About the M.S. in Water, Society & Policy
The water, society, and policy master’s degree program combines graduate coursework in social science, policy, and hydrology with professional skill development activities. You’ll study human and environmental processes as they affect water resources and watersheds, and observe, monitor, and model processes for management of water ranging from local to global scales.
Graduate students in this non-thesis degree program complete a plan of study and project proposal in their second semester. You’ll complete a project or internship, produce a report, and give a final presentation.
Students in this program develop their skills to communicate with decision makers; conduct and understand scientific research; write research reports, proposals, and policy evaluations; and make effective public presentations. Graduates have an enhanced understanding of the principles of hydrology, social science, water management, law, and policy, in order to make informed decisions about water resources.
This M.S. program requires a minimum of 32 units, including policy and science core courses; a water, society, and policy seminar; elective courses; and a master’s project. If you're an out-of-state student from a participating Western Regional Graduate Program state or territory, you may be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates when enrolled in this program.