Hydrology
- Programs under this Major:
- Master of Science Program (MS)
- Doctor of Philosophy Program (PhD)
Major Description
The Department of Hydrology and Water Resources offers programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (MS, PhD) degrees with a major in Hydrology. In collaboration with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, the department offers programs with a major in Hydrometeorology (refer to the Graduat... Show Full Description
The Department of Hydrology and Water Resources offers programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (MS, PhD) degrees with a major in Hydrology. In collaboration with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, the department offers programs with a major in Hydrometeorology (refer to the Graduate Program Guide under Hydrometeorology—MS, PhD). The department also participates in the State of Arizona Master of Engineering (M Eng) degree program with an emphasis in Water Resources Engineering, a non-thesis-based curriculum for working professionals. Applicants interested in the M Eng program may learn more at the HWR website or by contacting the department’s graduate advisor.
The Hydrology programs are designed for students interested in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the hydrologic cycle, as well as water resources systems, environmental studies, and the social sciences related to water resources. The department has a diverse and active faculty of 15 full-time members and more than 20 affiliated research scientists and associates involved in a wide range of teaching and research endeavors in the following areas:
- Subsurface Hydrology: Hydrogeology, ground-water modeling, unsaturated media, and integrated physical-economic modeling, mathematical programming and simulation, conjunctive use, isotopic tracers, geophysical methods, numerical modeling, and network design
- Surface-Water Hydrology: Precipitation-runoff modeling, flood forecasting, advanced weather systems, stochastic hydrology, remote sensing applications, evapotranspiration of riparian systems, hydrometeorology, hydroclimatology, mesoscale coupled modeling, and monsoon prediction studies
- Environmental Hydrology: Ground-water chemistry, isotopic analysis, contaminant transport, water quality and chemistry, hydrochemical modeling, snow and ice (Greenland and Antarctic cores), paleoclimate reconstruction, watershed studies, and integrated physical-chemical modeling
- Water Resources: Risk analysis and uncertainty, water resources systems, mathematical and goal programming, surface-subsurface water quality modeling, water conflict analysis, international water development, and legal and institutional issues
Students may concentrate in one or a combination of these fields but should acquire some proficiency in all aspects of hydrology and water resources. MS applicants need not have completed an undergraduate degree in hydrology; however, previous study in a comparable field is beneficial. Our programs have been developed to enable students who have completed fundamental undergraduate science and math courses to enter directly (listed below, Other Application Requirements). PhD applicants must have completed a Master of Science degree with a major in hydrology, environmental science, engineering, or a related field prior to admission; where gaps exist in background knowledge of relevant subject matter, the student may be required to take additional course work prior to the first-year PhD oral qualifying examination.
All students are expected to acquire basic computer programming skills, either prior to admission or during academic residency. Although students may have some courses in common, research-based plans of study for the major in Hydrology are individually tailored to meet each student's specific interests and professional objectives (refer to MS or PhD Program Requirements below). Professional development and publication of research is a hallmark of our program, and most students present their research at regional, national, or international conferences and publish their research in peer-reviewed journals or similar publications. Our students’ efforts are frequently recognized with travel grants and best paper-best poster awards.
Our offices and laboratories are centrally located on campus, and additional space is available for special projects and field work. Our laboratory space includes water-chemistry teaching and research laboratories, areas for subsurface-hydrology and unsaturated-zone research, and a separate analytical-chemistry laboratory. The department has computer laboratories with extensive microcomputer facilities for teaching and research, as well as access to super computers both on and off campus.
HWR graduates are highly competitive professionally and enjoy a wide range of careers, including:
- Work in private industry as consultants, contractors, project managers, and entrepreneurs
- Work in the public sector as scientists, engineers, or project managers in government, tribal, and non-profit agencies and non-governmental organizations
- Work in high-level research and academia as research scientists at national laboratories or as faculty members at U.S. or international universities
- Higher education such as law school
The Graduate College’s online application for the major in Hydrology provides a single portal for submission of all application material, including a statement of purpose and research interests, a resume or curriculum vitae, transcripts, diploma/degree certificates, and preference regarding choice of faculty advising and financial support. The application system also supports electronic submission of letters of recommendation.
