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

• Watershed Hydrology: Students in this specialization study hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and water resource use.

• Watershed Management: This specialization allows students to focus on the policy and management of aquatics and water systems for the benefit of people and natural ecosystems.

• Watershed Ecology: In this specialization, students integrate physical, chemical, and biological components of watershed ecosystems.

• 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.