BS/MS Accelerated Program, Hydrology and Hydrogeology

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The Accelerated BS/MS Program encourages outstanding students in undergraduate degrees to obtain a non-thesis professional MS degree in Hydrology or Hydrogeology in a shorter time at the University of Nevada, Reno. Exceptionally well-qualified students working with a faculty advisor and research group may follow a thesis BS/MS degree, pending discussion with the program director.

Contact Information

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

Admission Requirements

Students apply for the accelerated program after completing at least 75 credits towards their BS degree with a 3.2 GPA (only UNR courses are included in the GPA calculation). This typically occurs during spring of their junior year. The GRE is not required, but students should fulfill program prerequisites, which include 2 semesters of physics (PHYS 180 and PHYS 181) and 2 semesters of calculus (MATH 181 and MATH 182). As part of the admission process, a student must contact the undergraduate advisor in their program department and the GPHS program director.

Program Requirements

Students who are admitted into the program may take up to 12 credits (at least 3 courses) for their BS degree at the 600-level from the list below. Each course must be approved by the student’s BS program department, GPHS program director, and students must receive permission from the Graduate School in order to register. A 700-level course cannot be taken as long as students are undergraduates. Students must receive a “B” or better in the course for it to be considered for the graduate degree. Student must maintain at least a 3.2 GPA. Upon completion of all BS requirements, a student will receive the BS degree. A student must complete the BS degree at UNR to be part of the Accelerated BS/MS Program.

Students in the accelerated BS/MS program apply for admission to the Graduate School during their senior year, before completing the BS degree, and prior to graduation. Graduate school requirements can be found here (https://www.unr.edu/grad/admissions/requirements).

Students may apply up to 12 credits of 600-level courses towards both the BS and MS degree requirements and must complete all other degree requirements for the MS professional degree in hydrology (or hydroclimatology specialization) or hydrogeology . Remaining coursework as electives will be established by the student and program director.

GE 684 - Groundwater Hydrology (3 units)
NRES 682 - Small Watershed Hydrology (4 units) GE 684 and NRES 682 are required of all students in GPHS.
ATMS 621 - Climatology (3 units) ATMS/GEOG 621 is only required for students following the hydroclimatology specialization under the hydrology degree.
GE 614 - Hydrologic Fluid Dynamics (3 units)
GEOL 616 - Environmental Geochemistry (3 units) OR
CEE 658 - Environmental Chemistry Concepts and Design (3 units) GE 614 and either GEOL 616 or CEE 658 are only required for students following the hydrogeology degree.

Continuation in the Program

Students maintain a grade point average of 3.2 or higher to maintain continuation in the program. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.2, the student will be placed on academic probation within the program for one semester. If the student raises their GPA to 3.2 or higher, they will be removed from probation and returned to good status in the program. If the student is not able to raise their GPA sufficiently, after one semester, they will be removed from the Accelerated Program. At such point they may pursue BS and MS degrees through normal requirements.

Financial Impact

Students should note that only the graduate courses identified to meet both BS and MS requirements on the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program Application may apply towards the 12 credits required for full time undergraduate standing for Federal Financial Aid. The graduate-level courses will require payment of graduate credit tuition. Non-thesis Professional MS students are not eligible for research assistantships, but teaching assistantships may be available.

View program requirements for the Hydrology M.S. or Hydrogeology M.S.