This specialization provides a comprehensive exploration of wetland science, covering ecological principles, human impacts, regulatory frameworks, and conservation strategies. Learners will develop skills in wetland delineation, mitigation, and policy analysis while examining case studies and real-world applications. With insights from industry partners, this program prepares professionals to navigate wetland management challenges and implement sustainable solutions.
Wetland Science and Conservation Specialization
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Wetland Science and Conservation Specialization
Explore the Sustainable Management of Wetlands. Examine the role of ecology, policy, and practice for sustainable management of vital wetland ecosystems.
Instructors: Jeffrey W. Matthews, Ph.D.
Included with 
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.9
(5 reviews)
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
2 months at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
4.9
(5 reviews)
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
2 months at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
What you'll learn
Analyze wetland ecosystems and assess the impact of human activities on their structure and function.
Interpret and apply wetland regulations from local to global scales to support conservation and compliance efforts.
Develop strategies for wetland restoration, mitigation, and sustainable management through scientific and policy-driven approaches.
Overview
Skills you'll gain
- Environmental Monitoring
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Cultural Diversity
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Social Sciences
- Biology
- Environment and Resource Management
- Environmental Policy
- Water Resources
- Policy Analysis
- Environmental Engineering and Restoration
- Land Management
- Environmental Issue
- Research Reports
- Natural Resource Management
- Environmental Laws
- Environment
- Community Outreach
What’s included
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Taught in English
36 practice exercises
Advance your subject-matter expertise
- Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
- Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
- Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
- Earn a career certificate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Specialization - 6 course series
What you'll learn
Major components of wetlands, including their formation and hydrology
Types of plants and animals that utilize wetland habitats and their adaptations to this environment
Structure and function of wetlands and the importance of their ecosystem services
Skills you'll gain
Category: Environmental Science
Category: Environment
Category: Biology
Category: Water Resources
Category: Microbiology
Category: Chemistry
Category: Geographic Information Systems
Category: Natural Resource Management
Category: Land Management
Category: Environmental Engineering
What you'll learn
How current U.S. laws and regulations govern human impacts on wetlands.
The impact that human activities have on wetland ecosystem services and functions.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Environmental Science
Category: Environmental Regulations
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Environment
Category: Environmental Laws
Category: Environmental Monitoring
Category: Natural Resource Management
Category: Environmental Issue
Category: Interviewing Skills
Category: Mitigation
Category: Land Management
Category: Water Resources
Category: Environmental Engineering and Restoration
What you'll learn
Recall the steps involved in wetland delineation and the resources available for remote identification.
Explain the importance of hydric soils and hydrophytic vegetation in wetland delineation, and describe the field indicators used in these components.
Apply your knowledge to identify and assess field indicators for hydrology, hydric soils, and vegetation in real-world wetland environments.
Develop wetland delineation reports, incorporating best practices and addressing problematic situations.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Environmental Science
Category: Technical Documentation
Category: Research Reports
Category: Environment and Resource Management
Category: Environmental Regulations
Category: Geospatial Information and Technology
Category: Water Resources
Category: Natural Resource Management
Category: Geographic Information Systems
What you'll learn
Apply ecosystem stewardship concepts and technological tools to wetland restoration and conservation.
Create a wetland restoration plan capable of restoring or replacing ecosystem services and functions.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Environmental Engineering and Restoration
Category: Environment and Resource Management
Category: Environmental Monitoring
Category: Natural Resource Management
Category: Land Management
Category: Geographic Information Systems
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Environmental Science
Category: Water Resources
What you'll learn
Contrast federal, state, and local regulatory roles in wetland conservation, focusing on CWA and WOTUS.
Analyze international conservation laws and conventions, including Ramsar, and their link to sustainability.
Evaluate wetland management factors, community participation, and resilience strategies against climate change.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Environment and Resource Management
Category: Environmental Engineering
Category: Environmental Laws
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Environmental Regulations
Category: Community Development
Category: Land Management
Category: Civil Engineering
Category: Mitigation
Category: Governance
Category: Water Resources
Category: Natural Resource Management
Category: International Relations
Category: Environmental Science
What you'll learn
Analyze the social, political, & cultural factors that influence wetland conservation, including the roles of stakeholders, policy, & governance.
Evaluate strategies for equitable and culturally sensitive stakeholder engagement in wetland management.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Environment and Resource Management
Category: Community Outreach
Category: Policy Analysis
Category: Environmental Policy
Category: Cultural Diversity
Category: Environmental Issue
Category: Cultural Sensitivity
Category: Natural Resource Management
Category: Water Resources
Category: Social Sciences
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: Conflict Management
Category: Governance
Category: Stakeholder Engagement
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructors
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Frequently asked questions
This specialization consists of six 4-week courses. Each week may take approximately 2 hours.
No, you do not need to take the courses in a specific order.
Although completion of the Coursera Specialization alone is not credit-bearing, each course within the Specialization is a required component of a graduate-level Canvas course that can be "stacked" toward advanced credentials such as an academic (transcriptable) graduate certificate or a degree. If you decide to pursue further education, the credits you earn from this Specialization can be applied toward a formal academic program, provided that you meet all the requirements of admission to the certificate or degree. Learn more about the Wetland Science and Conservation Graduate Certificate.
More questions
Financial aid available,