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Protect and Manage Our Most Important Natural Resources

Master of Environmental Science in Hydrology & Water Security

Program Overview

OU’s online Master of Environmental Science: Hydrology & Water Security was created through a partnership between the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science in the Gallogly College of Engineering, the School of Meteorology and the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and the School of Geology and Geophysics in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.

The online Master of Environmental Science: Hydrology & Water Security is a 30-credit, 21 month online program designed for working professionals. Students will have the option to select from three tracks: Water Quality, Water Quantity, and Water Management.

The Water Management specialization offers a practical degree for those working with water across multiple industries – and includes courses related to waters impact on business and society. The Water Quality track offers a quantitative degree in the fate and transport of water quality constituents as they move through the hydrologic cycle for those working in environmental quality, waste load allocation, water reuse, and geo-environmental/health impacts. The Water Quantity specialization offers additional technical background interested in predicting water availability and movement at various scales.

3 Specializations

Students will choose between three specializations: Water Management, Water Quality, and Water Quantity allowing students to select the coursework most relevant to their career interests.

Access to Jobs Today & Tomorrow

Water is globally recognized as one of the most valued natural resources, so water-based industries are seeking professionals with the knowledge and expertise to lead new innovations in emerging water-based industries.

Incredible Student Experience

Courses have been designed for working professionals and allow for flexibility while maintaining a high-quality learning environment.

Collaborative Expertise

Multidisciplinary hydrologic experience provides a unique perspective for industry professionals that cannot be found in other graduate programs.

Strong Networks Impact Your Career

Students and graduates have opportunities to build mutually beneficial networks throughout the OU Sooner family.

Program Requirements

Program Cost

Tuition for the online M.E.S. in Hydrology and Water Security program is $29,550* for the entire program ($985/credit hour). Fees associated with the program are included in this cost. Books and materials are additional.

Once accepted into the M.E.S. program, students are required to submit a $350 non-refundable deposit within two weeks. Deposits are applied toward tuition expenses and secure a student’s place in the upcoming class.

*Tuition and fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Admissions Requirements

To apply to the online Master of Environmental Science in Hydrology & Water Security program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and be currently working as an educational professional. Admissions will occur on a rolling basis and is at the discretion of the admissions committee. Transfer credits will be accepted at the discretion of the admissions committee. Prerequisites for each course track are listed below.

Students who wish to apply must:
  • Complete the online application.
  • Submit an official transcript from your undergraduate institution and any graduate institution you have attended
  • Write and submit a personal statement on your career goals and reasons for applying to the program
  • Submit resume: Include professionally formatted documentation of your past education and work experience.
  • GRE scores are optional and not required for admission, but they may be required by some potential faculty sponsors to be considered for a Qualifying Graduate Assistantship. International students are required to take the TOEFL exam.

Water Management Prerequisites

  • B.S. or B.A. Degree; relevant to hydrology preferred
  • Coursework (C or higher) in the following areas:
  • College Algebra
  • Biological or Physical Science course

Water Quantity Prerequisites

  • B.S. in a STEM Major
  • Coursework (C or higher) in the following areas:
  • Calculus I
  • Calculus II
  • Chemistry I
  • Physics (calculus-based)
  • Biological or Physical Science course

Water Quality Prerequisites:

  • B.S. in a STEM Major
  • Coursework (C or higher) in the following areas:
  • Calculus I
  • Calculus II
  • Chemistry I
  • Chemistry II
  • Physics (calculus-based)
  • Biological or Physical Science course

Program Courses

Designed for working professionals, the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) from OU can be completed in as little as 21 months. The program helps students prepare for the CPA exam in a convenient online format.

Core Courses

Develops a foundation of concepts and solutions that supports the planning, scheduling, controlling, resource allocation, and performance measurement activities required for successful completion of a project. The course introduces project management from the standpoint of a manager who must organize, plan, implement, and control tasks to achieve an organization’s schedule, budget, and performance objectives. Tools and concepts such as project charter, scope statement, work breakdown structure, project estimating, project network diagrams, responsibility assignment matrices, and scheduling methodologies are studied.
Hydrometeorology is the part of meteorology that directly addresses water into, through, and out of the atmosphere. As such, the fundamental material of the course includes evaporation, water vapor transport, and the physical processes that drive the generation of precipitation. Additional topics and applications focus on forecasting and observational tools for heavy precipitation and floods and an introduction to drought.
Designed to help students learn introductory to intermediate concepts of geographic information science (GIScience) and become proficient users of geographic information systems (GIS). The course covers a variety of topics but focuses on GIS data models, data structures, and spatial analysis.
Overview of the fundamental processes that drive the hydrologic cycle from local to global scales with a specific focus on critical variables in the water budget: precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and storage. Additionally, topics including drought, pluvial dynamics, and atmospheric teleconnections will be examined within both the theoretical and practice frameworks.
The system of water rights; riparian, appropriation, and prescriptive rights; stream, surface, and groundwater; transfer and termination of rights; injuries caused by water; development of water supplies; federal- state, interstate, and intrastate conflicts; water pollution control; federal and Indian rights and federal water resource problems.

Water Management Required Courses + Electives

Provides students with a qualitative introduction to atmospheric, surface and subsurface hydrology. The course presents the science- based management tools needed to assess how human activities affect the natural water cycle, and how these activities can either protect or threaten water security, which is the ability to access sufficient quantities of clean water to provide for local needs.
This class will look at the topic of water security through multiple perspectives, including historical to current day examples of water security challenges, water security at the nexus of water quality, water quantity and water equity considerations, water security in the face of competing demands and threats, and water security planning.
Examines the evolution of water policy in the United States and the substantive roles that federal and state water resource institutions play. Students who take this course will study the types of information, criteria and policies used to craft decisions germane to water projects, and the efforts undertaken at the federal and state levels to mitigate unanticipated environmental and social impacts, and improve prospects for a more resilient water future. In addition to exploring federal activities, including the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, both active in the planning and construction of the dams, waterways, flood control and irrigation systems throughout the nation, water policy will be discussed through case studies of California, Florida and Texas, three states that offer a range of water resource issues of significant contemporary concern. In sum, students will gain a better understanding of the legal and institutional frameworks within which water resources are managed, the current policy issues that govern water use, and the broader implications of climate change for future water security.
Examines the concepts of risk, vulnerability and resilience in natural hazards, including how this relates to policy choices, mitigation techniques, and the allocation of resources. The course combines physical and social/ cultural perspectives to examine preparedness and mitigation decisions for hydrology-related hazards, including floods, droughts, and coastal threats. The course involves hands-on case studies of federally-declared disasters to examine the causes, impacts, and means to reduce future risk. By taking a holistic view of hazards beyond the physical causes and impacts, we can work to prepare our communities for the challenges they face.
This seminar style course provides an integrative understanding of the components of Earth’s climate system, natural climate variability, external drivers of climate change, climate extremes, and water sustainability. With an overview of the climate change’s causes, effects, and solutions, this course further examines how climate change impact on multiple sectors, with focus on water, agriculture, energy, natural hazards and environmental sustainability.
Course provides a comprehensive examination of watershed assessment, management, planning, protection, and restoration. Processes governing drainage-basin scale physiography, hydrology, hydrogeomorphology, and ecology are examined, emphasizing water quality-driven approaches to watershed management and restoration.
This is a foundational survey course that considers both technical and sociocultural aspects of project management across the full project life cycle. This course introduces the student to the concepts and solutions that support the planning, scheduling, controlling, resource allocation, and performance measurement activities required for successful completion of a project. The course introduces project management from the standpoint of a manager who must organize, plan, implement, and control tasks to achieve an organization’s schedule, budget, and performance objectives. Tools and concepts such as project charter, scope statement, work breakdown structure, project estimating, project network diagrams, responsibility assignment matrices, and scheduling methodologies are studied.
An inter-disciplinary course to learn the basics of climate change, and its impacts on the interactions among water, energy, and food nexus. The course provides fundamental theories of climate change, water cycle, and technologies about renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar, ocean, biomass, geothermal) and non-renewable energy (fossil fuels). The course talks about global food production and teaches basic Python programming.

This course encompasses water technologies and their extended innovation processes in three substantive sections. A basic understanding of technological innovation frameworks precedes discussion of water systems. The second section addresses water policy in general as well as specific cases of policy innovation. The final section covers organizations and how they can become more innovative with respect to water systems.

Water Quantity Required Courses + Electives

An applied course in quantitative hydrology dealing with environmental water problems; hydrologic principles, the global water cycle and its components, rainfall-runoff hydrography, flood frequency analysis, flow routing, urban stormwater design, hydrologic models and their application for hydrologic design and water management.
Interdisciplinary course to study human decision making in the context of effective water management, with the goal of optimizing social, economic, ecological and environmental benefits, security and equity, and natural yields, which are all intimately tied to water. This course is designed to educate and foster future water managers and planners, and to equip them with fundamental theory and knowledge on how to manage surface water resources.
An applied course dealing with properties of aquifers, modeling of groundwater flow, groundwater hydrology and its interrelation with surface water, well hydraulics, pumping tests and safe yield of aquifers.
This class will look at the topic of water security through multiple perspectives, including historical to current day examples of water security challenges, water security at the nexus of water quality, water quantity and water equity considerations, water security in the face of competing demands and threats, and water security planning.

The course provides students with an in-depth study of precipitation estimation as well as data analysis and computational methods for hydrometeorology, including disaster prevention and decision making under uncertainty. The overarching goal is to train students to conduct critical thinking across atmospheric science and hydrology and across water science and engineering.

This seminar course is for students who wish to understand the Earth’s climate variability and water sustainability. In the context of an integrated Earth climate system, the course provides an overview of global water resources, impacts of climate change on various systems, and recommends practical responses to mitigate climate change.
An introduction to water quality applications and the health impacts of water and wastewater. The course covers the basic principles of public health epidemiology and water-related diseases. Conventional and advanced water treatment methods are presented, along with various types of potable and non-potable water reuse to supplement public water supply in times of water stress.
Examines the concepts of risk, vulnerability and resilience in natural hazards, including how this relates to policy choices, mitigation techniques, and the allocation of resources. The course combines physical and social/ cultural perspectives to examine preparedness and mitigation decisions for hydrology-related hazards, including floods, droughts, and coastal threats. The course involves hands-on case studies of federally-declared disasters to examine the causes, impacts, and means to reduce future risk. By taking a holistic view of hazards beyond the physical causes and impacts, we can work to prepare our communities for the challenges they face.
This is a foundational survey course that considers both technical and sociocultural aspects of project management across the full project life cycle. This course introduces the student to the concepts and solutions that support the planning, scheduling, controlling, resource allocation, and performance measurement activities required for successful completion of a project. The course introduces project management from the standpoint of a manager who must organize, plan, implement, and control tasks to achieve an organization’s schedule, budget, and performance objectives. Tools and concepts such as project charter, scope statement, work breakdown structure, project estimating, project network diagrams, responsibility assignment matrices, and scheduling methodologies are studied. This course develops the competencies and skills for planning and controlling projects and understanding interpersonal issues that drive successful project outcomes.
An inter-disciplinary course to learn the basics of climate change, and its impacts on the interactions among water, energy, and food nexus. The course provides fundamental theories of climate change, water cycle, and technologies about renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar, ocean, biomass, geothermal) and non-renewable energy (fossil fuels). The course talks about global food production and teaches basic Python programming.
This course encompasses water technologies and their extended innovation processes in three substantive sections. A basic understanding of technological innovation frameworks precedes discussion of water systems. The second section addresses water policy in general as well as specific cases of policy innovation. The final section covers organizations and how they can become more innovative with respect to water systems.
The course provides students with an in-depth study of precipitation estimation as well as data analysis and computational methods for hydrometeorology, including disaster prevention and decision making under uncertainty. The overarching goal is to train students to conduct critical thinking across atmospheric science and hydrology and across water science and engineering.
This seminar course is for students who wish to understand the Earth’s climate variability and water sustainability. In the context of an integrated Earth climate system, the course provides an overview of global water resources, impacts of climate change on various systems, and recommends practical responses to mitigate climate change.
An introduction to water quality applications and the health impacts of water and wastewater. The course covers the basic principles of public health epidemiology and water-related diseases. Conventional and advanced water treatment methods are presented, along with various types of potable and non-potable water reuse to supplement public water supply in times of water stress.

Water Quality Required Courses + Electives

An applied course in quantitative hydrology dealing with environmental water problems; hydrologic principles, the global water cycle and its components, rainfall-runoff hydrography, flood frequency analysis, flow routing, urban stormwater design, hydrologic models and their application for hydrologic design and water management.
This course provides knowledge of water chemistry encountered in the management and assessment of water quality. Course goals are: 1) to become proficient interpreting water chemistry data so to be able to successfully evaluate the water quality status of a water resource, and 2) to know which specific water chemistry parameters are essential to measure for monitoring water quality problems.

