Planning your fall schedule? Whether you’re just starting your degree, looking for electives, or finishing up advanced coursework, there are a variety of Freshwater and Atmospheric Sciences courses available this fall. These courses range from introductory classes with no prerequisites to specialized upper-level and graduate courses, with options available in-person, online, and hybrid.
Here are 13 courses to consider when building your fall schedule.
Great Intro Courses (No Prerequisites!)
These are great options for first-year students, non-majors, or anyone looking to explore freshwater or atmospheric sciences. And they all fulfill Natural Science GER requirements!
1. FRSHWTR 101 – Elements of Water
- This course fulfills a Natural Sciences GER requirement
- Course offerings: In-person course Tuesdays/Thursday 10-11:15 a.m. in Chemistry Building 110
- Instructor: TBD
- Undergrad only
2. ATM SCI 100 – Survey of Meteorology
This course introduces the basics of weather and climate, including atmospheric processes, weather systems, and how forecasts are made. Available in-person and online asynchronous, this course also fulfills a Natural Sciences GER requirement and is a great option for students interested in weather, climate, or environmental science.
- This course fulfills a Natural Sciences with a Lab GER requirement
- Course offerings: Available online OR in-person lecture Mondays/Wednesdays 10:30-11:20 a.m. in Lubar Hall S230 (plus two lab sections)
- Instructor: George Duffy
- Undergrad only
3. ATM SCI 109 – Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Interested in extreme weather? Learn how severe weather forms and impacts communities around the world. This course explores thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events. Offered online asynchronously and fulfills a Natural Sciences GER requirement.
- This course fulfills a Natural Sciences GER requirement
- Course offerings: Online course
- Instructor: Sergey Kravtsov
- Undergrad only
Core, Required & Elective Freshwater Sciences Courses
These courses are great for students progressing through the freshwater sciences major or minor.
4. FRSHWTR 201 – The Water Environment
Aquatic environments are shaped by a combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors. In this course, you’ll learn how these systems work together, how they influence organisms and ecosystems, and how environmental changes can impact water systems and aquatic life.
- Prerequisites: C or better in BIO SCI 150, CHEM 102 and MATH 105
- Course offerings: Tuesdays/Thursdays 2:30-3:45 p.m. in Physics Bldg 127
- Instructor: Brandon Gerig
- Undergrad only
5. FRSHWTR 362 – Introduction to Environmental Data Systems
This course introduces environmental modeling, systems thinking, and how environmental processes are connected and analyzed using data and computational tools. Students learn how to collect, manage, and analyze environmental data and use those results to help solve social, environmental, and ecological problems.
- Prerequisites: COMPSCI 202, one of the following: MATHSTAT 215, MATH 213, MATH 221 or MATH 231
- Course offerings: Tuesdays/Thursdays 1-2:15 p.m. in Lapham Hall 260
- Instructor: Tracy Boyer
- Undergrad only
6. FRSHWTR 392 – Water, Energy, Food, and Climate
Water, food, energy, and climate are all connected, and changes in one system affect the others. This course explores how these global systems interact and how policy, economics, and sustainability decisions impact environmental challenges around the world.
- Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher
- Course offerings: Tuesdays/Thursdays 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in Lapham Hall 260
- Instructor: Tracy Boyer
- Undergrad only
Advanced Undergraduate & Graduate Courses
These courses are designed for upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students interested in specialized topics and hands-on experience. These courses are mixed with undergraduate and graduate students. Typically, these courses meet at Great Lakes Research Facility.
FRSHWTR 471 – Introduction to Sensing Networks
Learn how environmental data is collected using sensors and monitoring networks and how that data is used to understand environmental systems. Students work with data from sources like satellites and underwater sensors to monitor surface water and environmental conditions, and learn modeling techniques to analyze data from multiple sources.
- Prerequisites: MATHSTAT 215, or FRSHWTR 585 and MATH 213 OR MATH 231
- Course offerings: Wednesdays 2:30-5:10 p.m. in Lapham Hall 257
- Instructor: Xinyi Shen
- Undergrad and graduate
FRSHWTR 502 – Aquatic Ecosystem Dynamics
Learn how aquatic ecosystems function by studying the biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape freshwater systems, including large lake dynamics, hydrology, chemistry, and aquatic communities.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing, BIO SCI 150, CHEM 102, and MATH 115, MATH 116 or MATH 211, or graduate standing
- Course offerings: Tuesdays 2:30-5:10 p.m. in Great Lakes Research Facility 1084
- Instructor: Harvey Bootsma
- Undergrad and graduate
FRSHWTR 511 – Ichthyology
If you’re interested in fish and aquatic life, this course explores fish biology, ecology, evolution, and species identification. You’ll also learn how fish have adapted to different aquatic environments through behavior, genetics, physiology, and movement.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing, BIO SCI 150, or graduate standing
- Course offerings: Tuesdays 8:30am-11:10am in Great Lakes Research Facility 1084
- Instructor: Brandon Gerig
- Undergrad and graduate
FRSHWTR 513 – Field Experimentation and Analysis for Freshwater Sciences
Interested in research or field work? This course gives you hands-on experience with field methods, experimental design, and data analysis used in freshwater science. Students work on field and lab activities focused on freshwater ecology research.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing, BIO SCI 152 and CHEM 104, or graduate standing
- Course offerings: Thursdays 2:30pm-5:10pm in Great Lakes Research Facility 1084
- Instructor: Ben Peterson
- Undergrad and graduate
FRSHWTR 563 – Fish Nutrition and Physiology
This course explores how fish grow, how their bodies function, and what they need to stay healthy. Students learn how nutrition and physiology are used in aquaculture, fisheries management, and conservation to support sustainable fish populations. The course is offered online but meets synchronously on Mondays.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing, a grade of C or better in BIO SCI 152 and CHEM 104, or graduate standing
- Course offerings: Online, but meets synchronously Mondays 2:30-5:10 p.m.
- Instructor: Dong Fang Deng
- Undergrad and graduate
FRSHWTR 583 – Cost-Benefit Analysis
This course introduces economic and policy decision-making tools used in environmental and water resource management. Students learn cost-benefit analysis concepts, principles, and techniques and apply them to real-world environmental and resource management decisions. This course is offered online with synchronous class meetings on Wednesdays.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing, a grade of C or better in BIO SCI 152 and CHEM 104, or graduate standing
- Course offerings: Online, but meets synchronously Mondays 11:30 a.m.-2:10 p.m.
- Instructor: James Price
- Undergrad and graduate
Graduate Course
FRSHWTR 781 – Water Law for Scientists and Policy Makers
Water management isn’t just science — it’s also policy and law. In this course, you’ll learn about water law, environmental policy, and major regulations that govern water resources, including the Clean Water Act and Great Lakes policies. This course is offered online with synchronous class meetings.
- Prerequisites: Graduate standing
- Course offerings: Online, but meets synchronously Mondays and Wednesdays 10-11:15 a.m.
- Instructor: James Price
- Undergrad and graduate
These courses cover everything from weather and climate to aquatic ecosystems, fish biology, environmental systems, economics, and policy. Whether you’re just starting your degree or taking advanced courses, there are plenty of options to build a fall schedule that fits your interests and career goals.
Talk with your advisor during enrollment appointments to see which of these courses fit into your academic plan and fall schedule!