Water Science and Policy - Water Science Concentration (PhD)

Program Educational Goals:

PhD in Water Science and Policy - Concentration in Water Science

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

a. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental principles in water science and water policy, advanced knowledge in their selected water science sub-field, and an ability to apply these principles and knowledge to new problems

b. Understand and critically assess published literature and research findings in their selected water science sub-field

c. Formulate and execute a research plan to generate new knowledge and publishable results

d. Develop and/or apply new experimental, computational, or theoretical tools in their research

e. Synthesize and integrate knowledge from multiple sub-fields to advance knowledge in their primary subfield to address complex challenges related to water science and/or policy

f. Communicate effectively in writing, graphically, and orally

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the Degree:

Ph.D. students must complete 18 credit hours of course work, plus 9 credit hours of research, and 9 credit hours of disseration (a total of 36 credits). Students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to receive the degree. Course with a grade below a B- will not be counted towards the degree. Applicants for the Ph.D. program will typically have an M.S. degree in a related field. Direct admission to the Ph.D. program immediately after a B.S. degree will only be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates, as determined by the Program Committee. These candidates will, however, have to complete all the course requirements associated with the Water Science and Policy M.S. program prior to starting the Ph.D. curriculum. Prior graduate coursework (a maximum of 9 credit hours) will be considered toward Ph.D. course requirements, with the approval of the Program Committee. The PhD qualifying exam should be taken within 2.5 years of study in the program. The student must submit a research proposal prior to initiating dissertation research. The maximum time for the completion of the PhD program is 10 years from the time of entry.

Concentration Requirements:

Science Courses:

9 credits. Select at least three credits from each of the following categories:

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 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 608 - Environmental Soil Chemistry 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:

Choose one of the following:

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 617 - Seminar in Climate Change 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 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
SPPA 614 - Environmental Justice in Disasters 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:

Choose one of the following:

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

Choose one of the following:

APEC 807 - Math Programming with Economic Appls Credit(s): 3
GEOG 604 - GIS for Environmental Research 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
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
UAPP 684 - Performance Management and Program Evaluation Credit(s): 3

Directed Research Options

PHD students are required to take 9 credits of research, which may also consist of an internship, independent study or a special problem, approved by advisor.

Dissertation

Students must take 9 credits of dissertation research. The student must submit a research proposal prior to initiating dissertation research. A pre-proposal should be prepared within the first year and should be shared with the Dissertation Committee. A formal proposal should be presented and defended by the student no later than six months from the completion of the written qualifying exam. The proposal defense and oral qualifying examination can be combined. Upon successful completion of the qualifying exam and the proposal defense, the student is certified as a candidate for the doctoral degree. Upon the recommendation of the Dissertation Committee the student may be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The final examination of the PhD degree will involve approval of the written dissertation and an oral defense of the candidate’s dissertation.

Water Science and Policy - Water Science Concentration (PhD)

Program Educational Goals:

Program Policy Document:

Requirements for the Degree:

Concentration Requirements:

Science Courses:

Physical Sciences

Chemical/Biological Sciences

Policy:

Research Methods:

Statistics, Analysis & Techniques

Directed Research Options

Dissertation

Credits to Total a Minimum of 36

Last Revised for 2022-2023 Academic Year