Plan Description
The Water Resources Management (WRM) program in the College of Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a flexible, interdisciplinary course of study leading to a Master of Science degree. It is a technically and scientifically based program that blends the physical aspects of the hydrologic sciences with policy and management issues.
The WRM program is designed to encourage a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Students enter the program from a wide variety of undergraduate programs, then take classes and conduct research with faculty in the Colleges of: Sciences, Business, Urban Affairs, Engineering, and Liberal Arts at UNLV, plus the Boyd School of Law and the Desert Research Institute. Students in the WRM program also work with participating faculty from federal, state, and local government agencies.
Learning Outcomes
www.unlv.edu/degree/ms-water-resource-management
Plan Admission Requirements
Applicants to the program must hold a B.S. or B.A. degrees in the physical, natural or social sciences, business, management, or a related field.
- A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00.
- Submission of an online application.
- Transcripts of all college-level course work.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals competent to comment on the applicant’s promise as a graduate student.
- A letter of application stating the student’s interests and goals.
- Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam. This requirement may be waived in the case of candidates with exceptional professional experience.
Items 3-5 should be uploaded as part of the online application.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Refer to the Graduate College website for current deadlines.
Subplan 1 Requirements: Thesis Track
Total Credits Required: 33
Course Requirements
Required Course – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
WRM 706 - Research Methods in Water Resources Management
GEOL 701 - Research Methods in Geoscience
Hydrologic Sciences Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved GEOL or CEE courses.
Additional Science Course – Credits: 3
Complete 3 credits of advisor-approved science, mathematics or engineering (BIOL, CEE, CHEM, GEOL, MAT, ME, PHYS, STA) courses.
Administrative Courses – Credits: 9
Complete 9 credits of advisor-approved management, public administration, economics, law, or political science (ECO, ENV, HIST, LAW, MGT, MIS, PSC, PUA) courses.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved BIOL, CEE, CHEM, ECO, ENV, GEO, HIST, LAW, MAT, ME, MGT, MIS, PHYS, PSC, PUA, or STA courses.
Thesis – Credits: 6
WRM 798 - Thesis
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- A minimum of 15 credit hours must be in 700-level courses.
- Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Water Resources Management Graduate Program, students are encouraged to select courses from different departments that would strengthen their background and help them achieve their research and educational goals.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- Students must develop their course work program with the consent of the advisor and the student’s advisory committee. Courses from different colleges and departments may be incorporated into the student’s program of study. Students should consult the listings of individual departments.
- There will be a final examination that will include a comprehensive oral examination.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- The student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted hard-copy thesis to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Non-Thesis Track
Total Required Credits: 36
Course Requirements
Required Course – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
WRM 706 - Research Methods in Water Resources Management
GEOL 701 - Research Methods in Geoscience
Hydrologic Sciences Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved GEOL or CEE courses.
Additional Science Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved science, mathematics or engineering (BIOL, CEE, CHEM, GEOL, MAT, ME, PHYS, STA) courses.
Administrative Courses – Credits: 12
Complete 12 credits of advisor-approved management, public administration, economics, law, or political science (ECO, ENV, HIST, LAW, MGT, MIS, PSC, PUA) courses.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved BIOL, CEE, CHEM, ECO, ENV, GEO, HIST, LAW, MAT, ME, MGT, MIS, PHYS, PSC, PUA, or STA courses.
Professional Paper – Credits: 3
WRM 796 - Professional Paper in WRM
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- A minimum of 15 credit hours must be in 700-level courses.
- Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Water Resources Management Graduate Program, students are encouraged to select courses from different departments that would strengthen their background and help them achieve their research and educational goals.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- Students must develop their course work program with the consent of the advisor and the student’s advisory committee. Courses from different colleges and departments may be incorporated into the student’s program of study. Students should consult the listings of individual departments.
- There will be a final examination that will include a comprehensive oral examination.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- The student must successfully complete and defend a professional paper.
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