Water Resources

Get into the flow

Always complicated, the issue of water is becoming even more complex and controversial as world population increases and climate changes. The water resources concentration gives you the problem-solving skills needed in this increasingly important field. You’ll learn about biological and physical aspects of water in the environment through courses including wetland ecology and management, stream ecology, groundwater-flow and water-quality modeling, and fisheries management.

You’ll develop a wide range of skills, including modeling, pollution prevention, watershed assessment, wetland restoration, and wastewater treatment. You’ll add training in environmental management and policy to ensure that you can translate your science to the public and policymakers. Graduate well-positioned for careers with government, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, industry-based departments of environmental management at international or national levels, or fast-growing and often innovative state and municipal organizations.

How to apply

7MSES STUDENTS FOCUSED ON WATER RESOURCES (Spring 2021)

1:1FACULTY: STUDENT RATIO (2021)

90.4%O’NEILL PLACEMENT RATE (2018)

A strong skill base

You'll begin by mastering the fundamentals reflected in the MSES program's core competencies. Your Environmental Science core courses (15 credit hours) will give you well-developed knowledge of environmental science and management, along with strong analytical skills. Along with the core sciences classes all MSES students are required to take two courses (6 credit hours) of Economics, Policy and Law as well as one course (3 credit hours) of Tool Skills. These 24 credit hours will ensure that you have well developed science background, along with the tools and skills to apply that knowledge in the real world.

Add in-depth knowledge and detail

The water resources concentration emphasizes scientific principles of water quantity and quality. Courses provide information and problem-solving skills using biological, chemical, and physical descriptions of water in the environment. MSES students choosing the Water Resources concentration are required to take three course (9 credit hours) from the Water Resource core (at least one course in both the Physical and Chemical Aspects of Water and in the Ecological Aspects of Water area) and three course (9 credit hours) from Water Resources Electives.

Water Resources Core (9 credit hours)

Physical and Chemical Aspects of Water (at least one course)

Water Quality Modeling (E 502)
Aquatic Chemistry (E 539)
Groundwater Flow Modeling (E 554)
Watershed Hydrology (E 555)
Physical Hydrology (GEOG-G 551)*
Methods in Analytical Geochemistry (GEOL-G 544)*
Surface water Hydrology (GEOL-G 550)*

*Please work with an advisor when taking courses outside of O’NEILL.

Ecological Aspects of Waters (at least one course)

Wetlands Ecology and Management (E 540)
Subsurface Microbiology and Bioremediation (E 544)
Stream Ecology (E 546)
Limnology (E 556)

Water Resources Electives (9 credit hours)

Fisheries & Wildlife Management (E 460)
Fisheries & Wildlife Management Laboratory (E 461)
Restoration Ecology (E 534)
Lake and Watershed Management (E 545)
BMP Design for Healthy Urban Watersheds (E 555)
Conservation Biology (E 557)
Climate-Change Impacts on Natural Resources (E 591 / R 591)

Combining your MSES degree with the MPA can offer you unique advantages in pursuing a particular career. Integrating science and policy for better leadership. Our faculty will work to accommodate your specialized professional interests and help you design a program that is best or you.

The above are examples of your course options. For a complete listing, see the official Indiana University Graduate Bulletin and work with your advisor as you make your schedule.

See course descriptions in the Graduate Bulletin

O’Neill gave me technical knowledge in wetland delineation and environmental regulations that I use at my current job.
—Samantha Beaupre, MSES’17, Environmental Biologist, Lochmueller Group, Indianapolis

Experiential learning that makes an impact

The O’Neill MSES program offers far more than traditional lectures and lessons. You'll benefit from experiential leaning, typically through an approved internship. What's more, your concentration's course work will culminate in a project-oriented course—an O’Neill Capstone—that lets you apply the knowledge you gained throughout the program, gaining practical career experience before you graduate.

Current and past placements and internships

O’Neill’s dedicated Career Hub will assist you as you seek an internship or post-graduate employment, and our alumni community is an excellent lead source.

Center for Biological Diversity
National Oceanic Administration
That Nature Conservancy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Union of Concerned Scientist
Ruby Canyon Engineering
Tennessee Valley Authority
Indiana DNR
North Carolina coastal Federation
Wood River Land Trust

Check out the CDO’s Explore Careers & Outcome page.

You can join the O’Neill Environmental Management & Sustainable Development Association, one of many professional student organizations that offer networking and current information on events in the industry.

Get involved

Learn from faculty with expertise and experience in water resources

Ashley Clark Clinical Assistant Professor	afbowers@indiana.edu (812) 855-4517	Survey Methodology Human Resource Management Including Management of Contingent Employees Positive Organizational Scholarship
Kimberly A. Novick Associate Professor	knovick@indiana.edu (812) 855-3010	Forest Ecology Ecosystem Carbon and Water Cycling Biometeorology
Todd V. Royer Professor	troyer@indiana.edu (812) 855-0563	Aquatic biogeochemistry Water resources Nutrient and carbon cycling in streams and rivers Water quality and nutrient standards
Adam S. Ward Associate Professor	adamward@indiana.edu (812) 856-4820	Environmental science Hydrology Watershed management Civil engineering Water quality