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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor of Science degree program in Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources. For information about applying to the undergraduate program or declaring an undergraduate Major or Minor in Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources (EHY), please contact the HWR Undergraduate Coordinator, Dr. Martha Whitaker, at mplw@hwr.arizona.edu or 520-621-9715. You can read more about Undergraduate Admissions at these websites:

Undergraduate High School & Incoming Freshmen (hyperlink) http://www.arizona.edu/future/hs/high-school.php

Undergraduate Transfer Students (hyperlink) http://www.arizona.edu/future/ts/transfer.php

Undergraduate International Students (hyperlink) http://www.arizona.edu/future/grad-in/international-students-future.php
 
GRADUATE STUDENTS
 
Graduate Degrees:  The Department of Hydrology and Water Resources offers Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) degrees with a Major in Hydrology.  Two new degree programs are being developed jointly with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences:  the Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) degrees with a Major in Hydrometeorology.  Our department also participates in the State of Arizona Tri-University College of Engineering’s Master of Engineering program (M ENG) with an emphasis in water resources engineering.  Two other departments at the University of Arizona also participate in the water resources engineering area of emphasis:  the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (http://civil.arizona.edu/cms/) and the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (http://ag.arizona.edu/abe/).
 
M ENG Water Resources Engineering:  The M Eng degree program with an emphasis in water resources engineering is most suitable for working professionals employed locally or regionally in the Southwest.  For information about applying to the Master of Engineering program, go to the official website here:  http://www.oneflexibledegree.com or contact the University of Arizona’s Faculty Representative, Dr. R.D. Eckhoff, at eckhoff@engr.arizona.edu.  For information about specific course requirements for the water resources engineering area of emphasis, contact the HWR advising office at: programs@hwr.arizona.edu or 520-621-3131.
 
MS and PHD Hydrometeorology:  Two new degree programs are being developed jointly with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences—the MS and PHD degrees with a major in Hydrometeorology.  These are joint degree programs, so you can apply to either department depending on your choice of faculty advisor.  For more information the new Hydrometeorology program, contact the HWR advising office at: programs@hwr.arizona.edu or 520-621-3131.
 
MS and PHD Hydrology:  For MS and PHD applicants who wish to major in Hydrology, we have a new application process for Fall 2010!  Our department’s application has been combined with the Graduate College.  You may begin your application to the UA Graduate College and the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources here:    http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/apply-now.
 
For the department’s faculty review process, please submit all material through the Graduate College Online Application.  “All material” includes the statement of research interest, resume or curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and transcripts.
 
You can read more about General Admissions Requirements at the Graduate College website here:  http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions.
 
You can read more about our department’s specific Degree Program Requirements at the Graduate College website here:  http://grad.arizona.edu/live/programs/description/79.
 
A list of frequent questions and answers are provided below.
 
 
MS and PHD Hydrology FAQs
 
What undergraduate courses are required for admission to the MS or PHD degree program in Hydrology?
 
While we do not necessarily require a prior degree in hydrology and water resources, fundamental science and math courses are required to begin our course work.  Students should have completed the majority of undergraduate course work prior to beginning our graduate degree program: 
 
  • Two-semester course sequence in college chemistry (inorganic/analytical)
  • Two-semester course sequence in college physics (one course in Mechanics, one course in either Electricity-Magnetism or Optics-Thermodynamics)
  • One semester course in physical geology
  • One semester course in fluid mechanics or hydraulics
  • One semester course in statistics or probability theory for the physical sciences or engineering
  • Calculus I
  • Calculus II
  • Vector Calculus
  • Introductory Ordinary Differential Equations
 
At the University of Arizona, these courses include:  CHEM 151, CHEM 152, PHYS 141, PHYS 142 or PHYS 241, GEOS 251, CE 218, SIE 305, MATH 124 or 125, MATH 129, MATH 223, and MATH 254.  You can review UA course descriptions in the General Catalog here:  http://www.catalog.arizona.edu.
 
How many undergraduate course deficiencies can I have and still apply to the graduate program?
 
Because most of these courses are pre- or co-requisites to the courses we offer, we encourage students to enter the program with no more than 3 undergraduate deficiencies.  (You can also list “courses in progress” on your Graduate College application.  “Courses in progress” are those for which you are enrolled but the grade has not yet been reported.)  The most common undergraduate course deficiencies are fluid mechanics, vector calculus or statistics, and ordinary differential equations.
 
Does the number of undergraduate course deficiencies I have impact my departmental financial aid eligibility?
 
Faculty members do consider this when recruiting a student for a graduate assistantship in research.  A student with an excessive number of deficiencies generally makes slower progress with a research project and may be a less viable candidate for such a position.  Also, the student may experience a delay in completing required graduate courses until the pre- or co-requisites have been satisfied.  In other words, pre- or co-requisite courses must first be completed for fundamental graduate core courses that require them, and fundamental graduate core courses must be completed before advanced elective courses.  Although the fundamental graduate core courses are not sequential (there is no particular order to take them), each course is not offered every semester.
 
