Learn how to use science to address complex environmental challenges at the nation’s only School of Freshwater Sciences. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, our school offers a unique opportunity to study freshwater ecosystems, climate change, and weather patterns while applying science to shape policy and drive real-world solutions.
Freshwater and marine systems are deeply interconnected, making freshwater sciences an essential foundation for those interested in marine science or oceanography. Rivers, lakes, and groundwater feed the oceans, influencing coastal pollution, nutrient cycles, and ecosystem health. Climate change affects both freshwater and marine environments, emphasizing the need to study water systems from their sources to their broader environmental impacts to fully understand global water dynamics. A degree in freshwater sciences offers hands-on experience in water quality analysis, ecosystem monitoring, and policy development, equipping students with skills for careers in research, conservation, government, non-government agencies, consulting, and industry.
The School of Freshwater Sciences offers bachelor’s, master’s, accelerated master’s, and doctoral degrees in a range of interdisciplinary areas, preparing the next generation of scientists with the knowledge and skills to tackle environmental issues.
Areas of study include:
- Water Policy and Economics
- Water Ecosystems and Human Health
- Great Lakes Research and Management
- Water, Weather, and Climate
Undergraduate students build a strong foundation through coursework and hands-on experiences, while graduate students gain access to extensive research or internship opportunities with faculty mentorship. Students work in state-of-the-art labs, a genomics center, and research vessels, developing expertise in the latest scientific techniques.
Atmospheric Sciences Courses
ATM SCI 100 Survey of Meteorology
ATM SCI 101 Preparing for a Career in Atmospheric Science
ATM SCI 109 Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes
ATM SCI 110 The Origin, Composition, and Structure of the Planetary Atmospheres
ATM SCI 194 First-Year Seminar:
ATM SCI 199 Independent Study
ATM SCI 240 Introduction to Meteorology
ATM SCI 250 Introduction to Climate Science
ATM SCI 289 Internship in Atmospheric Sciences, Lower Division
ATM SCI 297 Study Abroad:
ATM SCI 299 Ad Hoc:
ATM SCI 330 Air-Pollution Meteorology
ATM SCI 330G Air-Pollution Meteorology
ATM SCI 350 Atmospheric Thermodynamics
ATM SCI 350G Atmospheric Thermodynamics
ATM SCI 351 Dynamic Meteorology I
ATM SCI 351G Dynamic Meteorology I
ATM SCI 352 Dynamic Meteorology II
ATM SCI 352G Dynamic Meteorology II
ATM SCI 360 Synoptic Meteorology I
ATM SCI 360G Synoptic Meteorology I
ATM SCI 361 Synoptic Meteorology II
ATM SCI 361G Synoptic Meteorology II
ATM SCI 381 Honors Seminar:
ATM SCI 460 Mesoscale Circulations
ATM SCI 460G Mesoscale Circulations
ATM SCI 464 Physical Meteorology: Cloud Physics
ATM SCI 464G Physical Meteorology: Cloud Physics
ATM SCI 470 Tropical Meteorology
ATM SCI 470G Tropical Meteorology
ATM SCI 480 The General Circulation and Climate Dynamics
ATM SCI 480G The General Circulation and Climate Dynamics
ATM SCI 497 Study Abroad:
ATM SCI 497G Study Abroad:
ATM SCI 499 Ad Hoc:
ATM SCI 500 Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
ATM SCI 500G Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
ATM SCI 505 Micrometeorology
ATM SCI 505G Micrometeorology
ATM SCI 511 Seminar in Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing
ATM SCI 511G Seminar in Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing
