In fall 2024, the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS) and the UGA College of Engineering School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering (ECAM) launched the Graduate Certificate in Natural Infrastructure. The certificate equips graduate students with the skills and expertise necessary to address complex infrastructure challenges using nature-based solutions and Engineering With Nature® principles. The curriculum emphasizes integration of natural and conventional infrastructure, alignment of engineering and natural processes, interdisciplinary collaboration and problem solving, and systems thinking.
Requirements
The program consists of a few required core courses:
Fundamentals of Natural Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions (ENVE 8310, 3 hours)
Concepts, theories, and applications of natural and hybrid infrastructure at multiple scales, including the site level, watershed, and regional scales. Innovative use of natural processes and systems to increase infrastructure performance, efficiency, and benefits (social, environmental, and economic) in upland, riverine, and coastal settings with application to water, transportation, flood protection and urban systems.
Offered every fall semester.
Field Experiences in Natural Infrastructure (ENVE 8330, 1 hour)
Experiential, field-based course covering various topics related to the planning, design, and execution of natural and hybrid infrastructure for water resources, civil, and environmental systems. Students explore these topics through fieldwork components, engaging in hands-on activities and gaining practical experience through observing and analyzing interactions of natural and conventional infrastructure.
Offered every fall and spring semester.
Skills for Collaborative Research (ECOL 8550, 1 hour)
Builds students’ core knowledge and skills for effective engagement in collaborative research. Through readings, lectures, discussions, small group workshops, and practical activities, students will build competencies in promoting equity in research partnerships, systems thinking, team science, engaging with non-academic partners, and strategic communication.
Offered every fall semester.
Internship in Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure (ENVE 8340, 1-9 hours – 3 hours required)
Students develop skills and competencies in infrastructure deployment through embedding in multi-disciplinary project delivery teams that conduct planning, design, implementation, and operations and maintenance of projects that integrate natural infrastructure with engineered transportation, water resources, environmental, coastal and flood protection infrastructure systems.
Offered year-round.
Two electives from a variety of topics.
See a list of approved electives below.
The certificate culminates in an Internship in Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure, in which students will develop skills through project-delivery teams that conduct the planning, design, implementation, operations and maintenance of natural infrastructure projects. Thesis research that involves substantive engagement in natural infrastructure project delivery with external partners may be substituted for the ENVE 8340 internship requirement with approval from the certificate administrative committee.
Approved Electives:
ENVE 8320 – Engineering Design of Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure (3 hours)
Natural and hybrid infrastructure engineering design concepts and their applications in riverine and coastal settings to water resources, transportation, flood protection, coastal defenses and other engineered systems. Practical implementation of engineering and ecological design principles to enhance infrastructure performance, efficiency, and benefits across economic, environmental, and social dimensions.
ENVE 6940 – Coastal & Estuarine Processes with Engineering Applications (3 hours)
Overview of coastal and estuarine processes. These topics include (1) linear wave theory, (2) astronomic tides and storm surges, (3) sea level rise, (4) coastal responses such as sediment transport, and (5) coastal management practices and applications.
CVLE 8110 – Environmental River Mechanics (3 hours)
River hydraulics, sediment transport, fluvial geomorphology, and river response to human influence, with emphasis on restoration design and environmental aspects.
LAND 6390 – Ecological Landscape Restoration (3 hours)
Principles and techniques associated with the enhancement and restoration of degraded wetland landscapes within an aesthetic framework. Case studies focus on stream and wetland systems in southeastern United States. Field trips allow participants to observe and critically analyze projects at the site scale.
EETH/PHIL 6220 – Environmental Ethics (3 hours)
Major professional and nonprofessional writings in the field of environmental ethics.
ENVE 6730 – Environmental Justice (3 hours)
The history, science, and policy related to domestic and global environmental justice. Students will quantify environmental burden, disproportionate exposures, and health disparities; investigate the social, political, economic and physical processes that can deny justice; and discuss the community-based movements that advance positive change.
ANTH 7200 – Social Science Research Applications (3 hours)
Conceptual approach to social science research and developing skills to conduct independent fieldwork. Exploration of a range of data collection and analysis techniques including quantitative and qualitative approaches. Includes consideration of ethics and community-engaged research and communicating findings.
ECOL 6220 – Foundations of Restoration Ecology (3 hours)
Restoration ecology is an applied science that uses ecological theory to guide efforts to restore degraded ecosystem structures, functions, and/or services. This course will examine principles from population, community landscape, and ecosystem ecology as they relate to restoration, as well as critical issues of social context and values.
ECOL 6310 – Freshwater Ecosystems (3 hours)
Exploration of freshwater ecosystems (lakes, streams, wetlands), their biota, physical and chemical properties, and linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Students may also be required to take ECOL 6310L, Freshwater Ecosystems Lab (1 hour).
ECOL 8220 – Stream Ecology (2 hours)
Current topics and literature from the standpoints of objectives, experimental design, data analyses, results, assessment of results, and significance to general stream ecology.
WASR 6400 – Wetland Management (3 hours)
Wetland geomorphology, hydrology, soils, chemistry, vegetation, animal communities, response to land management, functional description, and legal considerations. Practical training in measuring and characterizing wetland features as well as delineating wetland boundaries and assessing wetland function.
Adding the certificate is easy.
1. Log in to Athena and select Student Services
2. Select My Programs (under Student & Registration)
3. Select the NI Certificate
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