Hide DescriptionDepartment: Hydrology and Water Resources
- Phone:
- (520) 621-5082
- Fax:
- (520) 621-1422
- Mailing Address:
- Harshbarger Building, Room 122
- Website:
- http://www.hwr.arizona.edu/
- Majors:
- Hydrology
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Master of Science Program (MS)
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Contact InformationApplication Questions
Olivia Hanson Advising Questions
Olivia Hanson |
Financial Aid
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Application Requirements
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Standardized Test Requirements
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Other Application Requirements
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Application Deadline(s)Domestic Applicants
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Program RequirementsMinimum Credit HoursSatisfactory Academic Progress WebsiteCore CoursesHWRS 517A Fundamentals of Water Quality HWRS 518 Fundamentals in Subsurface Hydrology HWRS 519 Fundamentals in Surface Hydrology HWRS 520 Water Resources Management, Planning, and Rights: A Policy Approach HWRS 528 Fundamentals: Systems Approach to Hydrologic Modeling Language Requirement(s)Other Requirements for Successful Completion of the ProgramAdvanced elective course work must be approved by the department. While the study of hydrology and water resources is interdisciplinary in nature, not all crosslisted courses may be used in the Master's Plan of Study. (Crosslisted courses are those in which HWR is not the home department, i.e. course instructors reside in another department.) The majority of course work must be completed with primary HWR department faculty members. 2) Field Methods Requirement: HWRS 513A Field Methods 3) Professional Development Requirements (two requirements): (a) Enrollment in HWRS 695A section 001 for one semester. This unit is not included in Master's Plan of Study. AND (b) Paper or poster presentation of Master's Thesis research at an approved regional or national conference. No academic credit is awarded for paper or poster presentation. In lieu of a conference presentation, a student must enroll in an HWRS 696-series seminar course that requires oral presentation as part of the course format. An HWRS 696-series seminar course may be included in the Master's Plan of Study as an advanced elective course. 4) Final Examination Requirement: A final oral examination with the thesis director and two other approved faculty members is required. While the initial presentation may be open to the public (at the discretion of the student and his or her committee members), the examination by faculty committee, or defense of thesis, is closed. 5) Thesis Archival Electronic submission of the Master's Thesis to the Graduate College and archival with ProQuest UMI is required. The department does not maintain a separate archive, although members of the student's faculty committee may request a copy of the manuscript. Minor Requirements |
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Doctor of Philosophy Program (PhD)
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Contact InformationApplication Questions
Olivia Hanson Advising Questions
Olivia Hanson |
Financial Aid
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Application Requirements
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Standardized Test Requirements
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Other Application Requirements
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Application Deadline(s)Domestic Applicants
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Program RequirementsMinimum Credit HoursSatisfactory Academic Progress WebsiteCore CoursesNo specific Core Courses are required for PHD students, although Master's level Core Courses may be used in preparation for the Doctoral Oral Qualifying Examination to be taken in the first year of residence. Each student will choose three subject areas for the examination, so his or her prior degrees and majors will determine which Core Courses might be beneficial. Master's Core Courses include: HWRS 517A Fundamentals of Water Quality HWRS 518 Fundamentals in Subsurface Hydrology HWRS 519 Fundamentals in Surface Hydrology HWRS 520 Water Resources Management, Planning, and Rights: A Policy Approach HWRS 528 Fundamentals: Systems Approach to Hydrologic Modeling No more than 4 Master's Core Courses may be included in the Doctoral Plan of Study. Language Requirement(s)Other Requirements for Successful Completion of the ProgramAdvanced elective course work must be approved by the department. The Doctoral Plan of Study must include a minimum of 18 credit hours of course work with primary HWR department faculty members. (Independent study, professional development enrollment, and field methods are not included in this category.) 2) Field Methods Requirement: HWRS 513A Field Methods 3) Professional Development Requirements: (a) Enrollment in HWRS 695A Section 001 for one semester. This unit is not included in the Doctoral Plan of Study. (b) Two paper or poster presentations of Doctoral Dissertation research at approved regional or national conferences. No academic credit is awarded for paper or poster presentations. One of the two required presentations may be made at a local conference, such as HWR's El Dia del Agua student research symposium, or as a guest speaker for the HWR weekly colloquium, HWRS 695A Section 001; this requires special approval and arrangement. 4) Doctoral Minor Requirement: A doctoral minor area of study (outside the department) that complements and supports the dissertation research is required. Minimum credit hours vary by department, ranging from 9-15 (the average is 12 credit hours). Typical minors for HWR students include Applied Mathematics, Atmospheric Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geosciences, Global Change, Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, Renewable Natural Resource Studies, Soil-Water-Environmental Sciences, and Systems Engineering. Other minor areas of study may also be possible. 5) Examination Requirements: Year 1: Doctoral Qualifying Examination in the Major Year 1: Doctoral Qualifying Examination in the Minor (may be optional; consult Minor Department) Year 3: Doctoral Written and Oral Comprehensive Examinations in Major and Minor Year 4-5: Doctoral Final Oral Examination 6) Dissertation Archival Electronic submission of the Doctoral Dissertation to the Graduate College and archival with ProQuest UMI is required. The department does not maintain a separate archive, although members of the student's faculty committee may request a copy of the manuscript. Minor Requirements |
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