CMWS 616 - Water Quality Testing for Coastal Marine Scientists - 1 to 3 credits

A practical introduction to the principles of water quality testing as applied to coastal marine and wetland environments. Students will learn how and why water testing is done including protocols for quality control and chain of custody as presented in Quality Assurance Manuals, Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance Project Plans. Other related subjects include how to estimate the uncertainty of measurements, how standard testing equipment works, and how data are made accessible through on-line webapps.
Students taking this course for 3 credits additionally perform field and laboratory observations and will learn two test methods, documenting their proficiency through an initial demonstration of capability suitable for inclusion on a resume.
Semester(s) Offered: Fall, Spring