The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering offers a graduate certificate in Design and Analysis of Environmental Systems: Watershed Assessment and Restoration. This certificate program offers more advanced and in-depth course work than is typically available from short courses and workshops. Through a mixture of face-to-face and distance education courses, students can choose courses that reflect their interests and learning style.

Post-baccalaureate studies and training provide excellent opportunities for practicing engineers and other environmental professionals to stay abreast of new technologies and current government regulations. This certificate program formally certifies competency in ecosystem or environmental engineering with an emphasis on watershed management and restoration. Although not a graduate degree, this program may satisfy needs for professional development.

Students must complete a least 12 credit hours at the graduate level. Nine credit hours must be from the BAE graduate course list. Distance education courses on this list include:

• BAE 502 Instrumentation for Hydrologic Applications (3 credit hours)
• BAE 535 Precision Agriculture Technology (3)
• BAE 575 Design of Structural Stormwater Best Management Practices (3)
• BAE 576 Watershed Monitoring and Assessment (3)
• BAE 577 Introduction to the Total Maximum Daily Load Program (1)
• BAE 578 Agricultural Waste Management (3)
• BAE 581 Open Channel Hydraulics for Natural Systems (3)
• BAE 582 Stream Restoration Structure Risk and Failure (1)
• BAE 583 Ecohydraulics and River Corridor Function (1)
• BAE 590 DRAINMOD (3)
• BAE 590 Integrating AudoCAD Civil 3D and GIS (1)
• BAE 590 Introduction to Fluvial Geomorphology
• BAE 590 Introduction to Land and Water Engineering (3)

With the approval of the program director, one course (up to 3 credit hours) from outside of BAE may be included.

To earn the certificate, the student must earn an overall GPA of 3.0 on all courses in the program; no grade below C- may be included.

BAE 570 Soil Water Movement is a general prerequisite for the program and is not included in the 12 credit hours required to earn the certificate. Students who complete SSC 511 Soil Physics or an equivalent course with a C or better will be considered to have met this prerequisite.

There are two paths to admission:

1. For applicants who hold a B.S. degree from an accredited undergraduate engineering program, an overall GPA of 3.0 or an overall GPA of 2.8 combined with a major GPA of 3.0 is required.
2. For applicants who hold a B.S. degree in an appropriate science curriculum, an overall GPA of 3.0 is required.

All applicants must have completed calculus, differential equations, physics and chemistry with grades of C or better. A program that includes fluid mechanics or hydraulics is highly recommended.
In addition, environmental professionals may qualify based on experience. Contact the program director for more information.
All applicants must submit:

• Final transcript of baccalaureate program
• Transcripts of all post-baccalaureate course work
• Personal statement of reasons for pursuing the program

Students may begin taking courses for the certificate in Summer, Fall or Spring.

The certificate requires 12 credit hours. Students proceed at their own pace. Students pursuing certificate programs are considered non-degree studies (NDS) students. NDS students may register for a maximum of six credit hours per semester. Thus, the certificate will take from two to four semesters to complete. All requirements must be completed within four calendar years from the date the student starts the first course.

Click "How to Apply" to register to take courses without being admitted to a degree program. Students pursuing certificate programs are considered non-degree studies (NDS) students for the purpose of university registration.