The western United States is a region with a long history of water challenges. In the American West, over 40 million people depend on the Colorado River. At the same time, the effects of climate change are adding to water management challenges.
MSU Denver developed the noncredit Professional Water Studies courses for people interested in a water management course that focuses on safeguarding this precious resource. Students will learn history, law, management, and water trends in Colorado and the American West.
Many industries can benefit from knowing more about water issues and solutions. These industries include small farms, wastewater, manufacturing, construction, risk management, utilities, hospitality, green and sustainable industries, law, and engineering.
The water management courses have recently been improved, offering the same high-quality lessons, but shortened to meet your busy schedule. The water management course structure has been redesigned for each class to be one month long to improve the learning experience and accommodate the schedules of busy professional students.
Water studies involve examining water treatment and management strategies, and the impact of human activities on water quality, natural resources, and availability for future use.
This field of study also includes research about wastewater treatment and understanding the fundamentals of water law to ensure sustainable and responsible water practices on a state and federal level.
This course covers the history of water in the American West, how native communities used it, and the U.S. approach to water management. This curriculum also covers crucial aspects of federal and Colorado water management, emphasizing research about water management and legal issues specific to Colorado.
MSU Denver students will survey the early stages of water use and development, become familiar with water rights, explore the treatment and management of water, and study Colorado state and federal laws and agreements and how the law of water affects communities.
Students will explore water concerns, examining water as a natural and societal resource, water infrastructure challenges, industry-related pollution, and future changes due to climate change limiting resources.
Discover the international challenge of water management in the Global Perspectives on Water Management online course taught by Dr. Lisa McVicker who also teaches our Water Law course.
Learn more about water with short online courses that fit into your busy schedule:
Students can take one class, or combine Colorado Water and the American West, Water Law, and U.S. Water Concerns to receive the Professional Water Studies Certificate.
• U.S. Water Concerns runs from November 3 – December 3, 2025. Students must register by November 10.
• Colorado Water and the American West runs from February 2 – March 2, 2026. Students must register by February 9.
• Water Law runs from March 2 – April 3, 2026. Students must register by March 9.
• U.S. Water Concerns runs from April 1 – May 1, 2026. Students must register by April 8.
• Global Perspectives on Water Management runs from May 1 – 15, 2026. Students must register by May 5. (Note: This course is not part of the Professional Online Water Studies Certificate earned by taking the other three courses.)
Colorado Water and the American West, Water Law, and U.S. Water Concerns cost $475 each, with a $35 transaction fee per payment.
The two-week supplemental Global Perspectives on Water Management course costs $300, with a $35 transaction fee per payment.
No textbooks are required for any of the courses.
You will receive a certificate of completion after you successfully complete the three courses included in the Professional Water Studies Certificate program. Global Perspectives on Water Management is not part of the certificate but is a supplemental course for anyone interested in pursuing a water management certification.
You may also request to receive a digital badge for each class that will be embedded with the competencies learned. This badge can be added to your resume, LinkedIn page, portfolio, or even shared with your current or future employer.
Alumna Anistacia Barrak-Barber channels a love of H2O into an immersive career focused on healing and sustainable access.
As the Colorado River sinks to a new low, decision-makers refuse to make desperately needed concessions.
Trina McGuire-Collier has been making waves in public relations for 30 years.
Elizabeth’s expertise in water law has her in great demand to serve on two water district boards, Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District and Headwater Authority of the South Platte, and on the Board of Coalitions and Collaboratives, an organization that advances healthy and resilient communities through collaborative conservation and restoration. She serves as a guest speaker, panelist, and media expert for water-related events, and was instrumental in developing the One World One Water Center and the Water Studies Curriculum.
Elizabeth is a high-energy professor and brings enthusiasm and knowledge to her classes. She has a JD from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in Spanish Language and Literature from New York University. She teaches business ethics and sustainability courses for MSU Denver.
Her experience as a business owner and attorney allows her to bring a great deal of knowledge to the classroom. She is a recipient of the College of Business, Dean’s Overall Faculty Excellence Award.
Dr. Roger K. Green teaches Native American and U.S History and in the Honors program at MSU Denver. He holds PhDs in Religious Studies and English Rhetoric and Theory and a certificate from the Cornell School of Criticism & Theory. He has written one book and numerous articles and is co-author with Tink Tinker (wazhazhe, Osage Nation) of the forthcoming book, American Indian Worldview and eurochristian Domination: sovereignty, rights, ownership, White people, and other confusing words.
Dr. Randi Brazeau, P.E., received her B.S. and M.E. degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Florida. After working as an engineering analyst with Kimley-Horn and Associates for two years, she completed a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering – Environmental Water Resources from Virginia Tech under Dr. Marc Edwards. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at MSU Denver where she has been since 2012.
Randi teaches a variety of environmental science courses and teaches integrated science for pre-service elementary education students. In addition to advising Environmental Science students, she also serves as a primary advisor for Environmental Engineering. Her main research interests include decontamination of premise plumbing and public health after contamination events, surface water quality in response to mining and hazardous waste spills, urban surface water quality, and learner-centered pedagogies in undergraduate STEM disciplines.
The One World One Water Center (OWOW) is a collaboration between Metropolitan State University of Denver and Denver Botanic Gardens. The OWOW Center strives to prepare an educated, empowered, solution-oriented Colorado citizenry to protect and preserve our precious water resources.
Before coming to the One World One Water Center, Nona had worked on the statewide Colorado Water 2012 campaign with Water Education Colorado. Originally from Northern Virginia, Nona moved to Denver in 2011 as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and loved the experience so much that she decided to stay in Colorado and pursue further water education opportunities. She has a BA in Communications from Lynchburg College, and an MA in Biological Sciences from Miami University, Ohio, and welcomes the opportunity to incorporate her degrees with her passion for raising awareness of precious environmental resources.
“A good steward learns about our most precious natural resource – water and reaches out to put that knowledge into action. Colorado’s future will be shaped by our students, and their stewardship will determine the fate of our rivers, lakes, and groundwater.” – Tom Cech, Former OWOW Director
Please contact Brandy Schooler at 303-615-1234 or [email protected].
Phone: 303-615-1234
Office Location:
Jordan Student Success Building
3rd Floor – #330
Auraria Campus
Mailing Address:
MSU Denver
Innovative and Lifelong Learning
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 6
Denver, CO 80217-3362
