Water-Related Graduate Programs

Students interested in water and watersheds have many graduate degree options at Oregon State University. The links below will guide you to more information about these choices:

• Water Resources Graduate Program - This interdisciplinary program offers three majors:

  • Water Resources Engineering (WRE),

  • Water Resources Science (WRS), and

  • Water Resources Policy and Management (WRPM).

  The programs encourage students to develop a more comprehensive knowledge of water and related resources than is possible with a single-discipline minor. All Water Resources Program students are required to take three common courses and there are also additional requirements and room for electives within each degree area. The required Water Resources Program courses provide basic information about water resources issues in the Pacific Northwest and bring students together as a cohort.

• Students interested in water and watersheds may also choose to major in a traditional academic field with one of the following majors or minors:

  • 

    Atmospheric Sciences (College of Ocean and Atmospheric Science)

  • Biological and Ecological Engineering

  • Civil and Construction Engineering

  • Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering

  • Crop and Soil Science

  • Environmental Sciences Graduate Program

  • Fisheries and Wildlife

  • Forest Engineering

  • Forest Science

  • Geosciences

  • Rangeland Resources

• Professional Certification as a Hydrologist - Students majoring in hydrology related fields (i.e. science and engineering of water resources) are urged to consider educational requirements for professional certification and registration when planning their degree program. It may be beneficial to satisfy degree program and certification requirements at the same time. The American Institute of Hydrology (AIH) sponsors certification for hydrology professionals.

• Professional/Graduate Certificate Program in Water Conflict Management and Transformation - This 18-credit graduate certificate provides in-depth skills-building training to enhance personal and institutional capacity in water governance issues and strategies across distinct and overlapping contexts: water governance, water and ecosystems, water and society, and water and economics. This program provides decision-makers and water professionals with the required specialized resources and skills that go beyond the traditional physical systems approach to water resources management. It explicitly integrates human and policy dimensions of water resources within the framework of scientific and technological solutions.

• Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate Programs in GIScience - This program awards a certificate for coursework in Geographic Information Science taken while in a degree program at OSU.

• Sustainable Natural Resources Graduate Certificate - Online - This 18-credit online certificate is designed for all students, especially company, industry or agency employees who desire more training in assessing and solving complex sustainability problems. Students complete an integrated course of study in a dynamic learning community under the mentorship of professionals, to design workable solutions for complex natural resource issues of local, state, regional, national and international importance. Please note that there is no on-campus attendance required - all instruction is online.