Designed to reinforce and expand on fundamental skills and knowledge to improve our understand- ing of complex biogeochemical reactions and processes in natural systems. Both conceptual and numerical models will be developed and imple- mented as part of this course. This course covers the mathematical and thermodynamic basis for widely used geochemical modeling programs including PHREEQC, Visual MINTEQ, and Geo- chemists Work Bench (GWB). Various types of modeling approaches will use real geochemical data sets ranging from groundwater to contami- nated streams. Students in the course will set-up models to perform speciation calculations, wa- ter-rock reactions, cation exchange and sorption, acid-base equilibrium, organic matter interactions with metals, 1 and 2-D transport, and numerous other applications. At the conclusion of this course students will be able to successfully apply geo- chemical models to the following: Surface wa- ter (streams and lakes) chemistry; Groundwater chemistry; Hydrogeochemistry of contaminates; Rock-water interactions and Organic matter solute interactions.

An introduction to water quality applications and the health impacts of water and wastewater. The course covers the basic principles of public health epidemiology and water-related diseases. Conventional and advanced water treatment methods are presented, along with various types of potable and non-potable water reuse to supplement public water supply in times of water stress.
This course is focused on hazardous and solid waste management, including federal and state legislation; sources and types of wastes; identification and classification of hazardous wastes; waste handling, transportation, treatment and disposal techniques; and environmental and health effects. Course objectives include introducing practical aspects of solid and hazardous waste management for environmental scientists and engineers, becoming familiarized with appropriate and relevant solid and hazardous waste regulatory information, and becoming familiar with sources, fate and transport pathways, environmental receptors and design applications for waste management.
This class will look at the topic of water security through multiple perspectives, including historical to current day examples of water security challenges, water security at the nexus of water quality, water quantity and water equity considerations, water security in the face of competing demands and threats, and water security planning.
This seminar course is for students who wish to understand the Earth’s climate variability and water sustainability. In the context of an integrated Earth climate system, the course provides an overview of global water resources, impacts of climate change on various systems, and recommends practical responses to mitigate climate change.
Examines the concepts of risk, vulnerability and resilience in natural hazards, including how this relates to policy choices, mitigation techniques, and the allocation of resources. The course combines physical and social/ cultural perspectives to examine preparedness and mitigation decisions for hydrology-related hazards, including floods, droughts, and coastal threats. The course involves hands-on case studies of federally-declared disasters to examine the causes, impacts, and means to reduce future risk. By taking a holistic view of hazards beyond the physical causes and impacts, we can work to prepare our communities for the challenges they face.
The course provides students with an in-depth study of precipitation estimation as well as data analysis and computational methods for hydrometeorology, including disaster prevention and decision making under uncertainty. The overarching goal is to train students to conduct critical thinking across atmospheric science and hydrology and across water science and engineering.
This is a foundational survey course that considers both technical and sociocultural aspects of project management across the full project life cycle. This course introduces the student to the concepts and solutions that support the planning, scheduling, controlling, resource allocation, and performance measurement activities required for successful completion of a project. The course introduces project management from the standpoint of a manager who must organize, plan, implement, and control tasks to achieve an organization’s schedule, budget, and performance objectives. Tools and concepts such as project charter, scope statement, work breakdown structure, project estimating, project network diagrams, responsibility assignment matrices, and scheduling methodologies are studied. This course develops the competencies and skills for planning and controlling projects and understanding interpersonal issues that drive successful project outcomes.
An inter-disciplinary course to learn the basics of climate change, and its impacts on the interactions among water, energy, and food nexus. The course provides fundamental theories of climate change, water cycle, and technologies about renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar, ocean, biomass, geothermal) and non-renewable energy (fossil fuels). The course talks about global food production and teaches basic Python programming.
This course encompasses water technologies and their extended innovation processes in three substantive sections. A basic understanding of technological innovation frameworks precedes discussion of water systems. The second section addresses water policy in general as well as specific cases of policy innovation. The final section covers organizations and how they can become more innovative with respect to water systems.

What kind of Career
Can I Pursue?

  • Hydrologist
  • Hydrogeologist
  • Hydrologic Systems Analyst
  • Sanitarian
  • Water Quality Analyst
  • Water Resource Engineer
  • Groundwater Hydrologist
  • Environmental Engineer
Learn More
Protect and Manage Our Most
Important Natural Resources

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