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*This program is eligible for the STEM OPT Extension.

The Water Resources emphasis area is an interdisciplinary graduate degree program within the School of Natural Resources. It encompasses all fields of natural sciences represented in the School and, through collaboration, involves related expertise from throughout the University of Missouri and beyond. Participating faculty in the Water Resources emphasis area are engaged in both the scientific understanding of water resources (biological, chemical and physical) and its management, and the decision-making processes used to address competing societal values (social, economic and legal). The program has no geographic boundaries but the location of MU suggests most research will be directed to better understanding of water movement, biogeochemical cycling and biological processes of forested- agricultural and urban landscapes of the midcontinent. The lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and subsurface waters of the region are prime areas for basic and applied research. One of the program’s major global impacts is the training of highly qualified graduate professionals that are equipped to address many of the complex contemporary water resource problems around the world.

Admission criteria

Application deadline: Rolling

• Minimum GPA: 3.0 in last 60 hours
• Experience in research or management of water resources. Practical skills are strongly considered.

Minimum Language Requirements

Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores

Required Application Materials

For the Graduate School

• Completed Graduate School online application
• Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
• Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)

For the Water Resources Program

All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate School online application system.

• A minimum of three letters of recommendation and the accompanying evaluation sheets from people who can attest to the candidate’s scholastic and water resources related field work abilities
• Resume or CV
• Letter of professional goals (2 page limit), indicating education, research and career goals
• Publications (optional)
• TOEFL scores (when applicable)
• Applicants who wish to pursue a PhD without a MS degree are required to submit either a research paper (e.g., an undergraduate thesis) OR a research proposal for the work proposed for the PhD at MU with your intended thesis advisor (10 page limit). This document should have clearly defined objectives and hypotheses. Format is flexible, but guidance on proposal structure can be found in materials required for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). For the research paper, please follow the format of a peer-reviewed journal article in your discipline.

Applicants should contact specific faculty to determine the availability potential advisors, available position(s) in the potential advisors lab and of available research assistantships prior to applying.

An applicant contemplating graduate work in water resources should have a strong background in physical sciences, including calculus, chemistry, and physics. Those considering interdisciplinary degrees should also have a background in biology, botany, zoology, ecology and other natural sciences. A background of 25 to 30 hours in physical sciences courses is desirable. Minor deficiencies may be remedied during the graduate program; major deficiencies may require preparatory coursework prior to consideration for admission.

The Water Resources graduate degree program is integrated by a set of common courses from which students can customize their Course Plans. Students and their Advisors are not restricted to those courses, but are expected to draw from the list first when developing Course Plans.

Upon successful completion of the School of Natural Resources Water Resources graduate program, students will possess strong technical skills in water resources and related sub-disciplines. Graduates will have developed a holistic understanding of the hydrologic cycle related to ecosystem processes as and the interdisciplinary background necessary to understand and address contemporary watershed management, water quality and integrated natural resources problems. Graduates will have an appreciation of the complex interactions of biophysical processes and tightly coupled socioeconomic interactions necessary to implement water resource policy.

*This program is eligible for the STEM OPT Extension.

The Water Resources emphasis area is an interdisciplinary graduate degree program within the School of Natural Resources. It encompasses all fields of natural sciences represented in the School and, through collaboration, involves related expertise from throughout the University of Missouri and beyond. Participating faculty in the Water Resources emphasis area are engaged in both the scientific understanding of water resources (biological, chemical and physical) and its management, and the decision-making processes used to address competing societal values (social, economic and legal). The program has no geographic boundaries but the location of MU suggests most research will be directed to better understanding of water movement, biogeochemical cycling and biological processes of forested- agricultural and urban landscapes of the midcontinent. The lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and subsurface waters of the region are prime areas for basic and applied research. One of the program’s major global impacts is the training of highly qualified graduate professionals that are equipped to address many of the complex contemporary water resource problems around the world.

Admission criteria

Application deadline: Rolling

• Minimum GPA: 3.0 in last 60 hours
• Experience in research or management of water resources. Practical skills are strongly considered.

Minimum Language Requirements

Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores

Required Application Materials

For the Graduate School

• Completed Graduate School online application
• Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
• Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)

For the Water Resources Program

All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate School online application system.

• A minimum of three letters of recommendation and the accompanying evaluation sheets from people who can attest to the candidate’s scholastic and water resources related field work abilities
• Resume or CV
• Letter of professional goals (2 page limit), indicating education, research and career goals
• Publications (optional)
• TOEFL scores (when applicable)

Applicants should contact specific faculty to determine the availability potential advisors, available position(s) in the potential advisors lab and of available research assistantships prior to applying.

An applicant contemplating graduate work in water resources should have a strong background in physical sciences, including calculus, chemistry, and physics. Those considering interdisciplinary degrees should also have a background in biology, botany, zoology, ecology and other natural sciences. A background of 25 to 30 hours in physical sciences courses is desirable. Minor deficiencies may be remedied during the graduate program; major deficiencies may require preparatory coursework prior to consideration for admission.

The Water Resources graduate degree program is integrated by a set of common courses from which students can customize their Course Plans. Students and their Advisors are not restricted to those courses, but are expected to draw from the list first when developing Course Plans.

Upon successful completion of the School of Natural Resources Water Resources graduate program, students will possess strong technical skills in water resources and related sub-disciplines. Graduates will have developed a holistic understanding of the hydrologic cycle related to ecosystem processes as and the interdisciplinary background necessary to understand and address contemporary watershed management, water quality and integrated natural resources problems. Graduates will have an appreciation of the complex interactions of biophysical processes and tightly coupled socioeconomic interactions necessary to implement water resource policy.

The minor in Women’s and Gender Studies is available to all students pursuing a graduate degree at MU. Candidates considering the Graduate Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies work closely with the Graduate Advisor to design a program of study that best complements the student’s primary degree and area of specialization. Students will gain expertise in the methodologies and theories in Women’s and Gender Studies. Teaching and research opportunities are available.

Requirements

15 credit hours will be chosen to complement the student’s main area of graduate study. Students may take up to six hours in their home department.

All courses will be selected in consultation with the Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Advisor.

Six Required Credit Hours

• WGST 8020 Graduate Feminist Theory
• WGST 8040 Seminar: Problems and Issues in Feminist Scholarship

Nine Elective Credit Hours

The remaining credit hours may be satisfied by selecting courses from the Women’s and Gender Studies graduate catalog. The following courses from other departments may be substituted in consultation with the graduate advisor. (Credit will be given only when offered with appropriate topics):

• English 8060 – Studies in Criticism and Theory
• English 8240 – Studies in 18th Century British Literature
• English 8310 – Studies in 19th Century American Literature
• History 8400 – Readings in U.S. Women’s History
• History 8401 – Seminar in U.S. Women’s History
• History 8405 – Readings in Gender, Race and Class
• History 8570 – Readings in Modern European History