phd research topics in water resources management

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Exploring Research Topics for Ph.D. in Hydrology, Groundwater, and Water Resources

Hydrology, groundwater, and water resources are critical fields of study for environmental science and engineering. This article discusses potential research topics for Ph.D. students in these fields, including groundwater recharge estimation and modelling, water quality modelling and management, climate change and water resources, water resource management and policy, and remote sensing and hydrology. The article then presents 50 research topics for Ph.D. students. These research topics are essential for advancing knowledge and understanding of hydrology, groundwater, and water resources, and their sustainable management.

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Environmental Advances, 2022

Groundwater is the main available freshwater resource and therefore its use, management and sustainability are closely related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, Land Use Land Cover (LULC) and climate change are among the factors impacting groundwater recharge. The use of land-use and climate data in conjunction with hydrological models are valuable tools for assessing these impacts on river basins. This systematic review aimed at assessing the integrated modeling approach for evaluating hydrological processes and groundwater recharge based on LULC and climate change. The analysis is based on 200 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus, and the Web of Science. Continuous research and the development of context-specific groundwater recharge models are essential to increase the long-term viability of water resources in any basin. The long-term impacts of natural and anthropogenic drivers on river basin interactions require integrating knowledge and modeling capabilities across biophysical responses, environmental problems, policies, economics, social, and data.

"Advanced Insights in Hydrology and Water Resources" is a comprehensive exploration of contemporary and emerging topics in hydrology, groundwater, and water resource management. This book delves into the complexities of hydrological processes, offering a deep dive into how climate change, land use, and human activities like agriculture and mining impact water systems. From the unique challenges faced in arid regions to the integration of surface and groundwater use, the chapters provide a blend of theoretical insights and practical strategies. Highlighting technological advancements, community-based management, and sustainable practices, this book is an essential resource for understanding the intricate balance required to manage and conserve water resources in a changing world.

Overview Novel forms of urban development aim to engineer systems that replicate natural hydrologic functioning. This includes preservation of near-natural groundwater recharge through infiltration of stormwater close to impervious surfaces where stormwater is generated. A small watershed in the Piedmont province of Maryland, USA is one of the first instrumented watersheds that was recently developed entirely with novel, distributed stormwater management techniques and is used as a case study for the proposed work. This study seeks to understand how these alterations to the natural landscape impact subsurface flow systems and groundwater – surface water interactions. A network of field observations will be used, including measurements of streamflow, precipitation, hydraulic head, infiltration from and specifications of stormwater control measures, and hydraulic conductivity. The field data will inform the application of ParFlow, a three-dimensional, distributed hydrologic model, bui...

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10 Groundwater recharge is one of the important factors determining the groundwater 11 development potential of an area. Even though recharge plays a key role in controlling 12 groundwater system dynamics, much uncertainty remains regarding the relationships between 13 groundwater recharge and its governing factors at a large scale. The aims of this study were to 14 identify the most influential factors on groundwater recharge, and to develop an empirical 15 model to estimate diffuse rainfall recharge at a global-scale. Recharge estimates reported in the 16 literature from various parts of the world (715 sites) were compiled and used in model building 17 and testing exercises. Unlike conventional recharge estimates from water balance, this study 18 used a multimodel inference approach and information theory to explain the relation between 19 groundwater recharge and influential factors, and to predict groundwater recharge at 0.50 20 resolution. The results show that meteorological f...

In this paper we developed a simple multiple linear regression (MLR) recharge model that relates the recharge estimates obtained from rainfall to the geophysical parameters obtained from the interpretation of twodimensional (2D) resistivity imaging data for the purpose of efficient groundwater resources management in the southern part of Perak, Malaysia through recharge rate estimation and prediction. Through application of linear regression model, the estimated recharge from rainfall and the corresponding estimated unsaturated layer resistivity and its thickness (Depth to aquifer top) parameters obtained from geophysical measurements were regressed in R software written code environment for generating a MLR recharge model. The sensitivity of analyzed results of the MLR recharge model based on the parameter estimation of the model predictors (resistivity and depth) evaluated at Pr B 0.05 is 5.39 9 10-06 and 8.39 9 10-04, respectively. The accuracy and predictive power test conducted on the developed model using both t test and v2 distribution at a = 5 % significance level established the model estimation and prediction capability. The obtained results of v2 distribution test and parameters estimation test confirmed the reliability and accuracy of the proposed model in recharge rate estimation and prediction in the area. The application of the MLR recharge model gives estimate of 242.30 mm/year for regional groundwater recharge rate in the area. Through GIS tool, the MLR recharge model was used to produce groundwater recharge rate prediction map. A quick and independent estimate of recharge by simple geophysical measurement has been established based on these results. The information on the prediction map could serve as a scientific basis for groundwater resources management and exploration in the area. The approach suggests a new application of geoelectric parameters in determining recharge rate due to infiltration. The technique provides a good alternative to other methods used for this purpose. Keywords Multivariate regression recharges model  Groundwater recharge prediction  2D resistivity imaging  Geophysical parameters  2D resistivity imaging  Hydrogeological

