Water Resources Science and Technology, Master of Science
Overview
The WATR Program at A&M-SA is designed with a vision to help our students with gaining a holistic understanding of our water resource system, and to acquire the necessary skills to be successful in their future water-related careers:
- To provide foundational and specialty courses that ensure students’ competence at their prospective jobs.
- To instill the concept of a water-centered nexus that expands students’ vision imperative for career advancement.
- To expose students to a hands-on learning environment (lab work & internships) that help prepare students with skill sets needed for the water industry.
- To improve our students’ ability to process and analyze information through problem-based learning.
Administrative Officers
Dr. Walter Den, Graduate Coordinator (Water Resources Science and Technology), SciTech Building 349D
Admission Process
Prerequisites
Students must have 18 semester hours of undergraduate courses in:
- Biology,
- Chemistry,
- Geology,
- Physics,
- Environmental Science,
- Engineering, and
- Aquatic Science.
or a combination of these disciplines, including:
- 12 advanced semester hours in these disciplines, and an undergraduate cumulative grade point average
- between 2.60-2.99 or an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher for the last 60 semester credits (or 90 quarter credits), and a minimum GRE composite (Q+V) score of 297 (score times 1000 for tests taken prior to August 2011) or
- between 3.00-4.00 and a minimum GRE composite (Q+V) score of 285 (score times 800 for tests taken prior to August 2011). The Department has the right to examine students’ prerequisites and to accept equivalent hours or to require additional work if necessary.
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by scoring a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (Internet-based).
Curricula
Research Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites | ||
| WATR 5111 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| WATR 5312 | Water Laws, Rules and Policy | 3 |
| WATR 5314 | Pollutants in Environmental Systems | 3 |
| WATR 5315 | Advanced Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems | 3 |
| WATR 5320 | Statistical Methods in Research | 3 |
| WATR 5330 | Water Resources Science and Technology Internship | 3 |
| Research Track | ||
| WATR 5306 | Thesis (Thesis Proposal and Thesis Completion) | 6 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 14 hours of WATR 5000 level courses | 14 | |
| Nexus of Water, Energy, and Food | ||
| Wastewater Treatment for Direct and Indirect Uses | ||
| Natural and Constructed Green Systems for Wastewater Management | ||
| Desalination Processes and Emerging Technologies | ||
| Environmental Impact Assessment of Water Resources | ||
| Groundwater Management and Field Investigations | ||
| Institutions and Their Role in Water Resources Management | ||
| Water Resources Sustainable Use and Conservation Policy and Practice | ||
| Water Policy Institution Internship | ||
| US-Mexico Borderlands and Interjurisdicitional Water Issues and Policies | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Professional Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites | ||
| WATR 5111 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| WATR 5312 | Water Laws, Rules and Policy | 3 |
| WATR 5314 | Pollutants in Environmental Systems | 3 |
| WATR 5315 | Advanced Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems | 3 |
| WATR 5320 | Statistical Methods in Research | 3 |
| WATR 5330 | Water Resources Science and Technology Internship | 3 |
| Professional Track | ||
| WATR 5305 | Research Project | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 17 hours of WATR 5000 level courses | 17 | |
| Nexus of Water, Energy, and Food | ||
| Wastewater Treatment for Direct and Indirect Uses | ||
| Natural and Constructed Green Systems for Wastewater Management | ||
| Desalination Processes and Emerging Technologies | ||
| Environmental Impact Assessment of Water Resources | ||
| Groundwater Management and Field Investigations | ||
| Institutions and Their Role in Water Resources Management | ||
| Water Resources Sustainable Use and Conservation Policy and Practice | ||
| Water Policy Institution Internship | ||
| US-Mexico Borderlands and Interjurisdicitional Water Issues and Policies | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
This suggested plan of study is intended to be used as a guide in conjunction with official degree requirements outlined in the catalog. While this plan demonstrates a course of study that covers eight semesters, each student’s academic path is unique and your timeline may look different. Students should regularly consult with academic advisors as they plan their course schedules as course offerings may vary.
Research Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| WATR 5314 | Pollutants in Environmental Systems | 3 |
| WATR 5315 | Advanced Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| WATR 5312 | Water Laws, Rules and Policy | 3 |
| WATR 5320 | Statistical Methods in Research | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| WATR 5330 | Water Resources Science and Technology Internship | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| WATR 5111 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| WATR 5306 | Thesis | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| WATR 5306 | Thesis | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Professional Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| WATR 5314 | Pollutants in Environmental Systems | 3 |
| WATR 5315 | Advanced Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| WATR 5312 | Water Laws, Rules and Policy | 3 |
| WATR 5320 | Statistical Methods in Research | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| WATR 5330 | Water Resources Science and Technology Internship | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| WATR 5111 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| WATR 5305 | Research Project | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Available Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| Desalination Processes and Emerging Technologies | ||
| US-Mexico Borderlands and Interjurisdicitional Water Issues and Policies | ||
| Environmental Impact Assessment of Water Resources | ||
| Institutions and Their Role in Water Resources Management | ||
| Spring | ||
| Natural and Constructed Green Systems for Wastewater Management | ||
| Groundwater Management and Field Investigations | ||
| Water Resources Sustainable Use and Conservation Policy and Practice | ||
| Nexus of Water, Energy, and Food | ||
| Wastewater Treatment for Direct and Indirect Uses | ||
| Summer | ||
| Water Policy Institution Internship | ||