University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Wetland Science and Conservation Specialization
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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.

Jeffrey W. Matthews, Ph.D.
Caitlin Bloomer, Ph.D.

Instructors: Jeffrey W. Matthews, Ph.D.

Included with Coursera Plus

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
2 months
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
2 months
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

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.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English
Recently updated!

March 2025

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
Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

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: Stakeholder Engagement
Category: Critical Thinking
Category: Applied Research and Communication
Category: Environmental Decision Making
Category: Environmental Policy Analysis

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: Ecosystem Science
Category: Hydrology
Category: Ecosystem Management
Category: Ecological Systems

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: Conservation & Restoration
Category: Ecological Restoration
Category: Ecosystem Management
Category: Human Impacts on Wetlands
Category: Wetland Law and Regulation

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: Policy
Category: policy
Category: Environmental Governance

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: Wetland Conservation
Category: Wetland Ecology
Category: Wetland Restoration

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: Hydric Soil Identification
Category: Field Research Techniques
Category: Wetland Report
Category: Wetland Delineation
Category: Environmental Analysis

Instructors

Jeffrey W. Matthews, Ph.D.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1 Course272 learners
Caitlin Bloomer, Ph.D.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
5 Courses256 learners

Offered by

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions