Hydrogeology, M.S.

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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 hydrogeologic 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. Students pursuing an MS degree may choose a thesis option (Plan A) or non-thesis option (Plan B) and should consult with their advisors and the program director for guidance on the best choice for their individual needs. 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 a Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, hydrology, hydrogeology, natural resources, ecology, or a related field. Contact the program director for more information. Prospective graduate students should have an undergraduate GPA above 3.0. GRE scores are not required. International students should complete the Graduate School requirements for admission. 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 thesis research in a timely manner and to prepare students for productive careers in water-related fields. The MS graduates in hydrogeology are fully qualified to conduct hydrogeologic 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 basic level of competency in the general field of hydrogeology;
students are able to explain ideas and results through written, numerical, graphical, spoken, and computer-based forms of communication;
students are able to complete research in their field of study in the hydrogeologic sciences; and
students demonstrate appropriate quantitative skills for hydrogeology, including appropriate statistical or numerical modeling techniques.

I. Program Requirements

Candidates for the MS degree in hydrogeology must satisfy all general requirements of the Graduate School. Students can pursue an MS degree either with Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis option).

The MS Plan A degree in hydrogeology requires a minimum of 31 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, of which at least 9 credits (excluding 6 credits of thesis) must be at the 700-level.
For the non-thesis option (Plan B), a minimum of 32 credits is required, with at least 12 credits at the 700-level (including 2 credits of professional paper).

Students should consult with their advisor and the Director for guidance on choice of plan options. In general, the Plan B option should be considered as a terminal degree. For more information on credit requirements, students should consult the UNR General Catalog.

A. Core Courses (15 - 21 units)

The MS degree in hydrogeology gives students the flexibility to study broad areas of hydrogeology or specialize in a sub-discipline. All students receive a broad underpinning of the hydrologic/hydrogeologic sciences through a set of core courses, some of which are 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 614 - Hydrologic Fluid Dynamics (3 units)
GE 684 - Groundwater Hydrology (3 units)
GEOL 616 - Environmental Geochemistry (3 units) *OR
CEE 658 - Environmental Chemistry Concepts and Design (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/NRES 782 are required, with one unit taken in the first year the student is in the program, and 1 unit taken in the second year the student is in the program.
Plan A students are required to complete 6 thesis units (6 units)

B. Hydrogeology Electives (10-17 units)

Students following the hydrogeology degree are required to take 10 units of electives. Plan B students will need to take 17 elective units. A list of current electives is available from the program director.

II. Total Units (31 or 32 Units)

The MS Plan A degree in hydrogeology requires a minimum of 31 credits beyond the Bachelors degree.

The MS Plan B degree in hydrogeology requires a minimum of 32 credits beyond the Bachelors degree.

Undergraduate Co-requisites

The hydrogeology degree requires co-requisites of 2 semesters of physics (PHYS 180 and PHYS 181 ) and calculus (MATH 181 and MATH 182 ). Differential equations is not a formal requirement, but may be recommended by the advisor. Any deficiencies are to be made up during the first year of graduate study, and students are encouraged to consult with their advisor 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.