy program

#

Students must be granted permission through the department to enroll in graduate level coursework.  For more information, contact the graduate Management office or refer to the graduate catalog.

¹

May be satisfied with an ACT English score of 32 or higher, or a SAT Reading score of 39 or higher, or an equivalent writing competency in another major.

²

May use up to 8 credits of Specialty and Field Immersion Courses offered by Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin

Curriculum Guide 

The following is an example of a four-year Water Science program and is a representation of one possible pathway. Students are encouraged to plan ahead and check with your advisor to ensure that they have the most accurate and up-to-date information available about a particular four-year degree option. Because some courses are fall/spring and even/odd year basis, timing of certain courses may vary.  Students are encouraged to consider a minor that pairs well with Water Science. 120 credits necessary to graduate. 

¹

 Choose one of these two courses; check periodicity closely.