In the ESRM: Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture degree option, students learn to produce plant materials, manage sustainable landscapes, and repair damaged ecosystems.   

Students learn and apply fundamental concepts of biology, plant science, and ecology. This disciplinary knowledge, with supporting coursework and experience, allows students to become accomplished in producing plant materials, managing sustainable landscapes, repairing damaged ecosystems, and participating in large interdisciplinary projects. 

Students earn a B.S. in Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management. The option in Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture is noted on student transcripts, not the diploma. 

Schedules

Schedules are available over on the Academic Planning Resources page.

ESRM: REEH Course Requirements  

All pathways in ESRM require the same set of ESRM Core courses, UW General Education requirements, and fundamental Science, Math, and Social Science course content.  The only distinction is in the final set of upper division course requirements (40-55 credits, depending on the pathway chosen and the classes selected within that pathway).

Required REEH Option Elective Courses (complete a minimum 35 credits from this list; at least 15 credits at 400 level) 

[Note: this list last updated July 23, 2025]

Courses already encoded on the REEH degree audit

ESRM 325 (3) Environmental Applications of Plants: Bioenergy and Bioremediation
ESRM 331 (3) Landscape Plant Recognition
ESRM 350 (5) Wildlife Biology and Conservation
ESRM 362 (5) Intro to Restoration Ecology
ESRM 400 (3) Natural Resource Conflict Management
ESRM 401 (5) Forest Ecology
ESRM 404 (5) Plant Microbiology Laboratory
ESRM 409 (5) Soil Ecology
ESRM 410 (5) Forest Soils and Site Productivity
ESRM 411 (3) Plant Propagation
ESRM 412 (3) Native Plant Production
ESRM 415 (5) Terrestrial Invasion Ecology
ESRM 420 (5) Wildland Fire Management
ESRM 421 (3) Role of Culture and Place in Natural Resource Stewardship: Yakama Nation Experience
ESRM 422 (2; max 4) Plant Microbiology Seminar
ESRM 426 (4) Wildland Hydrology
ESRM 435 (3) Insect Ecology
ESRM 447 (5) Watershed Ecology and Management
ESRM 448 (2) Watershed Ecology and Management Lab
ESRM 450 (5) Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
ESRM 458 (5) Management of Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Species
ESRM 459 (3) Wildlife Conservation in Northwest Ecosystems
ESRM 465 (3) Economics of Conservation
ESRM 473 (5) Restoration in North American Ecosystems
ESRM 474 (5) Restoration Problem Solving: Ecological Engineering
ESRM 478 (5) Plant Ecophysiology
ESRM 479 (5) Restoration Design
SEFS 503 (1) Current Issues in Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture 

Additional Eligible Electives: Please tell SEFS Advising if you register for any of these so we can add the course to your degree audit

BIOL 446 (5) Plant Classification and Identification
L ARCH 341 (3) Site Design and Planning
ESRM 490: Special Topics.  Topics in certain sections offered in certain quarters are eligible:

• Plant Modeling
• Fungal Ecology and Biology
• Urban Forestry
• Nature and Health
• Climate Justice

Required Capstone (10 credits)  

Choose one of these 3 Capstone options:

ESRM 494 (5) Capstone Proposal
ESRM 495 (5) Senior Project  

OR  

ESRM 494 (5) Capstone Proposal
ESRM 496 (5) Senior Thesis 

 OR 

NEW: A new Capstone two-quarter course option is coming for Winter and Spring 2026.  It will be taught by new SEFS faculty member Benjamin Dittbrenner.

More Information About the REEH Student Capstone Experience  

Students may choose the Capstone experience most appropriate for their goals. The first two options span 2 quarters and include the Capstone Proposal (ESRM 494) and Senior Thesis (ESRM 496) or Senior Project (ESRM 495). Capstone requirements include a project proposal, data collection or project implementation, analysis of data/project, final written report of findings/project, and an oral presentation. Participation in the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium in May is highly recommended for those students pursuing an individual capstone project. 

Career Opportunities and Graduate Study 

After graduation, students can work as restoration ecologists for agencies, tribes, non-profits, and consulting firms to help repair damaged ecosystems, or as environmental horticulturists, practicing sustainable landscaping, arboriculture, and plant nursery management. Students can also work in closely related professions such as environmental education or pursue graduate studies in biology, forest resources, agriculture, environmental education and related fields.

REEH Faculty 

Soo-Hyung Kim (lead), Ernesto Alvarado, Jon Bakker, Sally Brown, Sharon Doty, Julie Larson, Josh Lawler, Claire Willing.