# Watershed Ecology (Certificate of Achievement)

Sierra College · 2025-2026 Catalog · Department: Biological Sciences

Source: https://catalog.sierracollege.edu/archive/2025-2026/departments/biological-sciences/#Watershed-Certificate

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.

**Required Courses**

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BIOL 0001 | General Biology | 4 |
| or BIOL 0011 | Concepts of Biology |  |
| BIOL 0013 | Field Methods in Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 0014 | Natural History, Ecology and Conservation (also ESS 0014) | 4 |
| BIOL 0095 | Internship in Biological Sciences | 1 |
| **ENGL 0001A** | | 3 |
| or ENGL 0012 | Writing in the Workplace |  |
| ESS 0013 | Environmental Regulations | 1 |
| GEOG 0090 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 4 |
| **Select 9-12 units from any of the following emphases:** | | 9-12 |
| **Animal Study Emphasis** | |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0003 | General Zoology |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0016D | Biology of Waterfowl and Marsh Birds |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0016M | Marine Mammals and Birds |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0030 | Introduction to Ornithology |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0033 | Introduction to Zoology |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0035 | Introduction to Entomology |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0036 | Introduction to Mammalogy |  |
| **Plant Study Emphasis** | |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0002 | Botany |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0016C | Vernal Pools and the California Prairie |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0016E | Ecology of the Sierran Conifer Forest |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0023 | Wildflower Identification |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0024 | Wildland Trees and Shrubs (Dendrology) |  |
| **General Emphasis** | |  |
| ↳ AGRI 0221 | Introduction to Soil Science |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0016A | Local Ecosystems of Placer County |  |
| ↳ BIOL 0017B | Ecology of the Sutter Buttes |  |
| ↳ ESS 0001 | Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability |  |
| ↳ ESS 0008 | California Water |  |
| ↳ ESS 0010 | Conservation of Natural Resources |  |
| ↳ GEOG 0001 | Physical Geography |  |
| **MATH 0013** | |  |
| **Total Units** | | **29-32** |

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.