Plan Description
The Water Resources 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 Water Resources 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 Water Resources program also work with participating faculty from federal, state, and local government agencies.
For more information about your program including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
(a) Graduate College Admission Requirements
- Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee.
- Bachelor’s Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
- Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
- All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
- Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.
(b) Department Admission Requirements
Applicants to the program must hold a regionally accredited B.S. or B.A. degree in the physical, natural or social sciences, engineering, business, management, or a related field.
- A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals competent to comment on the applicant’s promise as a graduate student.
- A statement of intent stating the student’s interests and goals.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 1 Requirements: Thesis
Total Credits Required: 30
Research Methods – Credits: 3
The following course must be completed within the first two semester in residence:
Hydrologic Sciences Courses – Credits: 6
Complete the following 3 credit course and an additional 3 credits of advisor-approved hydrologic science courses (BIOL, CEE, or GEOL). Applicable courses will be published on the WRS program website.
Additional Science Course – Credits: 3
Complete 3 credits of advisor-approved science, mathematics or engineering courses (BIOL, CEE, CHEM, EAB, EOH, GEOL, HED, MAT, ME, PHYS, STA or WRS prefixes).
Management and Policy Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved courses (AAP, ANTH, ECO, ENG, ENV, FIN, HIST, MGT, MBA, PPY, PSC, PUA, SOC, ULD, or WMST prefixes).
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved BIOL, CEE, CHEM, ECO, ENV, GEOL, HIST, LAW, MAT, ME, MGT, MIS, PHYS, PSC, PUA, or STA courses.
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 30 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- A minimum of 15 credits must be in 700-level courses.
- In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three members of the Interdisciplinary Water Resources faculty with appropriately approved graduate faculty status. In addition, a fourth member from outside the Water Resources Graduate Faculty, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and Water Resources Program Director’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 and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Non-Thesis
Total Required Credits: 30
Research Methods – Credits: 3
The following course must be completed within the first two semesters in residence:
Hydrologic Sciences Courses – Credits: 9
Complete the following 3 credit course and an additional 6 credits of advisor-approved hydrologic science courses (BIOL, CEE, or GEOL). Applicable courses will be published on the WRS program website.
Additional Science Courses – Credits: 3
Complete 3 credits of advisor-approved science, mathematics or engineering courses (BIOL, CEE, CHEM, EAB, EOH, GEOL, GED, MAT, ME, PHYS, STA or WRS prefixes).
Management and Policy Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved courses (AAP, ANTH, ECO, ENG, ENV, FIN, HIST, MGT, MBA, PPY, PSC, PUA , SOC, ULD, or WMST prefixes).
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved elective courses that support the student’s thesis project.
Professional Paper – Credits: 3
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 30 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- A minimum of 15 credits must be in 700-level courses.
- In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three members of the Interdisciplinary Water Resources faculty with appropriately approved graduate faculty status. In addition, a fourth member from outside the Water Resources Graduate Faculty, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and Water Resources Program Director’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 successfully complete and defend a professional paper.
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
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