HSGG Admissions Requirements
Review HSGG's specialization tracks and prerequisite coursework required for admission to the Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Group.
Specializations
HSGG offers five research specializations: Physical Hydrology, Water Policy and Management, Hydrochemistry, Hydrobiology, and Earth Surface Processes. Review the summaries below to find the specialization that matches your research interests, then check the prerequisites for that specialization against your undergraduate and graduate coursework. All applicants must complete the General Prerequisites listed for all specializations plus a small set of specialization-specific prerequisite courses that are specific to the quantitative and disciplinary focus of each specialization.
Prerequisites
General Prerequisites for all Specializations
- Calculus: One year of calculus, (MAT 16 or MAT 17 or MAT 19 or MAT 21)
- Probability/statistics: One course in probability/statistics, (STA 13, ECI 114, or PLS 120)
- Computer programming: One course in any computer programming language or equivalent demonstrated programming proficiency, (ECS 32A, ENG 6, ESP 106)
- Physical geology: One course in introductory undergraduate physical geology, including laboratory, (GEL 50/50L)
- Hydrology: One course in introductory undergraduate hydrology, (ESM 100 or ECI 142)
Prerequisites for each Specialization
- Earth Surface Processes
- Linear algebra: One course in linear algebra, (MAT 22A)
Differential equations: One course in differential equations, (MAT 22B)
Physics: One year of general physics, (PHY 9A, B, C)
Chemistry: Two courses in general chemistry, (CHE 2A, B)
Fluid mechanics: One course in undergraduate fluid mechanics, (ENG 103 or ECI 100) - Hydrobiology
- Biology: One year of general biology, (BIS 2A,B, C)
Chemistry: One year of general chemistry, (CHE 2A, B, C)
Ecology: One course in introductory ecology, (ESP 100 or EVE 101) - Hydrochemistry
- Biology: One year of general biology, (BIS 2A,B, C, or equivalent)
Chemistry: One year of general chemistry, (CHE 2A, B, C, or equivalent)
Aqueous chemistry: One course in aqueous chemistry (CHE 100, GEL 132, HYD134, or equivalent) - Physical Hydrology
- Linear algebra: One course in linear algebra, (MAT 22A)
Differential equations: One course in differential equations, (MAT 22B)
Physics: One year of general physics, (PHY 9A, B, C)
Chemistry: Two courses in general chemistry, (CHE 2A, B)
Fluid mechanics: One course in undergraduate fluid mechanics, (ENG 103 or ECI 100) - Water Policy and Managment
- Economics: One course in microeconomics, (ECN 1A, ECN100, or ARE100A)
Public policy: One course in public policy analysis, (ESP 160, ESP 162, HYD 150, POL 108, or POL 109)
Check Your Prerequisites
To determine which prior course work matches the HSGG prerequisites please fill out the spreadsheet (below) and email it directly to the Graduate Program Coordinator before or at the time of application. The sheet can then be used to copy the information into the application website and for quick reference during the application review period, should questions arise. Importantly, the list of prerequisite courses provided in the application should include courses scheduled to be taken after the application submission but prior to the beginning of graduate school.
HSGG Prerequisite Sheet
Check this guide if you are unsure whether one of your prior classes meets the prerequisite standards: