Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
At the center of this field is a set of physical processes including precipitation, interception, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, aquifer recharge, groundwater flow, and streamflow that move water in the environment. Hydrologists use satellites, drones, and terrestrial sensors to observe these processes. Hydrologists also use artificial intelligence (AI) and mathematical models to predict hydrologic processes as well as data science and statistical methods to account for spatial variability and temporal dynamics. Many activities in civil and environmental engineering involve hydrology including water supply planning, wildfire recovery, flood forecasting, dam safety analysis, storm sewer design, irrigation and drainage system design and management, water rights administration, river restoration, floodplain management, and drought mitigation. Hydrology is also closely related to numerous policy issues such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, food and energy production, urban planning, etc.
The Hydrologic Science and Engineering (HSE) program focuses on the science of hydrology, tools and methods that facilitate hydrologic analyses, and the application of hydrology to engineering and interdisciplinary problems. HSE students develop a thorough understanding of hydrologic processes, their variability and interrelationships, their connection to human and environmental systems, and their roles in policy making, planning, risk analysis, and design. Students develop skills in remote sensing, field instrumentation, geographical information systems (GIS), data science, numerical modeling, statistical methods, and AI. Students can also explore related Earth sciences (such as meteorology, geology, soil physics, and ecology) and water resources engineering in general.
Students select their courses in consultation with their advisor to match their specific needs and interests. No specific courses are required at the masters or doctoral level, which allows each student maximum flexibility to tailor their education.
Typically, students take courses in physical, groundwater, and urban hydrology, hydraulics, watershed modeling, geographical information systems (GIS), and water resources planning and management. Students also commonly take courses in other disciplines such as atmospheric science, ecosystem science, geoscience, soil science, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and economics.
Introductory Courses
CIVE 322 Basic Hydrology
CIVE 423 Groundwater Engineering
Core Courses
CIVE 520 Physical Hydrology
CIVE 531 Groundwater Hydrology
Method/Tool Courses
Application Courses
CIVE 512 Irrigation Systems Design
CIVE 542 Water Quality Modeling
CIVE 572 Analysis of Urban Water Systems
CIVE 573 Urban Stormwater Management
CIVE 625 Quantitative Eco-Hydrology
CIVE 638 Groundwater Quality and Contaminant Transport
CIVE 519 Irrigation Water Management
CIVE 521 Hydrometry
CIVE 544 Water Resources Planning and Management
CIVE 547 Statistics for Environmental Monitoring
CIVE 549 Drainage and Wetland Engineering
CIVE 565 Finite Element Method
Atmospheric Science
Computer Science
Ecology
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Engineering
Geosciences
Hydrogeology
Geography
Natural Resources
Soil and Crop Sciences
Statistics
Watershed Science
Prospective students can learn more about our requirements, objectives, and program details.
Start your graduate application today!
Current students can schedule an appointment with the graduate advisor and access tools to help plan their academic journey.
