The Fisheries & Water Resources Major
Discipline Coordinator: Stan Szczytko
Address: College of Natural Resources,
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Telephone: (715) 346-4181
Fax: (715) 346-3624
The Water Resources major in the College of Natural
Resources was extensively revised during the spring
semester 2006 to respond to the changes that have
occurred in the discipline over the last decade. We
feel that the changes will have a significant
positive impact on our students and stakeholders.
The new options concentrate on the study of
biological, physical, and chemical characteristics
of rivers, streams, lakes, groundwater and the
interaction of water with land.
Fisheries Option
The fisheries option prepares you for employment in consulting
firms or state, tribal or federal resource management agencies where you
would be involved in manipulating fishery resources through regulating human
use, managing aquatic habitat, and stocking. With a BS degree in fisheries
you will likely begin your professional employment as a limited term
employee. An MS degree will greatly increase employment potential and job
responsibilities in fisheries. If you complete the requirements for the
fisheries option with a grade of C or better in all required courses, you
will have completed the minimum course requirements for certification by the
American Fisheries Society as a Certified Fisheries Professional. For more
information about certification see
http://www.fisheries.org/html/Certification/shtml.
Watershed Management Option
The watershed management option prepares you for a career or
graduate study in land conservation, water resources management, and
hydrology. Watershed management graduates frequently gain employment with
environmental consulting firms and state, federal, tribal, and local
resource management agencies and are involved in land planning, resource
protection, and civil works.
Water Resources Option
In the water resources option you develop a flexible program of courses with
your adviser to prepare you for one or more career paths. You can emphasize
the physical, chemical or biological aspects of water resource management or
combinations thereof. The breadth of electives allows you to complete a
minor in such areas as chemistry, soil science, geographic information
systems and spatial analysis, or land use planning that will enhance and
focus your career opportunities. Graduates are normally employed by
environmental consulting firms, or by county, state, tribal or federal
resource management agencies that are involved in protecting and managing
the quality and quantity of water resources.