Water Sciences Concentration

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A strong demand exists in public and private sectors for understanding of aquatic systems, hydrological processes, and water resources. The M.S. degree program with a Water Sciences concentration is designed to provide students with expertise in the quality, quantity, storage, and flow of water in diverse environments; techniques to assess, model, and remediate aquatic environmental problems; and paradigms for understanding the social contexts and implications of water governance. Thesis research and capstone projects with faculty are carried out in the following broad areas: aqueous geochemistry, hydrogeology, watershed hydrology, water resources, ecohydrology, urban hydrology, water governance, meteorology, and applied climatology. Thirty-six hours are required for completion of this degree. Further information is provided at geosciences.gsu.edu.

Concentration Requirements

Thesis Track (Minimum of 36 Credit Hours)

Group I: Department Requirements (16 Hours)

Take all courses from Group I:

GEOS 8002 - Geoscience Research Methods 3 Hours
GEOS 6095 - Colloquium in the Geosciences 1 Hours
GEOS 8999 - Thesis Research 1 to 9 Hours (only 9 hours can count towards the 36 hour program of study)
Three additional semester hours coursework at the 8000 level 3 Hours
Proficiency in a world language or an approved research skill - requirement can be fulfilled by taking an approved course or by taking an examination.
Successfully defend thesis in public presentation

Group II: Core Required Water Sciences Courses (6 Hours)

Select two courses from Group II:

GEOS 6010 - Groundwater Hydrology 3 Hours
GEOS 6646 - Water Resources 3 Hours
GEOS 6650 - Surface Water Hydrology 3 Hours

Elective Water Sciences Courses (Minimum 6 Hours)

Any course from Group II above not already taken
GEOS 6003 - Principles and Applications of Environmental Geochemistry 3 Hours
GEOS 6002 - Hydrogeology 4 Hours
GEOS 6008 - Rock Fracture and Fluid Flow 3 Hours
GEOS 6009 - Applications of Chemical Tracers in Hydrology 3 Hours
GEOS 6230 - Global Water Policy and Governance 3 Hours
GEOS 6235 - Water, Wastewater, and the Environment 3 Hours
GEOS 6640 - Geomorphology 3 Hours
GEOS 6642 - Advanced Weather and Climate 3 Hours
GEOS 6644 - Environmental Conservation 3 Hours
GEOS 8040 - Seminar in Geomorphology and Hydrology 3 Hours
BIOL 6451 - Aquatic Pollution and Toxicology 4 Hours
PH 7297 - Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 4 Hours

Related Geoscience Skills Courses (Minimum 6 Hours)

GEOS 6042 - Environmental Instrumentations I: Aqueous Media 4 Hours
GEOS 6123 - Geoinformatics 3 Hours
GEOG 6515 - Qualitative Methods in Geography 3 Hours
GEOS 6520 - Quantitative Spatial Analysis 3 Hours (Or approved statistics substitute)
GEOS 6532 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 4 Hours
GEOS 6534 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems 4 Hours
GEOS 6536 - GIS Programming 4 Hours (or approved Comp Sci substitute)
GEOS 6538 - Urban Geographic Information Systems 4 Hours
PH 7299 - Sampling of the Environment 3 Hours
PH 7150 - Introduction to Environmental Health 3 Hours
PH 3800 - Special topics: Environmental Justice 3 Hours

Remaining Courses Taken in Consultation with the Student’s Advisor.

Capstone Track

All above requirements, except GEOS 8999 and thesis defense under section 1.
An additional 6 (or more) credits of GEOS graduate courses
Pass a written comprehensive examination
GEOS 8990 - Research Practicum 3 Hours (in consultation with a faculty member)
Successfully present the capstone project carried out in GEOS 8990

Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 18 credit hours each semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed program of study, as well as additional hours of GEOS 8999 and GEOS 8060.

GEOS 8999 - Thesis Research 1 to 9 Hours
GEOS 8060 - Teaching Practicum 3 Hours