Hydrology, Ph.D.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences (GPHS) offers MS and PhD degrees in hydrology and hydrogeology. The program is structured to provide a foundation in hydrologic sciences with an emphasis in a student’s chosen area. Students may define their areas of emphasis by developing a curriculum from a breadth of graduate courses offered across the campus. The program is interdisciplinary, with faculty support and participation from the College of Science, the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Desert Research Institute. Research and teaching assistantships, as well as several fellowships, are often made available to students accepted into the program.

Contact Information

Director, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
hydro@unr.edu // www.hydro.unr.edu

Admission Requirements

Students entering the program should have an MS or equivalent degree in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, hydrology, hydrogeology, natural resources, ecology, or a related field. In some cases, students without an MS may be admitted for the PhD program; see details below. Prospective graduate students should have an undergraduate GPA above 3.0. GRE scores are not required. International students should meet the Graduate School’s admission requirements. In addition, there are program co-requisites described below. Any deficiencies are to be made up during the first year of graduate studies and students are encouraged to consult with their advisors and the program director for guidance on the appropriate courses.

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The program’s objectives enable students to complete their programs of study and dissertation research in a timely manner and to prepare students for productive careers in water-related fields. The PhD graduates in hydrology are fully qualified to conduct hydrologic research, hydrologic planning and serve in the regulatory environment of both public and private sector employers. Learning outcomes associated with these objectives include:

students demonstrate a high level of competency in the general field of hydrology;
students are able to explain ideas and results through written, numerical, graphical, spoken, and computer-based forms of communication;
students demonstrate their ability to complete research in their field of study in the hydrologic sciences; and
students demonstrate appropriate quantitative skills for hydrogeology, including statistical or numerical modeling techniques.

I. Program Requirements

Candidates for PhD degrees in hydrology must satisfy all general requirements of the Graduate School:

60 credits beyond the Bachelors degree,
40 units of coursework,
1 credit of Comprehensive Examination,
24 dissertation credits must be applied to the PhD, and students must sign up for these credits in the department of their advisor.

The Comprehensive Examination credit may count toward the required 18 credits of 700-level coursework. Dissertation credits may not count toward the required 18 credits of 700-level coursework.

A maximum of 24 units of course work (with grades of “B” or better) from a completed master’s degree program may be allocated toward the PhD upon completion and approval of a Credit Transfer Evaluation Request Form. Up to 18 units of 700-level courses may be transferred from the master’s degree program.

All work towards a PhD must be completed within eight (8) calendar years immediately preceding the granting of the degree. For more information on credit requirements, students should consult the UNR General Catalog.

The program does accept exceptionally well-qualified students with only a bachelor’s degree directly into the PhD program; interested students should contact the program director for further guidance.

A. Core Courses (9 units)

The PhD degree in hydrology gives students the flexibility to study the broad areas of hydrologic sciences and specialize in a sub-discipline. All students receive a broad underpinning of the fundamentals through a set of core courses shared by the hydrogeology and hydrology degrees. A grade of “B-” or better is required for each of the core courses and these courses may only be retaken once:

GE 684 - Groundwater Hydrology (3 units)
NRES 682 - Small Watershed Hydrology (4 units)
GEOL 782 - Hydrology/Hydrogeology Seminar (1 to 2 units) * OR
NRES 782 - Hydrology/Hydrogeology Seminar (1 to 2 units)
2 units of GEOL 782 /NRES 782 are required, with one unit taken in the first year a student is in the Program, and 1 unit taken in the second year a student is in the Program.

B. Hydrology Electives (31 units)

Students following the PhD degree in hydrology are required to take 31 units of electives. A list of current electives is available from the program director or advisor.

C. Hydrology Dissertation/ Comprehensive Exam (21 units)

20 dissertation units must be applied to the PhD

1 unit of Comprehensive Examination,

GPHS 795 - Comprehensive Exam (1 unit)
GPHS 799 - Dissertation Credits (1-24 units)

II. Total Units (61 units)

The PhD in hydrology requires 61 units beyond the bachelor’s degree, including at least 40 units in course work.

Notes

Students should consult with the handbook, their advisor, and the program director for more detailed information as to committee formation as well as qualifying and comprehensive examination procedures and scheduling.

Undergraduate Co-requisites

The hydrology degree requires co-requisites of 2 semesters of physics or physics-based topics (PHYS 180 and PHYS 181 , soil physics, geophysics) and calculus (MATH 181 and MATH 182 , or equivalent). Any deficiencies are to be made up during the first year of graduate study, and students are encouraged to consult with their advisors and the GPHS director for guidance on the appropriate courses for fulfilling deficiencies. Students must provide evidence that the deficiencies were met if the courses are not taken at UNR.