Minor in Ecological Restoration

Minor Description

The modern field of ecological restoration (ER) showcases the necessity and merits of interdisciplinary approaches to real-world problems. Effective restoration of complex ecosystems and their human interplay requires a fusion of expertise from ecology, other life sciences, physical and social sciences and the humanities.

The minor in ecological restoration seeks to prepare students to address the complex relationships of human communities and ecological sustainability. The minor is a tri-campus initiative (UW Bothell, UW Seattle, and UW Tacoma). Students may, but are not required to, take courses from more than one campus in order to earn the minor.

Students who may benefit from an ER minor include:

  • Students who are interested in graduate school in environmental policy, conservation or restoration or in careers that utilize such knowledge.
  • Business students who are interested in the issue of environmental regulation and mitigation.
  • Community Psychology students who are interested in the relationship between individuals, communities and nature.
  • Interdisciplinary Arts students who wish to explore the emerging field of Eco-Arts and enhance the effectiveness of urban restorations.
  • Biology students who are interested in the application of basic biological principles to recovering ecological function in human-dominated landscapes.
  • Students who are interested in environmental justice issues or environmental law.

Minor Requirements

Students pursuing the Ecological Restoration minor must complete 25 credits in the following areas:

1. Introductory course in restoration ecology (5 credits)
2. UW-REN Capstone course sequence in ecological restoration (10 credits)
3. Restoration related courses (10 credits)

Students must complete at least 15 credits of the minor at their home campus.

No more than 10 credits from the Ecological Restoration Minor can be applied to a student’s major requirements.

Students pursuing the BS in Science are not to complete the Ecological Restoration Minor.

Note: Classes in this minor are offered primarily during the day-time hours.

Introduction to Restoration Ecology (5 credits)

This 5-credit course provides a foundation in the principles and history of ecological restoration. It covers a broad range of topics from how restoration is done, its scientific bases, regulations, social context, etc.

This course is offered at all three UW campuses each academic year:

Bothell Campus: BES 362
Seattle Campus: ESRM 362
Tacoma Campus: TESC 362

UW-REN Capstone in Ecological Restoration (10 credits)

The restoration ecology capstone is a 10-credit three-quarter sequence (fall – winter – spring) taught by faculty from all UW campuses. Students from across departments at all three campuses are assigned to interdisciplinary teams of students from diverse academic fields. These teams work with a community partner to undertake ecological restoration projects in the surrounding area that are important, but for which financial or technical resources are limited. Students learn how to work in a multidisciplinary team environment while accomplishing a restoration project that connects the academic principles they have learned to hands-on practice with a real-life client.

This course sequence is offered at all three UW campuses each academic year:

Bothell: BES 462, 463, 464
Seattle: ERSM 462, 463, 464 OR ENVIR 462, 463, 464
Tacoma: TESC 462, 463, 464

Restoration Related Courses (10 Credits)

This requirement allows students to develop more specific expertise in ecological restoration, often within their major field of study. Courses are approved that have substantial explicit restoration content or those (above introductory-level courses) that cover principles or provide applications valuable in undertaking restoration. Course approval is done by the UW-REN faculty academic steering committee. Special topics courses offered occasionally are approved on a case-by-case basis by the faculty directors.

Bothell Campus

  • BIS 244 Wetlands Discovery
  • BIS 319 Public Arts and Ecological Restoration
  • BIS 342 Geographic Information Systems
  • BIS 343 Geographic Visualization
  • BIS 360 Pollinator Diversity and Conservation
  • BIS 390 Ecology and the Environment
  • BIS 391 Environmental History of the Pacific Northwest Bioregion
  • BIS 408 Critical Physical Geography
  • BIS 442 Advanced GIS Analysis and Applications
  • BIS 490 Senior Seminar: Field Research in Invasion Ecology
  • BEARTH 317 Soils in the Environment
  • BEARTH 318 Hydrogeology
  • BEARTH 321 Geomorphology
  • BES 303 Environmental Monitoring Practicum
  • BES 312 Ecology
  • BES 316 Ecological Methods
  • BES 397 Special Topics in Environmental Science: Estuaries in Trouble
  • BES 440 Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • BES 460 Water Quality
  • BES 485 Conservation Biology
  • BES 486 Watershed Ecology and Management
  • BES 488 Wetland Ecology
  • BES 489 Pacific Northwest Ecosystems
  • BES 490 Pacific Northwest Plants in Restoration and Conservation

Seattle Campus

  • BIOL 117/315 Plant Identification and Classification
  • BIOL/ERSM 331 Landscape Plan Recognition
  • ERSM 479 Restoration Design
  • ESRM 411 Plant Propagation: Principles & Practice
  • ERSM 412 Native Plant Production
  • ESRM 415 Biology, Ecology & Management of Plant Invasions
  • ESRM 425 Ecosystem Management
  • ESRM 458 Management of Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Species
  • ESRM 472 Wetland Ecology
  • ESRM 473 Ecosystem-based Restoration
  • ESRM 480 Selection and Management of Landscape Plants
  • ESRM 481 Field Practicum in Plant Selection and Management
  • FISH 428 River Restoration

Tacoma Campus

  • TESC 232 Issues in Biological Conservation
  • TESC 311 Maps & GIS
  • TESC 319 Water Quality Concepts & Watershed Studies
  • TESC 229 Geomorphology & Soils
  • TESC 333 Environmental Chemistry
  • TESC 345 Pollution & Public Policy
  • TESC 431 Water Resources & Pollution
  • TESC 432 Hydrology & Biogeochemistry in Surface & Groundwater

Ecological Restoration Minor Resources