The Master of Science (Groundwater Hydrology) is a 72-unit program offered by the School of Environment, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Science (Groundwater Hydrology) and the Graduate Diploma in Science (Groundwater Hydrology), and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards. Candidates who have completed either of these courses are awarded credit for related topics.
Admission requirements
Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Diploma in Science (Groundwater Hydrology) must normally hold a degree or equivalent qualification in any relevant discipline of science and engineering, from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
Course aims
A groundwater hydrologist is a scientist who understands how groundwater hydrological systems operate, has an advanced interdisciplinary knowledge in this field, can apply the scientific method to explore problems of relevance to this discipline, is able to use a range of analytical methods, including computer software to analyse relevant data, and field techniques, and can contribute to an advance of knowledge in this discipline.
The educational aims of this course are to provide students with an overview of processes that determine the source, amount and flows of water in aquifers with a particular focus on aspects relating to water problems facing Australia.
Learning outcomes
After completion of this course, students are expected to:
- have gained a comprehensive knowledge of relevance to the discipline
- understand and be able to apply relevant scientific methods at an advanced level
- be able to critically review and interpret scientific information
- be able to develop detailed scientific hypotheses
- be able to communicate at an advanced level
- have an advanced understanding of current groundwater issues and the technologies employed to deal with them
- be able to work both independently and within interdisciplinary research groups on complex groundwater problems
- have a comprehensive understanding of ethical behaviour in the discipline.
Program of study
To qualify for The Master of Science (Groundwater Hydrology), a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
Core - Year 1 & 2 topics
Students must select 40.5 units of core topics from the following:
EASC8711 Soil Hydrology GE (4.5 units)
EASC8742 Earth Fluid Dynamics and Modelling GE* (4.5 units)
EASC8760A Groundwater Hydrology Project 1 (4.5/13.5 Units)
EASC8760B Groundwater Hydrology Project 1 (4.5/13.5 Units)
EASC8760C Groundwater Hydrology Project 1 (4.5/13.5 Units)
EASC8772 Groundwater Hydrology* (4.5 units)
ENVS8720 Research Project Design and Conduct (4.5 units)
Select one of:
EASC8700 NCGRT Australian Groundwater School** (4.5 units)
EASC8741 Fundamentals of Groundwater GE* (4.5 units)
Select one of:
EASC8713 Field and Laboratory Techniques in Hydrology GE** (4.5 units)
EASC8762 Field Investigation GE** (4.5 units)
Option - Year 1 & 2 topics
Students must then select 31.5 units from the following:
EASC8700 NCGRT Australian Groundwater School** (4.5 units)
EASC8702 Global Climate Change GE (4.5 units)
EASC8710 Special Topic in Groundwater Hydrology (4.5 units)
EASC8712 Surface Water Hydrology GE (4.5 units)
EASC8713 Field and Laboratory Techniques in Hydrology GE** (4.5 units)
EASC8722 Sedimentary Processes GE^ (4.5 units) OR
EASC8732 Geological Processes GE^^ (4.5 units)
EASC8741 Fundamentals of Groundwater GE* (4.5 units)
EASC8766 Groundwater Industry Placement A (9 units) OR
EASC8776 Groundwater Industry Placement B (18 units)
EASC8751 Hydrochemistry GE (4.5 units)
EASC8752 Science of Environmental Change GE (4.5 units)
EASC8762 Field Investigation GE** (4.5 units)
EASC8770A Groundwater Hydrology Project 2 (4.5/13.5 Units)
EASC8770B Groundwater Hydrology Project 2 (4.5/13.5 Units)
EASC8770C Groundwater Hydrology Project 2 (4.5/13.5 Units)
EASC8771 Environmental Research Methods GE (4.5 units)
GEOG8700 Geographical Information Systems GE (4.5 units)
GEOG8701 Introduction to Remote Sensing GE (4.5 units)
GEOG8702 Image Analysis in Remote Sensing GE (4.5 units)
GEOG8731 GIS Modelling GE (4.5 units)
GEOG3751 Advanced Spatial Statistics
*Topic offered externally
**Topic offered externally with intensive component/s
^Offered in even years only. ^^Offered in odd years only.