Utah State University is the only university in the state with a college devoted to the study of natural resources, and the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems degree is unique in that it allows students the opportunity to integrate physics, chemistry, and biology to understand watershed systems.<br>Clean and adequate water supplies and wetlands are essential elements of human society, and understanding the interactions between water and the rest of the world is necessary to the management of all ecosystems.<br>Ranked third nationally in research productivity in aquatic sciences, the department deploys experiential learning opportunities through field trips to local rivers, streams, and lakes where students can gain hands-on experience within the environments they study. Watershed scientists work throughout the nation, as well as in other developed and developing countries, with the goal of understanding, managing, and restoring water supplies, water quality, and ecosystem health.