Water Resources: A Water Sustainability Master’s Degree
The Water Resources specialization in the Professional Science Master’s of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability equips you with data science specific to water resource management, understanding of the social, physical, chemical, and ecological aspects of water systems, and basic water resource policy proficiency. With this track, you will gain skills to tackle pressing issues pertaining to water resources management.
At the end of this program students will be able to describe and interpret major processes affecting the water cycle and apply this understanding to environmental management aimed at water conservation, water quality maintenance, restoration, or other management decisions that affect water resources. Students will also develop expertise in quantitative analysis, spatial analysis (GIS), and statistical analyses commonly used in the hydrological sciences.
“All the water that will ever be is, right now.” – National Geographic
Water Resources Master’s–Ecology, Hydrology, Data, and Policy
The water resources specialization teaches you applied skills in water resource management for work with municipalities, utilities, governments, NGOs, consultancies and more. The curriculum focuses on providing a foundation in water systems with emphases on water sustainability and policy, data science and analysis, hydrology, water chemistry, field experience and more.
The course selection can be designed to obtain both the PSM and the water resources certificate.
Some of the classes you take as part of the water resources track:
- Water Resource Development
- GIS and Data Analysis in Water Resources
- Land Use and Water Quality
- Water Law for Non-Lawyers
- Land Use Hydrology
- Applied Advanced Water Resource Economics
- Environmental Data Science: Water Applications
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Matt Ross
Dr. Matt Ross is passionate about applied science. With his lab–the Radical Open Science Syndicate–he directs many projects aimed at monitoring water quality and improving freshwater ecosystem function with partners like the City of Fort Collins, National Parks Service, USGS and more. A dynamic mentor, Dr. Ross is committed to helping PSM-Water Resources students find the right path for them.
Internships: Putting your Water Resources Degree Into Practice
As part of the Professional Science Master’s students complete a 400-hr, 4-credit internship to gain on-the-job experience and expand their professional networks. Students apply to their internship with the guidance of their faculty advisor and internship coordinator. These internships are almost always paid.
As a Water Resource student in Colorado, you have a unique opportunity to work on one of the greatest challenges facing our nation: water in the west.
Some of our students specialize in data management, some opt for a hydrology approach, and some are more interested in policy application. No matter your interest, you’ll gain the foundational sustainability toolkit to make a difference and build on your knowledge at a professional internship.
Our students have interned at places like Northern Water, a water utility managing many of our areas reservoir, and Dewberry, a water resources manager focusing on resilience and changing the future of water management for the better. Both of our alumni who interned at these places were hired on full time!
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Tamee Albrecht
As a human-environment geographer, Tamee examines issues at the intersection of society and the environment. Her research focuses on environmental governance, climate change adaptation in water governance, and interactions among water, energy, and food resources. Her work occurs at multiple scales, in urban to transboundary contexts.Resources students find the right path for them.
CAREERS: What do I do with a Water Resources degree?
The Water Resources track in the Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Professional Science Master’s program prepares you for a variety of careers in the sustainability, water resources management, and data science sectors. Our students have gone on to become Environmental Data Managers, Staff Hydrologists, environmental consultants and more. If you are curious about where to find water sustainability jobs, you can peruse the Colorado Water Wise job board at https://coloradowaterwise.org/Jobs/
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Meggi Varnai
Meggi graduated in Spring 2023 with a robust data science toolkit. She interned with Northern Water and got hired on full time as an Environmental Data Specialist helping to manage the data that keeps our water some of the cleanest in the nation.
Start Your Application for your Water Resources Degree!
Do you want to learn more about the Water Resources degree track of the Professional Science Master’s? Would you like to meet with an Academic Success Coordinator? Ready to start your application?
Get in touch! We would love to chat with you.