Course Description

Water is essential to all life on Earth; it sustains every natural ecosystem, plus an enormous human population. Because water resources are under stress at all scales, water is in the headlines every day. Understanding the Earth’s water is therefore essential to ensuring the wellbeing of each human community, and the continued habitability of the Earth itself. This understanding is critical not only to natural-resource professionals, but to all who wish to act as informed and forward-thinking citizens in their communities.

The course will focus on these subjects:

  1. the properties of water; the hydrologic cycle, distribution and movement of water on Earth;
  2. physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water resources;
  3. water requirements of natural ecosystems and human communities;
  4. human water management;
  5. effects of human activities on water flows and quality;
  6. water law, policy, and implementing agencies; and
  7. current issues, with conventional and innovative solutions to water problems.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

  • explain the physical properties of water, the hydrologic cycle and land-atmosphere interactions;
  • describe the physical, chemical, and biological state of a water resource and the natural and human processes that influence water flows and quality;
  • -nterpret water information to solve real-world problems and understand current issues in hydrology and water policy;
  • explain water resource issues to audiences such as academics, government officials, or community members using written and oral communication; and
  • critically assess the arguments and assertions of others regarding the status of water resources.

This course fulfills the Contemporary Issues in Science (CS) piece of the Montana State University CORE Curriculum or 3 credits of the Natural Science/Mathematics degree requirement in Liberal Studies.

Meeting Place and Times

Online

Instructor(s)

Dr. John Townsend-Mehler 

Prerequisites

Sophomore Standing

Tuition and Fees

If you are accepted into a qualified online program, see the appropriate MSU Online Only Tuition and Fee table.

If you are also taking a face-to-face course, please refer to the MSU Fee Schedules.

Required Books/Materials

Weekly required readings/viewings/listening, are linked from the course website at no cost to the student

Computer Requirements:

  • Internet access
  • A device and browser that pass the system check for Brightspace LE, MSU's learning management system.

This course uses a learning management system. You will learn more closer to the course start date.

For More Information

Contact John Townsend-Mehler

How to Register

You must be accepted as a student to Montana State University to take this course.

Learn how to apply.

After your application has been accepted, you will register via MSU's online registration system, MyInfo.

Registration requires a PIN. Learn how to find your PIN.

Once you have your PIN, learn how to register through MyInfo.