{
  "college": "sierra-college",
  "edition": "2025-2026",
  "departmentName": "Biological Sciences",
  "id": "biological-sciences--watershed-certificate",
  "name": "Watershed Ecology",
  "award": "Certificate of Achievement",
  "department": "biological-sciences",
  "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.sierracollege.edu/archive/2025-2026/departments/biological-sciences/#Watershed-Certificate",
  "blocks": [
    {
      "kind": "text",
      "markdown": "Watershed ecology includes the study of all aspects of the environment including organisms within an entire watershed-the land area draining into the major creeks and river systems. The certificate program can serve as the basic preparation for entry-level positions with organizations and governmental agencies that perform a variety of environmental studies. A certificate is designed to provide career technical skills; it is not equivalent to an associate degree."
    },
    {
      "kind": "courselist",
      "title": "Required Courses",
      "rows": [
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0001",
          "title": "General Biology",
          "units": "4",
          "indent": false
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0011",
          "title": "Concepts of Biology",
          "indent": false,
          "connector": "or"
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0013",
          "title": "Field Methods in Ecology",
          "units": "3",
          "indent": false
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0014",
          "title": "Natural History, Ecology and Conservation (also ESS 0014)",
          "units": "4",
          "indent": false
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0095",
          "title": "Internship in Biological Sciences",
          "units": "1",
          "indent": false
        },
        {
          "type": "comment",
          "text": "ENGL 0001A",
          "units": "3"
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "ENGL 0012",
          "title": "Writing in the Workplace",
          "indent": false,
          "connector": "or"
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "ESS 0013",
          "title": "Environmental Regulations",
          "units": "1",
          "indent": false
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "GEOG 0090",
          "title": "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)",
          "units": "4",
          "indent": false
        },
        {
          "type": "comment",
          "text": "Select 9-12 units from any of the following emphases:",
          "units": "9-12"
        },
        {
          "type": "comment",
          "text": "Animal Study Emphasis"
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0003",
          "title": "General Zoology",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0016D",
          "title": "Biology of Waterfowl and Marsh Birds",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0016M",
          "title": "Marine Mammals and Birds",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0030",
          "title": "Introduction to Ornithology",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0033",
          "title": "Introduction to Zoology",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0035",
          "title": "Introduction to Entomology",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0036",
          "title": "Introduction to Mammalogy",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "comment",
          "text": "Plant Study Emphasis"
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0002",
          "title": "Botany",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0016C",
          "title": "Vernal Pools and the California Prairie",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0016E",
          "title": "Ecology of the Sierran Conifer Forest",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0023",
          "title": "Wildflower Identification",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0024",
          "title": "Wildland Trees and Shrubs (Dendrology)",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "comment",
          "text": "General Emphasis"
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "AGRI 0221",
          "title": "Introduction to Soil Science",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0016A",
          "title": "Local Ecosystems of Placer County",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "BIOL 0017B",
          "title": "Ecology of the Sutter Buttes",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "ESS 0001",
          "title": "Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "ESS 0008",
          "title": "California Water",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "ESS 0010",
          "title": "Conservation of Natural Resources",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "course",
          "code": "GEOG 0001",
          "title": "Physical Geography",
          "indent": true
        },
        {
          "type": "comment",
          "text": "MATH 0013"
        },
        {
          "type": "total",
          "text": "Total Units",
          "units": "29-32"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "kind": "text",
      "markdown": "Only 3 units total may be taken from the BIOL 16 and BIOL 17 field study courses. Courses are grouped according to specific interests, but students are not limited to a specific emphasis. Students opting to take BIOL 0001 are advised to consult with a counselor regarding pre/corequisites."
    }
  ]
}