WMHS Graduate Degree Options

Water resources—essential to humankind—have become even more critical as the world's population expands, climate change brings new challenges and technology both enhances and depletes resources.

The Water Management and Hydrologic Science program in the College of Arts & Sciences provides a unique interdisciplinary approach to all aspects of water management, conservation and protection with three degree options.

Master of Water Management (non-thesis)

This degree is intended to provide professional graduate education emphasizing problem solving and technical skills for students who will manage public water systems and water resources. The curriculum is structured but it is still flexible, enabling students, with the guidance of an advisory committee, to design courses of study that are in accord with their career objectives.

Required WMHS Courses (9 hours)

• WMHS 601 Applications and Problems in Hydrological Sciences – 3 hours
• WMHS 602 Contemporary Issues in Water Resources – 3 hours
• WMHS 681 Seminar – 2 hours
• WMHS 685 Directed Studies – 1 hour

Common Body of Knowledge Water Courses (12 hours)

• RENR 662 Environmental Law and Policy – 3 hours
• AGEC 606 Water Resource Economics or AGEC 604 Natural Resource Economics – 3 hours
• CVEN 664 Water Resources Engineering, Planning Management – 3 hours
• GEOL 614 Advanced Hydrogeology – 3 hours

Required Water Courses (minimum of 9 hours)

• Students select courses from the required list. See Handbook

30 Total Hours Required for Degree

The WMHS Program Chair will serve as the chair for all Master of Water Management (MWM) student advisory committees. Students have until the start of the second semester to select a graduate advisory committee. During the first semester all MWM students should consult with the Program Chair or Program Coordinator to identify a graduate committee. The student’s advisory committee for the MWM degree will consist of no fewer than three members, two of which must be members of the WMHS Faculty. At least one or more of the members must be from a department other than the student’s chair but all three may be on the WMHS faculty.

Master of Science (thesis)

The degree is designed for students with technical backgrounds to complement their primary discipline by obtaining scientific, technical, or managerial expertise in water. In addition to the water courses, students are required to take a research methods class and a statistics class from the designated list.

Required WMHS Courses (8 hours)

• WMHS 601 Applications and Problems in Hydrological Sciences – 3 hours
• WMHS 602 Contemporary Issues in Water Resources – 3 hours
• WMHS 681 Seminar – 2 hours

Required Statistics and Research Methods Courses (6-7 hours)

• Students select courses from the designated lists. See Handbook.

Required Water Courses (12 hours)

• Students select courses from the required list. See Handbook.

Electives (up to 6 hours)

• Hours determined by student and student advisory committee. Any tools, planning or certificate courses are allowed.

Research Hours (1 hour minimum)

• WMHS 691. Hours determined by student and student advisory committee. Students may opt to add an additional course in lieu of some research hours.

32 Total Hours Required for Degree

Students applying for the master’s degree have until the start of the second semester to select a graduate chair and advisory committee. During the first semester all master’s students should consult with the Program Chair or Program Coordinator to identify a graduate chair and committee. The student’s advisory committee for the Master’s degree will consist of no fewer than three members, two of which must be members of the WMHS Faculty. At least one or more of the members must be from a department other than the student’s chair but all three may be on the WMHS faculty.

Doctoral Program (Ph.D.)

This degree is designed to give students a comprehensive knowledge of water science and hydrology and provide training in methods of research. Each student must have a chair before acceptance into the program. Students will work with their chair and the advisory committee to develop a course of study satisfying the curriculum. Students who have not taken graduate courses in statistics and research methods will be required to take one research methods course and two statistics courses from the designated list.

Required WHMS Courses (9 hours)

• WMHS 601 Applications and Problems in Hydrological Sciences – 3 hours
• WMHS 602 Contemporary Issues in Water Resources – 3 hours
• WMHS 681 Seminar – 3 hours

Required Statistics and Research Methods Courses (9-10 hours)

• Students select courses from the designated lists. See Handbook.

Required Water Courses (minimum of 18 hours)

• Students select courses from the required list. See Handbook.

Free Electives (9 or more hours)

• Hours determined by student and student advisory committee. Any tools, planning or certificate courses are allowed.

Research Hours (18 hours or more)

• WMHS 691. Hours determined by student and student advisory committee. Students may opt to add an additional course in lieu of some research hours.

64 Total Hours Beyond a Master’s Degree, with Thesis, Required for Degree

Students applying for the Ph.D. degree program must have identified a graduate committee chair from the WMHS Faculty who has agreed to serve in that capacity before they can be admitted to the WMHS Program. The students’ advisory committee for the doctoral degree will consist of no fewer than four members, three of which must be members of the WMHS Faculty. At least one or more of the members must be from a department other than the student’s chair but all four may be on the WMHS faculty.

5-Year (3+2) Master of Water Management 

The Department of Geography offers a 5-year (3+2) combined degree program that allows a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience major to enter the Master of Water Management and Hydrological Science at the start of their senior year (typically year four) at Texas A&M University. This enables students to receive their Environmental Geoscience undergraduate degree (BS) and a Master of Water Management graduate degree in five years.

The BS degree in Environmental Geosciences embraces all the disciplines o f geosciences to give the student a rigorous interdisciplinary education including issues associated with environmental policy. The degree trains students for employment by industry, environmental and engineering consulting firms, non-governmental organizations, and governmental regulatory agencies, among other entities. Students focus coursework in a particular environmental theme: coastal and marine environments, water, human impact on the environment, climate change, or biosphere. The Water Management and Hydrological Science (WMHS) program takes an interdisciplinary approach to provide students with strong technical skills in disciplines relevant to water resources. Students develop a broad understanding of hydrology and the interconnectedness of the biophysical and social sciences in water management to improve the reliability and quality of water resources for human well-being and development.

After completing the combined degree, students are prepared for a wide variety of post-graduate opportunities including employment in local, state, or federal government, non-profit organizations, and private industry.

Students who are interested in this degree plan will apply as Bachelor of Science Environmental Geoscience students and apply for the program in their Junior year, with their undergraduate academic advisor. For more information regarding the 3+2 program, please contact the Environmental Program Advisor at envp-advisor@tamu.edu

WMHS Graduate Handbook