Program Overview

River-Coastal Science and Engineering Certificate (Graduate)

The River-Coastal Science and Engineering Certificate program is a unique, graduate-level certificate program that focuses on teaching students both the science and engineering associated with river and coastal management. This program is offered in partnership with the U.S. Army Engineer Corps of Engineers and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the academic underpinnings and pragmatic applications of river and coastal management.

Program Overview

The program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of rivers and coasts, including faculty from geology, civil engineering, geomorphology, river mechanics and engineering, biogeochemistry, ecology, and numerical modeling. The program is offered fully remote, combining self-taught modules with weekly online Live Sessions, and is available to students everywhere. This certificate program can serve as a step toward a graduate degree in the subject.

Program Requirements

The River-Coastal Science and Engineering Certificate program consists of the completion of one required course, either RCSE 6800 Intro to River Science & Eng (3 c.h.) or RCSE 6802 Introduction to Coastal Science and Engineering (3 c.h.), and additional advanced courses to equal 15 hours. The existing coursework in the program includes:

• RCSE 6010: Water Resources Engineering I (offered Summer) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6020: Water Resources Engineering II (offered Fall semester) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6030: Water Resources Engineering III (offered Spring semester) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6040: Coastal Marine Geology (offered Spring semester, even years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6660: Special Topics (offered periodically) - 1-3 credits
• RCSE 6710: Open Channel Flow (offered Spring semester, odd years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6800: Intro to River Science & Eng (offered Spring semester) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6802: Introduction to Coastal Science and Engineering (offered Fall semester) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6810: River and Stream Restoration (offered Spring semester, even years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6820: Introduction to River-Coastal Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling (offered Spring semester, even years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6830: River Mechanics & Management (offered Fall semester, even years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6840: Methods in River Sampling (offered Spring semester, odd years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6850: Estuarine Processes (offered Spring semester, odd years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6860: Environmental Data Analysis in the Anthropocene (offered Spring semester, even years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6865: Sea-Level Change (offered Spring semester, odd years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6870: Hydroclimatology (offered Fall semester, odd years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6875: Ecohydrology (offered Fall semester, even years) - 3 credits
• RCSE 6900: Independent Study (Every semester) - 1-3 credits
• RCSE 7100: Seminar in River Coastal Science and Engineering (Every semester) - 1 credit

Program Structure

Students should complete the Introduction courses prior to enrolling in advanced courses unless permission is obtained from the River Science and Engineering Certificate program coordinator and the class instructor. Each of the courses in the program will be three credit hours. Those completing 15 credit hours of required coursework will be granted a Graduate Certificate from Tulane. Courses will be taught on the standard Tulane Fall and Spring semester schedule.

Program Details

• Program String and Field of Study: SECER_GR, RCSE
• The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the academic underpinnings and pragmatic applications of river and coastal management.
• The program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of rivers and coasts, including faculty from various disciplines.
• The program is offered fully remote, combining self-taught modules with weekly online Live Sessions, and is available to students everywhere.