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Joint PhD Programme in Integrated Management of Water, Soil, and Waste

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Application Period

Applications are accepted all year round (see Application Procedure ).

Vacancy announcements related to funded Doctoral Researcher positions

• The degree is jointly offered by the United Nations University and the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
• The focus of the programme is on integrated management of water, soil, and waste using a Nexus Approach, making it the first of its kind
• The programme has a strong focus on developing countries
• Students have access to the facilities and services of TU Dresden, one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany, as well as the network of UNU institutes
• Doctoral research includes close cooperation with UN agencies and programmes as well as other international organisations

PhD in Integrated Management of Water, Soil, and Waste

United Nations University ( UNU ) was established in 1973 and is comprised of research institutes and programmes in 12 countries around the world. UNU is a research-oriented think tank addressing the needs of the UN System and its Member States, serving as a bridge to the academic world and offers postgraduate training and education programmes at various levels.

The Technische Universität Dresden ( TU Dresden ) is one of Germany’s Universities of Excellence and one of the top universities in Europe. As a modern comprehensive, multidisciplinary university, TU Dresden unites the natural and engineering sciences with the humanities and social sciences, as well as medicine. The broad and diverse scientific spectrum seeks to help promote interdisciplinarity and integration of science and society.

The Joint PhD Programme established at the United Nations University Institute for the Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at TU Dresden is one of the select doctoral programmes UNU currently offers.

The main objective of this doctoral programme is to provide graduate students with detailed knowledge, critical understanding, strategies, and tools to take an interdisciplinary and integrated approach towards the management of environmental resources.

The Joint PhD Programme aims at creating a new generation of environmental scientists, engineers, and managers to conduct, promote, and provide guidance on the sustainable management of environmental resources. These resources and their sustainable management are of concern to the United Nations and its Member States, particularly to developing countries and emerging economies.

Research Scope

The Joint PhD Programme of TU Dresden and UNU, launched in 2015, is embedded within UNU-FLORES’s nexus-oriented research agenda and the corresponding research interests at TU Dresden. The established doctoral research projects, co-supervised by researchers from UNU-FLORES and TU Dresden, are designed to reflect nexus thinking on particular problems of environmental resources management.

UNU taps on its research to inform policymaking and promote positive global change. The work of all UNU institutes contributes to the advancement of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to inspire global action to overcome the world’s biggest challenges. In line with the mission of UNU, policy relevance is a decisive feature or the research conducted at UNU-FLORES, and therefore also the research conducted by doctoral researchers.

While each individual doctoral research project must have a clear focus – preferably associated to a case study in a particular country – it must also be framed within the broad picture of integrated resources management as part of the Resource Nexus . The latter aims to connect the generation of evidence-based scientific knowledge to (adapted) management and policies, thus addressing also public services and associated risks.

Due to the focus on integrated management of environmental resources, UNU-FLORES’s research is mainly – but not exclusively – relevant for:

• SDG 2 ( Zero hunger ), e.g., related to sustainable intensification of agriculture, including safe use of wastewater in agriculture , the integration of organic waste into small-holder farming or water productivity in irrigated agriculture
• SDG 6 ( Clean water and sanitation ), e.g., related to water quality indicators and monitoring , nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment , monitoring of rural water supply systems or groundwater quality in wastewater treatment systems
• SDG 11 ( Sustainable cities and communities ), e.g., related to decision support frameworks for water resources management
• SDG 12 ( Responsible consumption and production ), e.g., related to integration of organic waste and wastewater into biomass production , nexus-oriented waste management
• SDG 13 ( Climate action ), e.g., related to climate impacts on water and soil management and respective climate adaptation strategies
• SDG 15 ( Life on land ), e.g., related to managing multifunctional land-use systems to secure soil- and water related ecosystem services , particularly in dryland areas
• SDG 17 ( Partnerships for the goals ), e.g., working with consortium partners to address the challenge of drought risk monitoring

Research projects may address these issues from various perspectives in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner, using a broad range of approaches and methods and building on a diverse set of both quantitative and qualitative data. Typically, our research projects – including doctoral research – are implemented with partners in respective Member States or from international organisations, universities, and research institutions.

