MS Groundwater Hydrology at University of Idaho

Programme overview

Water is life. Communities increasingly rely on groundwater for everything from irrigation to industrial cooling and drinking water. The Master of Science in groundwater hydrology coursework is designed to deepen your understanding of the concepts and professional practices used in groundwater related roles. You’ll learn to take and understand common measurements in groundwater investigations such as well water depth, well flow, water pH and temperature.

What you will study

Required courses listed in the catalogue include ENVS 4500 Environmental Hydrology; GEOL 5340 Geostatistics; HYDR 5090 Quantitative Hydrogeology; HYDR 5120 Environmental Hydrogeology; HYDR 5760 Fundamentals of Modeling Hydrogeologic Systems; TM 4820 Project Engineering.

Career pathways

Graduates go on to lead water management projects, develop sustainable practices, protect natural ecosystems and inform policy or planning decisions related to water use. Related occupations listed for this programme include Hydrologists; Natural Sciences Managers.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Education level: Bachelor's degree in a similar or related field from an accredited or recognized institution (earned or expected before the start of the graduate program) Transcripts for all post-secondary education will be required. Unofficial transcripts may be used for initial admission review. Official transcripts sent by the issuing institution(s) will be required if admitted.; GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.); GRE: Not required; Letters of recommendation: Three; Statement of Purpose; Valid picture ID (required to verify students’ identity and will be kept confidential); English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language). Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency . Applicants must also meet University of Idaho College of Graduate Studies admission requirements.

Entry terms: fall (August start), spring (January start) and summer (mid-May start). Fall 2027 applications are open and the university admits on a rolling basis.

Graduate priority dates for full consideration for admission and funding: fall Jan. 15, spring Sept. 1, summer Jan. 15. Domestic deadlines: fall July 30, spring Dec. 1. International deadlines: fall Apr. 15, spring Oct. 1. Programme-specific deadlines take precedence. The online application fee is $50 (non-refundable); GRE only where a programme requires it.

Law (JD): apply through the LSAC portal; the Fall 2027 application opens Sept. 1, 2026 and the final deadline is June 30, 2027. The application fee is $50 (waived through Jan. 15, 2027).

Apply through the official page: https://www.uidaho.edu/graduate-studies/admissions

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