Hydrology

Program Learning Outcomes

Hydrology

  • Comprehend the hydrologic cycle and related major water quantity and quality challenges and their relevance to human health and well-being, ecosystems, and the food supply.  
  • Understand the role of hydrology, water resources management and the legal and economic frameworks associated with addressing these challenges.
  • Comprehend basic water properties and can measure basic physical and biochemical aspects of water associated with hydrologic processes.
  • Comprehend the physics of water flow and mass (e.g., solute) transport processes, can represent those processes with mass, momentum and energy conservation equations, and apply those equations in assessing water quantity and quality in surface- and ground-water systems.
  • Comprehend the chemistry of water and biological phenomena as related to water quality and contaminant transport in surface water and groundwater that provide for drinking water, agriculture, ecosystems, and industry.
  • Comprehend statistical, analytical and numerical methods and associated limitations of modeling hydrologic flow and transport processes, and can apply quantitative models towards the analysis of water quantity, quality and management problems. 
  • Develop proficiency in obtaining, modifying, and interpreting spatial and temporal data related to the analysis of hydrologic systems and demonstrate geospatial analysis skills.
  • Apply the scientific method and critical thinking by creating conceptual models from which testable hypotheses or analyses in hydrology are developed, and applying those analyses towards informing decisions and solutions to problems.
  • Demonstrate management, communication and teamwork skills needed to work constructively and professionally on multi-disciplinary teams.

updated: 2017