ENVS 420 · Environmental Science
Watershed Hydrology
Hydrologic cycle components, precipitation mechanics, evapotranspiration, infiltration, surface runoff hydrographs, groundwater flow, and watershed-scale sediment and water yield modeling.
Catalog overview
Course Essentials
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- 400 upper division
- Typically offered
- Fall, odd years
- Prerequisites
- ENVS 330.
400-level courses: advanced capstone, senior research, and specialized seminars. Counts toward the 36 upper-division credits every bachelor's degree requires (Undergraduate Catalog §2.3). Details: Undergraduate Catalog §9.18.
Department of Environmental Science
Department page →Questions about a major or your plan: Academic Advising Center, Lovell Hall 101, (555) 555-0158.
ENVS 420 runs on a two-year rotation and isn't offered in 2026–27; it's next scheduled for Fall 2027. Department chairs make teaching assignments each year (Faculty Handbook §5.1), and every instructor posts the syllabus in Canvas by the first day of classes (Faculty Handbook §5.2).
Generative AI in this course
Every syllabus must state one of three levels: Level 1 (AI not permitted for graded work), Level 2 (AI permitted with disclosure for specified tasks), Level 3 (AI permitted broadly with disclosure). Check your section's syllabus in Canvas. Unless it says otherwise, the university default applies: generative AI tools may be used for brainstorming, studying, and feedback on your own drafts, but not to produce work you submit for a grade.
Details: Student Handbook §5.7 and Student Handbook §5.8. See what each AI level allows.
Degree planning
Where ENVS 420 fits
What to take first, what this course opens up, and the requirements it can satisfy, from the Undergraduate Catalog.
Take first
Catalog wording: ENVS 330.
Leads to
All Environmental Science courses →No other catalog course lists ENVS 420 as a prerequisite.
Counts toward
All programs →- Elective Environmental Science (BS) Can count toward: Three 300/400-Level Environmental Science Electives. Undergraduate Catalog §10.7
Every course also counts toward the 120 credits needed for a bachelor's degree. Confirm your plan with your advisor or the Academic Advising Center.
AP credit
AP equivalency table →No AP exam awards credit for ENVS 420 (Undergraduate Catalog §3.11).
Registration
How to enroll in ENVS 420
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Check the prerequisites
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Add it in AlkimiHub
ENVS 420 is offered in the fall semester of odd-numbered years; the next offering is Fall 2027. Register through AlkimiHub self-service registration, which opens by credit standing. Until the add deadline, you don't need instructor permission as long as seats remain and you've met the prerequisites. Details: Student Handbook §3.3.
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If the section is full, join the waitlist
When a seat opens, AlkimiHub offers it to the first student on the waitlist and emails you. You have 24 hours to claim it before it goes to the next student. Details: Student Handbook §3.10.
All dates: academic calendar. Registration help: Office of the Registrar.
ENVS courses
More in Environmental Science
- ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science
- ENVS 201 Environmental Systems & Field Ecology
- ENVS 250 Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)
- ENVS 310 Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology
- ENVS 320 Conservation Biology
- ENVS 330 Soil & Water Resources
- ENVS 340 Atmospheric Science & Climate Change
- ENVS 350 Wetland Ecology & Management
- ENVS 360 Environmental Policy, Law & Economics
- ENVS 410 Environmental Risk Assessment
- ENVS 420 Watershed Hydrology (this course)
- ENVS 490 Senior Environmental Science Capstone
- ENVS 495 Undergraduate Environmental Research