We all need water.  As the demands on our water resources continue to grow, hydrologists will be called upon to address the scientific challenges locally, state-wide, nationally, and internationally.  Graduates of the University of Idaho Hydrology program will be among those dealing with issues of increased water demand, decreased or altered supply, and water quality degradation.

A wide range of careers is open to hydrologists.  Federal legislation in the past few decades has prompted a surge in clean up and protection of the quality of ground-water resources.  Locally, the INEEL employs many hydrologists toward this objective.  Hydrologists also serve to manage our lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.  Competition for these increasingly needed resources comes from recreation, irrigation, hydropower, aquaculture, municipal, industrial, and ecological demands.  Federal and state agencies charged with managing and maintaining the integrity of our water resources employ hydrologists in scientific and management capacities.  Consulting hydrologists are often brought in to perform specific evaluations for government agencies and private parties.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

Thesis and non-thesis masters degrees are offered in Hydrology.  The non-thesis masters degree, however, can only be sought by those having three or more years of working experience in a related field.  A comprehensive oral examination is conducted with both the thesis and non-thesis options prior to graduation.  A total of 30 credits beyond a bachelor's degree is required, excluding deficiencies.  Typically 14 of the credits are composed of the following required classes:

• Hydrology (surface water)
• Hydrology Seminar
• Ground Water
• Hydrogeology
• Aquifer Testing Design and Analysis

The remaining 16 credits are composed of electives and thesis or non-thesis research credits.  A thesis counts 6 credits and non-thesis research counts 3 credits toward the requirements.  Electives commonly applied include:  Ground Water Modeling, Isotope Hydrogeology, Ground Water Management, Ground Water Remediation, Contaminant Flow and Transport, Geostatistics, and Environmental Science and Civil Engineering classes.

ADMISSION AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The MS Hydrology program requires an undergraduate degree in the sciences.  A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for admission.  Students must complete at least two semesters of inorganic chemistry, three semesters of calculus, two semesters of geology, and one semester of statistics either as an undergraduate, or as a deficiency.

Undergraduate transcripts, an application to graduate school, a letter of student intent, and three letters of recommendation are required to complete the application process.  Applications can be picked up from the Student Services Desk at the Higher Education Center building at University Place in Idaho Falls.