HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES
(HWR )
Hydrology and water resources include the origin, distribution, and properties of the waters of the Earth, as well as the development and management of water resource systems for multiple purposes. The faculty offers competence in hydrogeology, hydrogeochemistry, environmental hydrology, ground-water and surface-water hydrology, hydrometeorology, hydroclimatology, water quality, mathematical and statistical methods in hydrology (including numerical modeling), and water resources engineering, planning, management and administration.
The department offers the Bachelor of Science in Hydrology and the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in hydrology. The undergraduate major in hydrology assumes substantial knowledge of mathematics. For information regarding graduate degrees, please see the Graduate Catalog.
The department participates in the honors program. Honors students complete an approved senior honors thesis in lieu of the senior capstone course.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HYDROLOGY
Hydrology, the science of water, deals with the origin, distribution, and the physical,
chemical and biological properties of the waters of the Earth. It has application to
flood, drought, and weather-related hazards, water supply, recreation, the design of
bridges and dams, pollution control, and other water management concerns. The hydrology
curriculum is designed to give the student a basic knowledge of hydrology and allied
subjects, including hydrologic modeling with computer applications. Flexibility is offered
through the selection of general education courses (Tier 1 and Tier 2), core electives,
and technical electives, so that a program of study can be developed which best fits the
student's needs. Specialization options: The faculty offer expertise in the areas of
hydrometerology, hydrogeology, environmental chemistry, environmental hydrology, water
resources engineering, water resources engineering-systems, and water resources
engineering-policy. Students should consult with a departmental advisor regarding choice
of core and technical electives.
Graduates with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Hydrology obtain professional
positions in the fields of hydrology and water resources. Because hydrology is a natural
science, instruction is augmented at all levels with field trips in Arizona, a statewhich
contains a great diversity of topographic and geologic features and climatic zones, making
it a superb outdoor laboratory. The field course and a senior capstone course provide
direct experience with hydrologic measurements, testing, and data gathering. Students
apply these techniques at field sites and in research.