About the Programme

The programme is the first international doctoral programme addressing integrated resources management in a truly holistic way. Prospective students are expected to come from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. To ensure that students have an evenly-matched starting point, and to introduce the basic concepts of the Resource Nexus, the programme comprises of 35 course credits (see Courses ) in addition to 175 dissertation credits. The total of 210 credits span over seven semesters. The credits are defined in terms of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

All coursework is science-based and all courses require basic knowledge in physics, biology, chemistry, and mathematics at undergraduate level. In addition, the courses also require basic knowledge in the social sciences. Courses are offered by academic staff at both universities. In line with UNU-FLORES’s research agenda (see Research ) and a matching research agenda of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, research topics for doctoral dissertations are focused on solving current challenges related to the Resource Nexus.

Doctoral dissertations are co-supervised by advisors from both universities. Successfully graduating students receive a joint degree certificate.

Image: Defne Altiok/UNU-FLORES

Admissions Criteria

Tuition and fee.

The doctoral programme is tuition-free . However, students are responsible to enrol themselves with TU Dresden and are required to pay a semester contribution each semester. Included is access to TU Dresden facilities and services and a ticket for public transport and nextbike, a bike-sharing company in Dresden. The contribution also entitles students to various perks such as discounts at the university cafeterias and for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden. Applicants are responsible for covering the costs of living and other expenses related to their stay in Dresden. To cover all costs of living, secured funding is to range between 1,200 and 1,600 euros per month (see FAQ ).

Therefore, the respective applicants must include in their application a proof of funding to satisfy step 1 of the Application Procedure . In case there are any restrictions on the research themes as imposed by the respective sponsors, this should be explained in the letter of motivation (see step 2 of the Application Procedure ). It is understood that any such restrictions would still fall within the scope of UNU-FLORES’s and TU Dresden’s research programme. Letters of admission will only be issued  upon admission to the programme with secured funding .

Qualifications

• Engineering
• Natural sciences
• Social sciences
• Other closely related field
• All applicants are also required to have  a research-based master’s degree  related to environmental resources management.
• Important note : The applicant needs a final master’s grade of 2.5 or better (German grading system) to meet the minimum requirement of a successful application. Applications that do not meet this minimum requirement and do not provide a grade conversion to the German grading system (see Application Form ) will be automatically rejected. Please consult the grade conversion formula .
• UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply and become part of the organisation.
• Experience related to the Resource Nexus will be considered an asset.
• IELTS: required level is 7.0
• TOEFL: required level for paper-based test is 600 points and internet-based test is 100 points

If the medium of instruction of previous university degrees is English, please provide the supporting evidence (see Application Form ).

Application Procedure

Applicants are invited to submit a completed and signed application form and a proof of funding to [email protected] . Please note that secured third-party funding from individual scholarships or from governmental organisations must be provided for the entire duration of the programme (36 months). Applications without a proof of funding will not be considered. Please note that only selected candidates will be invited to move forward to step 2.

Only once step 1 will be cleared, applicants will be invited to submit the following application documents:

• Letter of motivation
• the intended research topic
• an explanation of how and why you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this topic
• an outline of how you would approach the topic methodically
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copies of ALL university transcripts
• Copy of TOEFL/IELTS or evidence proving that English is the language of instruction for at least one of the previous successfully completed degree programmes, in the form of a letter issued by the relevant university authority
• Abstract of MSc thesis (or equivalent)
• Two reference letters

Applicants should send their application material in one single PDF file to  [email protected] .

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

The doctoral programme includes mandatory and elective courses. The courses can be further categorised into thematic courses (to be taken in the first and second semester) and methodological courses. In addition, students have the opportunity to take courses at the Graduate Academy of TU Dresden . Courses and workshops offered in the framework of the Graduate Academy are of short duration (typically 1–2 days) and without credits.

