Hydrogeology - PhD

The Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences administers two separate degrees – Hydrology and Hydrogeology – at both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels. There is a single, required, foundation core that includes a one-semester credit hour seminar along with one course each in groundwater, hydrologic fluid dynamics, and environmental chemistry. Beyond this foundation core, each degree has separate and additional required coursework. Students are expected to work with their advisors and committee members to develop a Plan of Study that best matches their research efforts and interests.

Hydrogeology focuses on interactions of water in the earth's processes, especially in the vadose and saturated zones below the earth's surface. Possible areas of emphasis for students include groundwater contaminant transport, geochemical evolution of ground waters, nutrient transport processes, vadose zone hydrology, ground water resource evaluation and groundwater modeling.

The Doctorate of Philosophy in Hydrogeology allows flexibility to allow students to follow one or more of the broad areas of subsurface hydrology and to allow for specialization. All students receive a broad underpinning of the hydrologic sciences through the shared core courses. Additional requirements for the degree include two or more specialization courses in hydrogeology. Students are expected to work with their advisors and committee members to develop a Plan of Study that best matches their research efforts and interests.