River Studies & Leadership Certificate 

The River Management Society (RMS) is proud to partner with a cohort of 14 universities and colleges to offer the River Studies and Leadership Certificate (RSLC) program, awarded upon completion of river-focused coursework and a river-related professional project by RMS. 

The RSLC is designed to offer undergraduate and graduate students who have become inspired to join the next generation of river professionals a foundation of knowledge, skills and experience in river-based science, policy, conservation, education, and recreation. 

River Studies and Leadership Certificate coursework is focused specifically on river systems, yet it is interdisciplinary in nature; students explore and study river systems in ways that integrate the life and earth sciences, policy and conservation, socio-cultural and economic factors, as well as education and recreation. Ultimately, the RSLC adds valued focus to a student’s degree and presents employment advantages through networking with the River Management Society. 

• Certificate 
• Guiding Document
• Approved Courses at Participating RSLC Institutions
• Student Program Sheet

Course Requirements

The River Studies and Leadership Certificate is an interdisciplinary program that combines learning about river science, geographic information systems (GIS), policy and river field experience with a chosen emphasis in one of three areas: river science, river-based policy, or river-based education, recreation and tourism. RSLC students demonstrate “real-world” application of their knowledge and skills through professional experience or an internship with a river project. The River Studies and Leadership Certificate program is structured as follows:

Core Courses (4 courses):

Students must successfully complete approved* courses in the following subjects:

• Geographic Information Systems (1 course)
• River Science (1 course)
• River Policy (1 course)
• Swiftwater Rescue (1 course)

Emphasis Courses (2 courses):

Students must take at least two approved* courses from ONE of the following emphasis areas:

• River Science
• River-based Policy and Management
• River-based Recreation, Education, and Tourism

Professional Experience Requirement

In order to enable students to become effective leaders and river professionals, one of the requirements of the River Studies and Leadership Certificate is that “learning must be applied in a professional context”.  This requirement may be met through a credit-earning internship, paid internship, paid professional experience, independent study or course-related professional experience.  The experience must encompass a minimum of 90 hours of work (or 2 credit-hours) and will be reviewed and approved by the River Studies and Leadership Certificate Committee to certify the adequacy of the experience for the professional experience program requirement.  Students with relevant, recent professional or internship experience may request that those experiences be used to fulfill this requirement. 

Oral/Written Presentation Requirement

Students are required to either present aspects of their work at an RMS Symposium or sponsored conference, or write an article for the RMS Journal about their experiences.

Notes

1. Many of the courses have prerequisites and students should plan accordingly.
2. Students may (but are not required to) take coursework from any of the participating institutions.  When doing so, these students must follow all standard procedures & policy at that institution.
3. Each student’s program must be approved by the River Studies and Leadership Standing Committee, in consultation with faculty at the student’s home institution. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will have a working knowledge of Geographical information Systems with potential application to river systems.
2. Students will have a working knowledge of the basic physical and biological environment and processes of river systems.
3. Students will have a working knowledge of river safety and rescue, and basic river navigation and travel, including river-based Leave No Trace.
4. Students will choose an emphasis within river studies and take courses that support that specialization.
5. Students will acquire hands-on experience with river-related project(s) via an internship, professional employment or independent study.

*The courses that are considered applicable to the RSLC have been identified at each institution by its members and the RSLC Standing Committee.