Freshwater and Marine Sciences Certificate
The Freshwater and Marine Sciences certificate provides UW-Madison undergraduates from any major or college the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in the fields of freshwater and marine sciences.
Freshwater and marine ecosystems are vital to human well-being. They support vast biodiversity and provide drinking water and livelihoods to people worldwide. Both freshwater and marine systems are also highly threatened. Creating a sustainable future will require people with a foundational understanding of these ecosystems.
The certificate emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the aquatic sciences and incorporates courses that span the physical and biological sciences and their application to real-world problems. The certificate provides an opportunity for students interested in areas such as environmental science, ecology and evolution, natural resources management, environmental chemistry, public policy, public health, and social justice to incorporate water-related themes into their degree program.
Housed in the Department of Biology in the College of Letters and Sciences, the certificate includes courses from a broad range of departments including Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Geoscience, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and more. The Freshwater and Marine Sciences certificate is also part of a statewide program called the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.
Requirements
The certificate requires a minimum of 15 credits. Students must also have:
- Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate course
- At least 8 credits taken in residence at UW–Madison
Advising and Declaring
Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to discuss the certificate requirements and course options to fulfill them. If you have questions or would like to speak with an advisor about the certificate, please email fmsc@ibio.wisc.edu.
To Declare or Cancel the Freshwater and Marine Sciences certificate, students complete a declaration form. See the Forms section below.
Careers
Freshwater and Marine Sciences certificate students gain experience that prepares them for graduate study and/or careers such as limnology, water resource management, and marine biology. Career paths include water resources policy and management with local, state, or federal agencies, conservation groups, teaching and academic research, and private industry.
The Department of Biology encourages our majors to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus. We partner with SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science. L&S graduates are in high demand by employers and graduate programs. It is important to us that our students are career ready at the time of graduation, and we are committed to your success.
SuccessWorks is the College of Letters and Science’s office dedicated to helping students develop their careers before they graduate. Explore their extensive resources and schedule an appointment to develop your career.
Forms
Necessary forms related to the Freshwater and Marine Sciences Certificate are available at the link below.