How do I know if the undergraduate course I took (or will take) satisfies the undergraduate prerequisite course requirement?
 
You can review a description of the course in our General Catalog (http://www.catalog.arizona.edu) or contact the HWR office of academic advising for additional information here:  programs@hwr.arizona.edu.  Your catalog course description and/or course syllabus may be required to determine whether a course you have completed, or will complete, will satisfy our UA course requirement.
 
What kind of departmental financial aid is available to support graduate study?
 
The most viable source of departmental financial aid is a Graduate Assistantship in Research.  HWR funding sources for Graduate Assistantships in Teaching, Fee Scholarships, and Fellowships are limited.  (Most Fellowships that become available are awarded to current students.)  The department does not maintain a list of available graduate assistantships for individual faculty members; you may wish to contact specific individual faculty members when you apply to advise them about your application. 
 
Individual faculty reviewers will consider you for all types of departmental financial aid for which you may be eligible.  Please indicate the types of financial support (e.g. Graduate Assistantships in Research or Teaching, Fee Scholarships, Fellowship) you would like to be considered for on the Graduate Application.
 
How do I submit GRE and TOEFL/IELTS exam scores?
 
Request that reports of your exam scores be submitted to the University of Arizona (code 4832) with the HWR department code (0699).  If you have requested an electronic report of your scores to the University of Arizona with a different department code, the department will still be able to access your information.
 
How do I submit letters of recommendation?
 
We no longer require hard copy letters of recommendation.  The Graduate College application includes a Recommendation section and will ask you to provide the names and email contact information for three people who will recommend you to our degree program.  When you enter that information into the application, the Referees (or Recommenders) will receive an email message from the Graduate College with specific instructions about submitting a letter of recommendation on your behalf.  You can follow the progress of your application and see when your Referees (or Recommenders) have submitted their letters of recommendation at the Graduate College application website. 
 
What if one of my Referees (or Recommenders) does not want to submit a letter of recommendation or is late submitting a letter of recommendation?  How can I ask another person to submit a letter of recommendation if I have already submitted by application?
 
Contact the office of Academic Advising in the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources if you would like to designate another person to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.  The department will re-set this information in your Graduate College application for you.
 
How do I submit transcripts?
 
FOR APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS:  You can upload scanned photocopies of official transcripts within your Graduate College application.   The scanned transcripts that you attach to your Graduate College application will be accepted by faculty members for the departmental review; however, you will be required to submit official hard copy transcripts and/or diploma certificates to complete the admissions process. 
 
NOTE FOR ALL STUDENTS:  Do not submit typed lists of course work and grades.  You must upload a copy of an official transcript in English. 
 
NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:  If your original transcript is not written in English, upload an official English translation of your transcript, one that has been certified by your university’s registrar or an appropriate authority.  Do not upload copies of your transcript in its original language. 
 
FOR FORMAL ADMISSION PROCESS:  When the department has made a recommendation for your admission to the Graduate College, you will be required to mail official hard copy transcripts for all universities and colleges you have attended directly to the department.  (International students are also required to submit diploma certificates.)  The transcripts should be mailed directly to the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at one of the addresses below.  Do not mail official hard copy transcripts to the Graduate College.
 
Regular Postal Mail:
 
Dept of Hydrology and Water Resources
The University of Arizona
Attn Graduate Application
226A Harshbarger Building
PO Box 210011
Tucson AZ  85721-0011
 
Express Mail:
 
Dept of Hydrology and Water Resources
The University of Arizona
Attn Graduate Application
1133 E James E Rogers Way
Tucson AZ  85721-0011

TELE 520-621-5082
 
What constitutes an official transcript and/or diploma certificate?
 
You can read about what constitutes an official transcript at the Graduate College website here:  http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/all-degree/transcript-requirements.
 
When will my application be reviewed by faculty members?
 
Your application will be considered after you have submitted a complete application through the Graduate College website.  Incomplete applications—those without GRE and/or TOEFL exam scores, letters of recommendation, statement of research interests, resume or curriculum vitae, and all transcripts and/or diploma certificates—will be not be reviewed and will automatically be denied at the end of the specified review period (i.e. April 30 for Fall admission, October 30 for Spring admission).
 
Am I an Arizona resident?
 
Refer to the official Residency Classification website for information:  http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/residency/residenc.htm.  
 
How do I get additional information about a question not answered here?
 
You can find more Graduate College application FAQs here:  http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/admissions-faq
 
If you have questions not addressed here or at the Graduate College application website, contact the office of Academic Advising here: programs@hwr.arizona.edu or 621-3131.