Water Minor
Issues surrounding water supply, water quality, and ecological water relationships have become increasingly important in Colorado as population growth continues and water uses multiply.
The complexity of these issues, and competition among various water users, demand that students interested in pursuing careers in water gain a broad introduction to the issues while specializing a particular discipline. CSU has developed considerable water resource expertise in many academic fields over the past century, and the Water Resources Interdisciplinary Studies Program (WRISP), which requires 21 credits, allows undergraduates to take advantage of this expertise and broaden their backgrounds in order to prepare for employment or graduate-level work.
The minor can be coupled with degrees ranging from fishery and wildlife biology to civil engineering to sociology for a well-rounded water-related undergraduate program. Completion of the program is certified on the student's academic record.
How do I go about getting a WRISP Minor? >>
- Obtain a Plan of Study for the Water Resources Interdisciplinary Studies Program here by downloading the PDF, or obtain a hard copy from the CSU Water Center (E-102 Engineering Building, Colorado State University; 491-6308).
- Discuss your plans with your academic advisor. Be sure that you understand which courses you are required to take and how these courses will affect the scheduling of your classes for your major.
- Complete the Water Resources Plan of Study (page 4 of PDF) and return a copy to the Water Center E102 Engineering.
- During each semester's preregistration advising session, you and your advisor should review your progress toward completion of the Water Resources Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
- The semester before the you graduate, you should alert the CSU Water Center of your intention to graduate. The CSU Water Center will then certify that you have completed the courses required for the Water Resources Interdisciplinary Studies Program (WRISP) and notify the Office of Records and Transcripts. They will then add this certification to your transcript.
Class List (Download a PDF version)
| Course |
Title |
Cr |
AUCC |
Semester Offered |
| AREC 342P |
Water Law, Policy, and Institutions |
3 |
|
|
| AREC 442P |
Water Resource Economics |
3 |
|
|
| GR 342 |
Geography of Water Resources |
3 |
|
F |
| LAND 220P/LIFE 220P |
Fundamentals of Ecology |
3 |
|
F |
| SOC 461P |
Water, Society, and Environment |
3 |
|
F, S, SS |
| WR 304 |
Principles of Watershed Management |
3 |
3A |
F, S |
|
Electives |
3 |
|
|
|
Total |
21 |
|
|
Elective Courses:
| Course |
Title |
Cr |
Semester Offered |
| AREC 340/ECON 340 |
Introduction: Economics of Natural Resources |
3 |
S |
| AREC 346/ECON 346 |
Economics of Outdoor Recreation |
3 |
F |
| AREC 375 |
Agricultural Law |
3 |
F, S |
| ATS 350 |
Introduction to Weather and Climate |
2 |
F, S |
| BZ 315 |
Marine Ecology |
3 |
F |
| BZ 321 |
Aquatic Vascular Plants |
3 |
F |
| CIVE 322/ENVE 322 |
Basic Hydrology |
3 |
F, S |
| CIVE 413 |
Environmental River Mechanics |
3 |
S |
| CIVE 423 |
Groundwater Engineering |
3 |
S |
| CIVE 440 |
Nonpoint Source Pollution |
3 |
F |
| GR 210 |
Physical Geography |
3 |
S |
| POLS 361 |
U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy |
3 |
F, S, SS |
| PSY 316 |
Environmental Psychology |
3 |
F, S, SS |
| SOC 320 |
Population-Natural Resources and Environment |
3 |
F |
| SOCR 370 |
Irrigation Principles |
2 |
S |
| SOCR 371 |
Irrigation of Field Crops |
1 |
|
| WR 416 |
Land Use Hydrology |
3 |
F |
| WR 417 |
Watershed Measurements |
3 |
F |
| WR 418 |
Land Use and Water Quality |
3 |
S |