Watershed Science

About This Degree

Utah State University is the only university in the state with a college devoted to the study of natural resources, and the watershed science degrees are unique in that they allow students the opportunity to integrate physics, chemistry, and biology to understand watershed systems.

Graduates are prepared to work as hydrologists, wetland specialists, and watershed managers for federal and state agencies.

Because USU’s watershed science program is designated as a Western Regional Graduate Program, students from participating western states qualify for in-state tuition. For more information, visit http://wrgp.wiche.edu.

What You Will Learn

Students in the program study water-related physical processes, including climate, surface and ground water, river formation, soil sciences, and water chemistry. This discipline focuses on protecting aquatic systems and includes coursework in hydrology, geomorphology, stream restoration, water pollution, climate change, and aquatic habitats.

Each student has an individualized plan of study created for them by their graduate committee. Students are able to take courses in other departments on campus, including civil and environmental engineering; plants, soils, and climate; and geology. This program encourages students to gain a broad-based education in areas related to watershed systems and water resource use.

Specialization:

Geomorphology and Earth Surface Processes:

The geomorphology and earth surface processes specialization will prepare students for careers in research, monitoring, management and restoration of land surfaces with a particular emphasis on the processes that shape landscapes across multiple scales. A depth of foundational knowledge will be emphasized through geology, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, fluvial hydraulics and hillslope geomorphology.

Climate Adaptation Science (Watershed Science MS & PhD):

The Climate Adaptation Science specialization provides students with experiences in actionable science through internship and research experiences. Program includes interdisciplinary research to identify adaptive responses to changing climate extremes and two-part internships with agency, NGO, and industry partners. In a first internship, students contribute to projects and learn the workplace cultures and science needs of the host. The internship experiences inform interdisciplinary climate adaptation research by student teams. In a second internship, students share science results and tools with the host organization and help put that science into action.

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At a Glance

College: S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department: Watershed Sciences Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Graduates in watershed science can pursue the following careers:

Geomorphology technician
Environmental consultant
Watershed coordinator
Hydrological technician
Researcher
Biologist
Environmental project manager
Research ecologist
Forest hydrologist
Hydrologist

Job Outlook

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

Students must have a science-based undergraduate degree to be considered.

To be accepted to the program, it is recommended that applicants first contact a specific faculty member with whom they are interested in working. If the faculty member is accepting graduate students and agrees to work with the student, the student can then apply by completing the following application requirements:

Application Requirements:

Complete the online application
Pay the $55 application fee
Have a 3.0 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

The department has the following deadlines:

Fall semester - June 15
Spring semester - October 15
Summer semester - March 15
Preference for financial assistance will be given to applicants who apply before January 10.

Program Requirements

PhD Qualifying Exams:

All PhD students must pass a comprehensive exam. Students take these exams typically the second or third year after most of their coursework is completed. They take a written exam set by their graduate committee, which is usually followed by an oral component where the committee can pose questions to the student regarding the written exam.

Plan Options

Students can receive the MS by pursuing one of two options:

In the Plan A option, students complete graduate-level coursework and must write a thesis.
The Plan B option requires the production of a paper or creative work of art and is expected to reflect equivalent scholarship standards as a thesis.

Financial Aid

Most students are supported by research assistantships provided by faculty having grants or contracts. There are no separate applications for financial assistance. All applicants accepted into the graduate program before January 10 will be considered for college and university fellowships and other financial assistance for the following year. Only a few fellowships are awarded each year, usually to PhD candidates.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.