Enhance Your Career and Community with Water Management Training from UC Davis

Program at a Glance

Local, state or federal agency employees that address water and natural resource management, including water districts, utilities, transportation or conservation
Planners at all levels, private and public
Early career water policy professionals, water resource specialists and hydrologists
Sustainability and environmental professionals
Other professionals who need an advanced understanding of complex water policy and hydrology issues, including attorneys, engineers and designers

Analyze current water policy issues in the Western US and apply a historical perspective to frame and understand contemporary water resource issues
Perform in-depth analyses of water issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, including law, policy, natural and social science, and engineering
Evaluate how public policy has shaped water law
Employ economic analyses to surface water, groundwater water quality and water pricing and conservation
Quantify stream and groundwater flow rate, volume and velocity
Recognize inequities in water resources, conduct a stakeholder assessment and design a collaborative process for addressing equity issues

A hands-on, comprehensive capstone project showcasing your proficiency in the subject matter with one-on-one guidance from a faculty mentor
An engaging online format that will advance your acumen and skills without interrupting your schedule
Project-based learning and relevant case studies that provide dynamic, real-world training in integrated policy and current best practices that can be immediately applied to your job
Courses taught by experienced UC Davis faculty and industry experts
Unique networking opportunities with instructors and fellow students who can help advance your career

Water Resource History and Policy: An Overview
Examine the natural and rich history of water resource development and management in California and the arid west, connecting historical water events, trends and paradigms to current water policy issues of drought, climate change, water use efficiency and equity in water resources.
Water Policy, Law and Economics
Learn the foundational principles of ecological and natural resource economics, including the theory and methods required to apply the concepts of economic efficiency, as well as conditions under which markets are expected to yield an efficient allocation of resources.
Applied Hydrology and Water Quality
Through case studies and project-based exercises, learn the basic principles of surface water and groundwater hydrology and examine water quality with a lens to better understand policy matters.
Emerging Issues in Water Policy, Climate Change, Resilience and Social Equity
Practice methods of process design and stakeholder engagement, and explore issues of equity in water resources such as access to safe drinking water, unequal distribution of water pollution and wastewater impacts, and unequal distribution of the effects of climate change on disadvantaged communities.
Capstone Project
Showcase your proficiency with the certificate course material via presentation of a unique, “real-world” plan or a theoretical or research-oriented question, which is assessed by a faculty mentor.