Students devote the first semester to learning the basic concepts of the Resource Nexus and the important aspects of Governance and Capacity Development in addition to two other courses that will help improve the skills necessary to conduct their research. Doctoral researchers start working on their research topics during the first semester. In terms of credits, half of the second semester is again course-based while the other half is devoted to preparation of the final dissertation proposal and defence. In agreement with the supervisors, doctoral researchers can choose additional courses focusing on specific skills required for their research topics. From the third semester onwards, doctoral candidates concentrate fully on research. In most cases, this involves some months of field work and stays abroad accordingly in collaboration with partner institutions. This is defined on a case-by-case basis.

Download the Curriculum

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Application requirements.

• What kind of qualifications do I need to have if I want to apply for the programme? Required qualifications of the applicant can be found here .
• Do I have to submit certificates for the TOEFL or IELTS tests? Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. If you are not a native English speaker, one of the following documents need to be submitted:
• Evidence that English is the language of instruction for at least one of your previous successfully completed degree programmes, in the form of a letter issued by the relevant university authority
• Copy of TOEFL (required level for paper-based test: 600 points, internet-based test: 100 points)/IELTS (required level: 7.0)

Admission Process

• When can I apply for the Joint PhD Programme?  Applications can be submitted all year round (see Application Procedure ). Please note that doctoral researcher positions funded via specific third-party projects or other specific funding programmes may be advertised on our website . We encourage you to follow our website , Facebook page , or Twitter account for the latest updates.
• Where can I find the application form? The application form can be found here .
• Which documents do I need to submit? A detailed list of the required documents can be found here . Please make sure you have included all documents and submit them in one single PDF file to  [email protected] . Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• How does the selection procedure work? What is the current status of my application? You will receive an automated confirmation after submission via email, which indicates that your application is officially received. The evaluation will take place within 1–3 months. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed remotely. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Fees and Funding

• Are there tuition fees? The Joint PhD Programme is tuition-free. A semester fee of approximately 250–300 euros needs to be paid for the enrolment at TU Dresden.
• Do I have to secure funding/a scholarship? Can I fund myself? Applicants are required to have secured third-party funding for the entire duration of the programme (36 months). The proof of funding is a required document (see Application Procedure ). Doctoral researcher positions funded via specific third-party projects or other specific funding programmes may be advertised on our website . We encourage you to follow our website , Facebook page , or Twitter account for the latest updates. Self-funded students will not be accepted.
• Can you suggest some funding opportunities? When coming from abroad, national/regional scholarship programmes are typically the first options to consider. Different donors located in Germany have different requirements and rules for scholarships. Information regarding funding/scholarship opportunities can be found on the webpage of TU Dresden here .
• What would be the typical costs of living in Dresden, Germany? Dresden offers a high quality of living for moderate costs in comparison to other German cities. To cover all costs of living, doctoral scholarships secured are to range between 1,200 and 1,600 euros per month.

Other General Questions

• Can I take part in the programme part-time, through distance learning or an online platform? The Joint PhD Programme is a full-time programme. We do not offer doctoral courses through distance or online learning.
• Are all doctoral courses provided in English? Do I need to speak German? All doctoral courses are taught in English. Some basic level of German could be helpful for living in Dresden.

For further questions related to the Joint PhD Programme, please email us at [email protected] .

Doctor of Philosophy in Hydrology and Water Resources

Description.

(Effective Fall 2019) TIMEFRAME: The program is designed for students interested in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the hydrologic cycle, as well as water resources systems, environmental studies, or water policy and the social sciences related to water resources. Students may concentrate in one or a combination of these areas but are expected to acquire fundamental proficiency in all aspects of hydrology and water resources. Research-based study programs are individually planned to meet the student's special interests and professional objectives. Time-to-completion for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Hydrology is approximately 3.5-5 years (coursework, research, writing the dissertation, all exams) for well-prepared students.  All candidates must submit a dissertation or dissertation publication manuscript which has been judged by the student's committee to be eligible for publication in appropriate scientific journals and present the results at two regional, national, or international scientific meetings.

STUDY TOPICS:  Active research areas include hydrogeology, hydrogeochemistry, hydrometeorology, hydroclimatology, environmental hydrology, ground-water hydrology, surface water hydrology, vadose zone hydrology, mathematical and statistical methods in hydrology (including stochastic and numerical modeling), water resources sytems, and water resources policy.

PREPARATION: Doctoral applicants should have completed a Master of Science degree with a major in hydrology, water resources, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, or a related field.  The HAS one-year MS in hydrogeology will be accepted as a qualification to enter the PhD. (Holders of a Bachelor's degree cannot enter the program directly.)  

