Sep 28, 2024

2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Water Science and Policy (MS)

Program Educational Goals:

MS in Water Science and Policy

Graduates obtaining a MS from the Water Science and Policy Program will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental principles and knowledge in their sub-field within water science and policy
Read, assess, and critically review published literature and research findings in their sub-field
Recognize and discuss new techniques, skills, and tools used in their sub-field, and execute a guided research plan to generate new knowledge and publishable results
Recognize the importance of synthesizing knowledge from multiple subfields to address complex challenges related to water science and/or policy
Communicate effectively in writing, graphically, and orally

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the Degree:

M.S. Thesis students must complete 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis (a total of 30 credits). Only graduate courses completed with a grade of B- or higher count towards the requirements of the MS in Water Sciences and Policy. All full-time MS students are required to complete the degree requirements in six semesters or fewer. Students are expected to write and successfully defend the thesis to receive the degree. A student who has completed a course at the 400-level may not take the same course at the 600-level for credit toward the graduate degree. The maximum time for the completion of the MS program is 5 years from the time of entry.

Course Curriculum:

Select 24 credits, with at least 3 credits from each category:

Physical Sciences:

CIEG 634 - Physical Aspects of Environmental Engineering Credit(s): 3
CIEG 698 - Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport Credit(s): 3
GEOG 632 - Environmental Hydrology Credit(s): 3
GEOG 651 - Microclimatology Credit(s): 4
GEOG 656 - Hydroclimatology Credit(s): 3
GEOL 603 - Groundwater Modeling Credit(s): 3
GEOL 611 - Fluvial Geomorphology Credit(s): 3
GEOL 628 - Hydrogeology Credit(s): 3
GEOL 803 - Topics in Geomorphology Credit(s): 1-3
PLSC 603 - Soil Physics Credit(s): 3

Chemical/Biological Sciences:

CHEM 608 - Environmental Soil Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 683 - Environmental Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CIEG 632 - Chemical Aspects of Environmental Engineering Credit(s): 3
CIEG 636 - Biological Aspects of Environmental Engineering Credit(s): 3
CIEG 668 - Principles of Water Quality Criteria Credit(s): 3
GEOL 619 - Environmental Geochemistry Credit(s): 3
MAST 618 - Microbial Ecology Credit(s): 3
MAST 646 - Chemical Oceanography Credit(s): 3
MAST 852 - Isotope Geochemistry Credit(s): 3
PLSC 612 - Ecosystem Ecology Credit(s): 3
PLSC 621 - Nonpoint Source Pollution Credit(s): 3
PLSC 643 - Watershed Hydrochemistry Credit(s): 3

Policy:

APEC 820 - Experimental Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 670 - Benefit-Cost Analysis Credit(s): 3
ENEP 624 - Water Resource Management Credit(s): 3
ENEP 626 - Climate Change:Science, Policies & Political Economy Credit(s): 3
ENEP 810 - Political Economy of the Environment Credit(s): 3
GEOG 619 - Climate Change Adaptation Policy & Practice Credit(s): 3
GEOG 622 - Resources, Development and the Environment Credit(s): 3
GEOG 649 - Environment and Society Credit(s): 3
MAST 614 - Environmental Justice in Disasters Credit(s): 3
MAST 662 - Climate Change: Policy, Equity and Mitigation Credit(s): 3
MAST 663 - Decision Tools for Policy Analysis Credit(s): 3
MAST 674 - Legal Aspects of the Coastal Zone Credit(s): 3
MAST 676 - Environmental Economics Credit(s): 3
POSC 818 - Environmental Politics and Policy Credit(s): 3
UAPP 611 - Regional Watershed Management Credit(s): 3
UAPP 652 - Geographic Information Systems in Public Policy Credit(s): 1
UAPP 701 - Public Policymaking Credit(s): 3

Research Methods:

MAST 663 - Decision Tools for Policy Analysis Credit(s): 3
PLSC 640 - Field Methods in Soil-Water-Air Credit(s): 3
UAPP 707 - Public Policy Analysis Credit(s): 3

Statistics, Analysis & Techniques:

APEC 807 - Math Programming with Economic Appls Credit(s): 3
GEOG 657 - Climate Dynamics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 670 - Geographic Information Systems and Science Credit(s): 3
GEOG 671 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems Credit(s): 3
GEOG 673 - Select Technical Topics Credit(s): 1-3
MAST 681 - Remote Sensing of Environment Credit(s): 3
UAPP 684 - Performance Management and Program Evaluation Credit(s): 3
MEEG 690 - Intermediate Engineering Mathematics Credit(s): 3
SOCI 605 - Data Collection and Analysis Credit(s): 3
SPPA 704 - Advanced Quantitative Methods Credit(s): 3
SPPA 718 - Survey Research Methods Credit(s): 3
STAT 608 - Statistical Research Methods Credit(s): 3
STAT 659 - Spatial Statistics Credit(s): 3
STAT 674 - Applied Data Base Management Credit(s): 3

Directed Research Options:

With advisor approval, MS students may opt to carry out directed research, in lieu of one course, within categories Physical Sciences, Chemical/Biological Sciences, and Policy.

Thesis:

Students must take 6 credits of thesis research. Students are expected to write and successfully defend the thesis to receive the degree. Advancement to degree candidacy is contingent upon successful completion and presentation of the thesis proposal. The thesis proposal should be presented to the Thesis Committee for approval within 1.5 years in the program. The completed thesis will be presented to the Thesis Committee in typewritten form at least two weeks before the scheduled oral defense. The oral defense of the student thesis will be publicly announced and all program members will be notified at least one week prior to the defense date.

Credits to Total a Minimum of 30

Last Revised for 2022-2023 Academic Year