ATM SCI 599 Capstone Experience
ATM SCI 600 Data Analytics
ATM SCI 600G Data Analytics
ATM SCI 690 Seminar in Atmospheric Sciences:
ATM SCI 690G Seminar in Atmospheric Sciences:
ATM SCI 695 Internship in Atmospheric Sciences, Upper Division
ATM SCI 699 Advanced Independent Reading
ATM SCI 700 Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences II: Signal Detection
ATM SCI 705 Air Pollution Modeling
ATM SCI 711 Cloud Dynamics
ATM SCI 730 Numerical Weather Prediction
ATM SCI 750 Nonlinear Time Series Analysis
ATM SCI 761 Advanced Synoptic/Mesoscale Meteorology
ATM SCI 888 Candidate for Degree
ATM SCI 943 Seminar: Hydrology:
ATM SCI 950 Seminar on Topics in Atmospheric Sciences:
ATM SCI 990 Master's Thesis
ATM SCI 997 Doctoral Externship
ATM SCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation
ATM SCI 999 Advanced Independent Reading
Freshwater Sciences Courses
FRSHWTR 101 Elements of Water
FRSHWTR 120 Preparing for a Career in Freshwater Sciences
FRSHWTR 190 Topics in Freshwater Sciences:
FRSHWTR 191 Great Lakes Ecology
FRSHWTR 201 The Water Environment
FRSHWTR 202 Life in Water
FRSHWTR 296 UROP Apprenticeship, Lower-Level
FRSHWTR 300 Topics in Freshwater Sciences:
FRSHWTR 321 Exploration of Inland Seas
FRSHWTR 322 Ecology and Evolution of Freshwater Organisms
FRSHWTR 322G Ecology and Evolution of Freshwater Organisms
FRSHWTR 341 Sanitation and Sustainability
FRSHWTR 342 Water Pollution, Technology and Management
FRSHWTR 342G Water Pollution, Technology and Management
FRSHWTR 361 Introduction to Environmental Data Systems
FRSHWTR 362 Calculating Nature
FRSHWTR 381 Honors Seminar:
FRSHWTR 391 Water and Natural Resource Economics
FRSHWTR 392 Water, Energy, Food, and Climate
FRSHWTR 393 Water Law, Policy, and the Environment
FRSHWTR 421 Molecular Level Tools to Understand Larger Scale Change
FRSHWTR 461 Politics and Policy of Sustainability
FRSHWTR 461G Politics and Policy of Sustainability
FRSHWTR 464 Chemical Hydrogeology
FRSHWTR 464G Chemical Hydrogeology
FRSHWTR 471 Introduction to Sensing Networks
FRSHWTR 471G Introduction to Sensing Networks
FRSHWTR 490 Sustainable Design for Community Development
FRSHWTR 490G Sustainable Design for Community Development
FRSHWTR 496 UROP Apprenticeship, Upper-Level
FRSHWTR 497 Study Abroad:
FRSHWTR 497G Study Abroad:
FRSHWTR 498 Undergraduate Research
FRSHWTR 502 Aquatic Ecosystem Dynamics
FRSHWTR 502G Aquatic Ecosystem Dynamics
FRSHWTR 504 Quantitative Freshwater Analysis
FRSHWTR 504G Quantitative Freshwater Analysis
FRSHWTR 506 Environmental Health of Freshwater Ecosystems
FRSHWTR 506G Environmental Health of Freshwater Ecosystems
FRSHWTR 510 Economics, Policy and Management of Water
FRSHWTR 510G Economics, Policy and Management of Water
FRSHWTR 511 Ichthyology
FRSHWTR 511G Ichthyology
FRSHWTR 512 Freshwater Sciences Practicum:
FRSHWTR 512G Freshwater Sciences Practicum:
FRSHWTR 513 Field Experimentation and Analysis in Freshwater Sciences
FRSHWTR 513G Field Experimentation and Analysis in Freshwater Sciences
FRSHWTR 514 Analytical Techniques in Freshwater Sciences
FRSHWTR 514G Analytical Techniques in Freshwater Sciences
FRSHWTR 524 Introduction to Stable and Radioactive Isotopes
FRSHWTR 524G Introduction to Stable and Radioactive Isotopes
FRSHWTR 541 Contaminants of Emerging Concern
FRSHWTR 541G Contaminants of Emerging Concern
FRSHWTR 563 Fish Nutrition and Physiology
FRSHWTR 563G Fish Nutrition and Physiology
FRSHWTR 567 Fish Health
FRSHWTR 567G Fish Health
FRSHWTR 569 Fisheries Management
FRSHWTR 569G Fisheries Management
FRSHWTR 583 Cost-Benefit Analysis for Environmental Resource Decisions