Students who have completed all of the required undergraduate mathematics and science prerequisites may have a decreased time to completion. NOTE: Students must have completed at least 2 semesters of calculus and have no more than 4 outstanding course deficiencies at the time of matriculation. All students are expected to acquire basic computer programming/coding skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, Fortran, C++) and complete a field methods/laboratory-field synthesis course sequence. To satisfy the professional development requirement, students are required to attend weekly seminars and colloquia at the beginning of academic residency, officially enroll in the HWRS colloquium (595A) for at least one semester at some time during residency, and make two formal seminar presentations of their dissertation research (at least one oral presentation) at approved regional, national, or international conferences near the end of their academic residency.

FORMAL EXAMINATIONS: Where gaps exist in background knowledge of basic hydrology and water resources (primary areas of surface water hydrology, subsurface hydrology, water quality-chemistry, water resources systems), first-year doctoral students may be required to complete fundamental core courses in preparation for the Doctoral Qualifying Examination. This exam must be passed by the end of the second semester in residence. After all course work for the Major and Minor has been completed (typically by the end of 2 1/2 to 3 years in residence), the Comprehensive Examination process -- which will include multiple Written exams and one Oral exam -- is initiated. When the Comprehensive Exams have been passed, the student becomes an official doctoral degree candidate. A Final Doctoral Oral Examination, or Dissertation Defense, is required in the final semester. See the  PHD HWRS Program Guide for full details.                                                                                                                                                     

Apply at the Graduate College website : Click on the Apply Now button for the Program of Study "Hydrology (PHD)."  You will be required to upload a variety of documents, including:

• All Applicants:
• Scanned copies of original transcripts (do not send original transcripts with official seal and signature until after you are accepted into the program)
• Names/contact information for three (3) letters of recommendation (referees will submit letters to us online)
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Statement of research interests
• International Applicants Only: English Proficiency scores also required (details below)

English Proficiency Guidelines: Non-native speakers of English should consult the Graduate College website for information about documenting their proficiency in English . Currently, these minimum scores satisfy the English Proficiency requirement:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Minimum score 79 (or 60 on the revised PBT, with no section score lower than 15). Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
• Pearson PTE Academic : Minimum score of 60
• Graduate English Language Endorsement from the University of Arizona's Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
• CEPT Full Academic Test at the University of Arizona's Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum total score of 110
• Exemptions by Country from submitting English proficiency scores may be found at the Graduate College website, Requirements by Country

Admission deadlines:

• Domestic Applicants:  January 15 for Fall Semester.  October 1 for Spring Semester.
• International Applicants:  January 15 for Fall Semester.  August 1 for Spring Semester.

Students may be eligible for support through Graduate Assistantships in research and teaching, fee waivers (scholarships), and fellowships. Other funding opportunities are provided by the Graduate College at their Financial Resources website .

Degree Program Reqs

(Effective Fall 2019) The degree requires a minimum of 54 semester units in the Major field of study (HWRS) which includes 36 course units and 18 dissertation units. A complementary Minor field of study (number of units varies) is also required (see Doctoral Minor below). All undergraduate prerequisite courses in math and science should be completed by the end of the first year in residence. See the PHD HWRS Program Guide for full details.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE PREREQUISITES*

• Physical geology:  1 semester
• College chemistry:  2-semester sequence in inorganic/analytical chemistry
• College physics:  2-semester sequence, one course in mechanics and one course in electricity/magnetism or optics/thermodynamics
• Fluid mechanics:  1 semester
• Mathematics:  Calculus 1, calculus 2, vector calculus, and introductory differential equations
• Statistics:  1 semester in statistics or probability theory for the physical sciences or engineering
• *You must have received a grade of C or higher to satisfy these course prerequisite requirements. Grades below C are not recognized the UA Graduate College.
• *Please note that we cannot accept students with more than four undergraduate course deficiencies, and you must have completed at least two semesters of calculus. If you have a course in progress or course/courses to be completed prior to beginning our program, you may note this on the graduate application.

CORE COURSES

No specific core courses are required for doctoral students, although inclusion of one or more in the plan of study may help students prepare for the Doctoral Oral Qualifying Examination (end of second semester/Year 1).  Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology for advice. 

