Do you care about our rivers? Are you curious about river processes and the systems in which they operate? Do you want a career in which you help protect, manage, and restore them wisely and effectively?
University of Minnesota students passionate about these topics can now earn a free professional certificate sponsored and administered by the River Management Society (RMS). Open to graduates and undergraduates alike, the River Studies and Leadership Certificate (RSLC) helps students build a foundation of knowledge, skills, and experience in river-based science, policy, conservation, education, and/or recreation.
UMN is among just 15 universities and colleges nationwide to offer the certificate, and currently the only one in the Upper Midwest. Requirements include completing UMN river-focused coursework and a river-related professional project. While they pursue the certificate and one year after, participating students also receive free membership to the River Management Society, which includes access to national and regional RMS networking and training events, internship and job opportunities, and RMS-led river trips and workshops. The end result is a foundational understanding of our nation’s river systems, hands-on experience engaging with real-world challenges, personal connections with working river professionals, and exposure to new career paths.
To achieve a holistic understanding of rivers, students need to be grounded in the complexity of river science, possess foundational geospatial skills, and develop a basic level of competence on the river. For the certificate, UMN faculty members in recreation and natural resources science and management will collaborate with students to design and complete a personalized academic program that meets the certificate’s requirements. [Review approved UMN course offerings.]
“The River Studies and Leadership Certificate program is more than an academic credential – it's a vital bridge between the classroom and the living laboratory of our nearby rivers” shares Dr. Ingrid Schneider, Forest Resources professor, Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management (ESPM) program co-director, and RSLC Advisor at UMN. “This program packages existing classwork and cultivates a deeper understanding of watershed science, policy, and stewardship, preparing the next generation of leaders to manage and protect river systems.”
To learn more about the certificate, contact Professor Ingrid Schneider at [email protected].