FRSHWTR 583G Cost-Benefit Analysis for Environmental Resource Decisions
FRSHWTR 585 Applied Water Statistics and Data Manipulation
FRSHWTR 585G Applied Water Statistics and Data Manipulation
FRSHWTR 640 Sequence Analysis
FRSHWTR 640G Sequence Analysis
FRSHWTR 650 Topics in Freshwater Sciences:
FRSHWTR 650G Topics in Freshwater Sciences:
FRSHWTR 660 Professional and Capstone Planning
FRSHWTR 661 Undergraduate Capstone
FRSHWTR 662 Thesis Research Planning and Proposal Development
FRSHWTR 663 Undergraduate Research and Thesis
FRSHWTR 690 Undergraduate Seminar in Freshwater Sciences:
FRSHWTR 695 Independent Study in Freshwater Sciences for Biological Sciences Students
FRSHWTR 699 Independent Study for Undergraduates
FRSHWTR 781 Water Law for Scientists and Policy Makers
FRSHWTR 784 Water Consulting Experience
FRSHWTR 810 Professional Development for Water Leaders
FRSHWTR 888 Candidate for Degree
FRSHWTR 890 Science Communication
FRSHWTR 900 Colloquium in Freshwater Sciences
FRSHWTR 901 Seminar in Freshwater Sciences:
FRSHWTR 980 Graduate Internship
FRSHWTR 985 Master's Research and Thesis
FRSHWTR 990 Doctoral Research and Dissertation
FRSHWTR 999 Independent Study
Name | Rank | Degree | School | Graduate Faculty | Emeritus Faculty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carmen Aguilar | Senior Scientist | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | No | No |
Harvey Bootsma | Associate Dean, Professor | PhD | University of Manitoba | Yes | No |
Tracy Boyer | Professor | PhD | University of Minnesota | Yes | No |
Arthur Brooks | Professor | PhD | Johns Hopkins University | No | Yes |
Michael Carvan | Shaw Professor | PhD | Texas A&M University | Yes | No |
Russell Cuhel | Senior Scientist | PhD | Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | No | No |
Dong-Fang Deng | Professor | PhD | University of California-Davis | Yes | No |
George Duffy | Teaching Assistant Professor | PhD | Vanderbilt University | No | No |
Brandon Gerig | Assistant Professor | PhD | University of Notre Dame | Yes | No |
Tim Grundl | Professor | PhD | Colorado School of Mines | No | Yes |
Laodong Guo | Professor | PhD | Texas A&M University | Yes | No |
John Janssen | Professor | PhD | Michigan State University | No | Yes |
Jonathan Kahl | Professor | PhD | University of Michigan | No | No |
Jerry Kaster | Associate Professor | PhD | University of Colorado | No | Yes |
Rebecca Klaper | Dean, Professor | PhD | University of Georgia | Yes | No |
J. Val Klump | Professor | PhD | University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill | No | Yes |
Sergey Kravtsov | Professor | PhD | Florida State University | Yes | No |
James Lubner | Professor | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | No | Yes |
Sandra McLellan | Distinguished Professor, Lynde B. Uihlein Professor in Ecosystem Health | PhD | University of Cincinnati Medical Center | Yes | No |
Ryan Newton | Associate Professor | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Yes | No |
Benjamin Peterson | Assistant Professor | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Yes | No |
James Price | Assistant Professor | PhD | The University of New Mexico | No | No |
Paul Roebber | Distinguished Professor | PhD | McGill University | Yes | No |
Melissa Scanlan | Director or the Center for Water Policy, Professor, Lynde B. Uihlein Endowed Chair | JD | University of California, Berkeley | Yes | No |
Xinyi Shen | Assistant Professor | PhD | Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS, Peking University | Yes | No |
James Waples | Associate Professor | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Yes | No |