• HWRS 517A Fundamentals of Water Quality (3 units) Fall
• HWRS 518 Fundamentals in Subsurface Hydrology (3 units) Fall
• HWRS 519 Fundamentals in Surface Hydrology (3 units) Spring
• HWRS 528 Fundamentals: Systems Approach to Hydrologic Modeling (3 units) Fall

HWRS PRIMARY FACULTY ADVANCED ELECTIVES

Advanced elective course work must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology. The Doctoral Plan of Study must include a minimum of 21 semester units in this category (includes core courses and HWRS Primary Faculty advanced elective courses). (Independent study, professional development enrollment, and field methods are not included in this category.) Refer fo the  PHD HWRS Program Guide for a  list of approved HWRS Primary Faculty courses .

OTHER ELECTIVES & TRANSFER COURSE WORK

The plan of study should also include 12 additional units from: 1) the HWRS Primary Faculty course list, 2) approved transfer course work, and/or 3) approved graduate-level courses from other UA departments. Refer fo the  PHD HWRS Program Guide for a list of pre-approved courses outside the department. Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology regarding potential transfer course work.

FIELD METHODS

• HWRS 513A Field Methods (2 units) Spring
• HWRS 513B Field Synthesis (1 unit) Summer Presession (completed by end of May)

DISSERTATION

• HWRS 920 Dissertation (18 units total) -- delete any excess units from Doctoral Plan of Study prior to submission

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Enrollment in HWRS 595A Weekly Colloquium, Current Topics in Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, for at least one semester is required.  These units are not included in the Doctoral Plan of Study.
• Two oral or poster presentations (minimum one oral) of the doctoral dissertation research at approved regional, national, or international conferences is required. No academic credit is awarded for oral or poster presentations.
• Submit an email memo with details to the Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology (see Program Guide for instructions)

DOCTORAL MINOR

• A doctoral minor area of study (outside the department) that complements and supports the dissertation research is required.  The minimum semester units required vary by department, ranging from 9-15 semester units (the average is 12 units).
• Common Minors and their course prefixes include Applied Mathematics (APPL), Arid Lands Resource Science (ARL), Atmospheric Sciences (ATMO), Chemical Engineering (CHEE), Civil Engineering (CE), Computer Science (CS), Geography and Development (GEOG), Geological Engineering (GEN), Geosciences (GEOS), Global Change (GC), Mining Engineering (MNE), Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (REM), Renewable Natural Resource Studies (RNR), Soil-Water-Environmental Sciences (ENVS/SWES), and Systems Engineering (SIE).  Other Minor areas of study may also be possible.

EXAMINATIONS

• End Year 1/Second Semester: Doctoral Qualifying Examination in the Major -- Contact the HAS Program Coordinator for details
• End Year 1 Doctoral Qualifying Examination for the Minor -- May be optional, so consult Minor Department
• End Year 3 Doctoral Written and Oral Comprehensive Examinations in the Major and Minor -- Initiate after all course work completed
• Year 4-5 Doctoral Final Oral Examination -- Dissertation Defense

DISSERTATION ARCHIVAL

Electronic submission of the doctoral dissertation to the Graduate College and archival with ProQuest UMI is required. The department does not require a copy, although members of the student's faculty committee may request a copy of the manuscript.

Be aware of the Graduate College's Steps to Your Degree requirements timeline when planning your examinations (Comprehensive Process and Final Oral/Defense). Allow yourself enough time to make any required revisions of the doctoral dissertation before submission to the Graduate College. The Graduate College's electronic degree audit system includes the following GradPath forms which are required for all Doctor of Philosophy degree candidates. You can complete these forms by logging on to the university's Student UAccess system. You can also refer to the department's PHD HWRS Program Guide and the  Dissertation Manuscript Options for instructions and guidance:

• Responsible Conduct of Research Form
• Only if using external transfer courses
• Doctoral Plan of Study
• Comprehensive Exam Committee Appointment Form
• Announcement of Doctoral Comprehensive Examination
• Submitted by Committee Chair
• Candidacy Fees charged to student bursar's account upon advancement to doctoral candidacy
• Verification of Prospectus/Proposal Approval
• Doctoral Dissertation Committee Form
• Must be submitted and approved at least one week before the date of final examination/defense
• Submission of Final Dissertation Manuscript for Archiving
• Exit Survey

Learning Outcomes

Refer to the Assessment section for learning outcomes and measures.

General Inquiry:

[email protected]

Admissions Contact:

Lupe Romero

Director of Graduate Studies:

Martha P.L. Whitaker