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 Administration students who are interested in the issue of environmental regulation and mitigation.
  • 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:

  • BES 362 Introduction to Restoration Ecology (5 credits)
  • BES 492 and BES 493 Capstone Research in Environmental Science (10 credits)
  • Restoration Elective Courses (10 credits)
    • BIS 244 Wetlands Discovery
    • BIS 306 Marine Diversity and Conservation
    • BIS 319 Public Arts and Ecological Restoration
    • BIS 342 Geographic Information Systems
    • BIS 343 Geographic Visualization
    • BIS 344 Intermediate Geographic Information Systems
    • BIS 360 Pollinator Diversity and Conservation
    • BIS 405 Environmental Education
    • BIS 408 Critical Physical Geography
    • BIS 442 Advanced GIS Analysis and Applications
    • BEARTH 317 Soils in the Environment
    • BEARTH 318 Hyrdrogeology
    • BEARTH 321 Geomorphology
    • BES 303 Environmental Monitoring Practicum
    • BES 312 Ecology
    • BES 316 Ecological Methods
    • BES 330 Limnology
    • BES 385 Biodiversity Conservation
    • BES 440 Remote Sensing of the Environment
    • BES 460 Water Quality
    • BES 486 Watershed Ecology and Management
    • BES 488 Wetland Ecology
    • BES 489 Pacific Northwest Ecosystems
    • BES 490 Pacific Northwest Plants in Restoration and Conservation

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 Conservation and Restoration Sciences are not able to complete the Ecological Restoration Minor.

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

UW Bothell Capstone in Ecological Restoration (10 credits)

The restoration ecology capstone is a 10-credit two-quarter sequence (fall and winter) taught by faculty from UW Bothell Environmental Sciences. Students are assigned to interdisciplinary teams to 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.

Bothell: BES 492 in fall for 3 credits and BES 493 in winter for 7 credits

Approved UW Seattle and UW Tacoma Restoration Elective Courses

See the Office of the University Registrar website for information on Cross-Campus Registration Polices.

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