Upon completing this certificate, you will:

• Assess the biological, chemical, and physical components of wetlands. 
• Explain how current U.S. laws and regulations govern human impacts on wetlands. 
• Evaluate the impact that human activity has on wetland ecosystem services and functions. 
• Identify wetlands and delineate wetland boundaries based on vegetation, soil, and hydrological indicators. 
• Create a wetland restoration plan capable of restoring/replacing ecosystem services and functions. 
• Apply ecosystem stewardship concepts and technological tools to wetland restoration and conservation. 
• Evaluate the role of national regulations, international agreements, and non-governmental organizations in global wetland conservation. 
• Assess the impact that different stakeholder groups can have on successful wetland management. 

The Wetland Science and Conservation Certificate is a 12-credit hour program consisting of three credit-bearing graduate courses and six Coursera components.

To earn this certificate, you'll complete the following: 

• Graduate course: NRES 417 – Principles of Wetland Science and Conservation
  • Students taking this course will gain a foundational understanding of all aspects of wetlands. In the first four weeks, students will be introduced to the major components of wetlands (hydrology, soils, and biota) and discuss their importance to ecosystem functioning and services. The second half of the course will focus on anthropogenic impacts on wetlands and the resulting conservation and restoration efforts needed for wetland ecosystems.
    • Coursera Components: 
      • Discovering the Basics of Wetlands  
      • Mitigating the Human Impacts on Wetlands 
• Graduate course: NRES 517 – Advanced Wetland Theory and Techniques
  • Students will investigate the science behind the conservation, restoration, and monitoring of wetlands. The first part of the course will focus on the theory and techniques used during wetland delineation of hydrology, hydric soils, and vegetation. The second part of the course will focus on wetland management with a focus on best practices regarding the conservation, restoration and monitoring of wetlands.
    • Coursera Components: 
      • Wetland Delineation Fundamentals 
      • Managing Wetlands: Conservation & Restoration
• Graduate course: NRES 527 – Wetland Science and Conservation in Context
  • Deepens students’ understanding of policy, economic, community, and cultural factors that empower and constrain wetland protection, conservation, and restoration. The first half explores wetland regulation and management in the U.S., in other countries, and internationally with attention to adapting to environmental change within those policy contexts. The second half focuses on competing management and conservation priorities, social aspects of wetland conservation, restoration, and management, and developing skills in effective and culturally sensitive stakeholder engagement.
    • Coursera Components: 
      • Wetland Regulation: Local to Global Perspective (Coming soon!)
      • Wetland Conservation Through a Human Lens (Coming soon!)

Applying for this certificate

To apply for a graduate certificate program, you'll need to start an online application through the University of Illinois Graduate College. 

The following items are required for your application:

• Bachelor’s degree: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant, for the last two years of undergraduate study is a minimum requirement for admission
• Professional resume: This should include personal information (name, address, telephone number, and email address), academic background, work experience (start and end dates for each position and a brief description of responsibilities), educational training, professional associations, and leadership experiences. Please limit your resume to two pages.
• English proficiency scores (international students only): If you are a non-native English speaker, you must upload your TOEFL or IELTS scores directly to your application. Review the Graduate College’s English proficiency requirements for more details on possible exemptions.