Participating Universities

University of Arizona

Program Description

The Tri-University Master of Engineering Degree (MEng) is offered by Arizona's three state universities - Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona (see http://www.oneflexibledegree.com/)
One concentration in the M.Eng degree is the Interdisciplinary Master of Engineering in Water Resources. This program is administered at the University of Arizona by three departments: Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering; Civil Engineering; and Hydrology and Water Resources. This degree is aimed at practicing professionals, requiring only a single semester on campus, and offering a variety of other course types and credit transfers. (See http://grad.arizona.edu/live/programs/description/79) In lieu of a thesis, it features a culminating project that ties classroom learning to the student's job.

The M.Eng degree requirements are as follows:

· Approved courses may be taken at any of the three participating institutions (UA, ASU, NAU)

· Nearly all formats are acceptable (e.g., traditional on-campus courses, videocampus and web-based courses, course modules, etc.)

· At least 10 semester units, excluding the project, must be taken at the University of Arizona

· At least 12 semester units of engineering/or HWR core or elective course work must be taken

· Students in the M.Eng. WR program should enroll for the graduate-level component of any course that is co-convened with undergraduates (e.g., 400/500-level) ·

One approved 400 level course, which is not co-convened with a 500 level version, may be taken from a non-engineering department while enrolled at the University of Arizona.

· Although primarily a project-oriented program for the practicing professional or practice-oriented student, in some cases additional elective course work may be used in lieu of a project, one unit of project is always required.

· Master's Plan of Study should include a total of 30 semester units. 6 approved semester units may be taken at non-participating institutions.

· As per Graduate College guidelines, a final examination is required. It may be possible to arrange a video-tele-conference call for this exam.

· A student admitted to a master's degree program must register for a minimum of three graduate units each fall and spring from original matriculation until all degree requirements are met.
This existing degree is strikingly similar to the curriculum and program envisioned by the UCOWR Academic Advisory Committee established by the Army Corps of Engineers. In particular, both programs

are designed for practicing professionals to complete a degree with minimal time away from his or her career;
offer flexibility in earning credits, including Web-based courses and transfers of credit;
expose students to the state-of-the-art in water resources management, emphasizing non-structural approaches and diverse decision-making processes; and
feature a culminating project that allows the student to apply classroom learning to a real-world problem in his workplace.

The Institution

The University of Arizona has a national and international reputation in the fields of hydrology and water resources management. The Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, a highly interdisciplinary department, is consistently ranked number one in its field by US News and World Report (2001 was the 6th year in a row). Water resources expertise is found throughout the campus, including the departments of Civil Engineering, Soil, Water and Environmental Science, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Renewable Natural Resources, Geosciences, College of Law, Geography, Cooperative Extension, and elsewhere.

UA is also home to several prominent water-related research centers and institutes, including:

NSF Science and Technology Center for Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA)
Institute for the Study of Planet Earth (ISPE) )
Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy)
NASA Southwest Regional Earth Sciences Application Center (RESAC)
NSF Water Quality Center (WQC)
Hydrologic Data & Information System (HyDIS)
Water Resources Research Center (WRRC)

Close working relationships and adjunct faculty positions link UA water researchers to federal agencies include the US Geological Survey, National Weather Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Agricultural Research Service, and national labs including Sandia and Los Alamos. In addition, the real-world water issues tackled at the University of Arizona bring faculty and students in close contact with state and local governments, international research centers such as the World Laboratory, plus NGO's such as The Nature Conservancy.

Courses in water resources offered at the University of Arizona are truly interdisciplinary in scope, reflecting the diversity of research interests of faculty across campus. The MEng degree offers students exposure to this diversity, and an opportunity to bring their analytical skills toolkit up to date.

Institutional Commitment

The University of Arizona is willing to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to make certain that its degree program meets the needs of Corps personnel. The commitment explicitly extends to the College of Engineering's Office of the Dean and the heads of Hydrology and Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, and Agricultural and Resource Economics.

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Revised 2 Jan 2008