Curriculum & program requirements

• A bachelor's degree
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• This program does not have preparatory coursework prerequisites, though some core electives require economics (AREC 575) or physics and calculus (WSM 560A)
• For applicants whose native language is not English, view the most current test requirements

This is a non-thesis master of science degree. You must complete a project or internship and produce a report and give a final public presentation.

Required coursework

• Must complete 32 units
• 12 to 13 units from core courses
• Complete RNR 696W Water, Society, and Policy Seminar (two units)
• 12 to 14 units from elective courses
• Complete MS Project, which include six units of RNR 909

View course list

• No minor required
• Your committee consists of your faculty advisor who must be a member of the Graduate Faculty. Contact Debbie Cross if you have any questions (debbiecross@arizona.edu).
• A plan of study must be completed in your second semester
• A project proposal must be approved by your faculty advisor in your second semester
• You must file an annual report each year by April 15
• You should enroll in RNR 696W your first and second semester in the program

Students are required to complete a major project for the MS WSP degree. The topic of the project will be selected during the first year of study by the student in consultation with his/her advisor. It should focus on a water policy issue of importance, ideally in a semi-arid environment. The student will prepare for the advisor’s approval a brief (2 to 3 pages) proposal outlining the objectives of the project, work plan, and deliverables. The project may stem from an internship; however a formal internship is not required. Review the program handbook for more information on the major project and internship opportunities. Students in our program have conducted internships with organizations such as:

• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
• Arizona Department of Water Resources
• Arizona Land and Water Trust
• Arizona Municipal Water Users Association
• Bureau of Land Management
• California Water Service Company
• City of Phoenix
• Community Water Coalition of Southern AZ
• Consensus Building Institute
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Grassroots Action Network, Tucson AZ
• Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research
• Montgomery & Associates
• Montgomery & Interpreter, PLC
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources
• Sky Island Alliance
• Sonoran Institute
• Southwest Decision Resources
• The Nature Conservancy
• Tsaile Wheatfields Dineh Water Users Association, Navajo Nation
• Tucson Regional Water Coalition
• Tucson Water: Planning and Engineering section
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• University of National Development Veteran, Indonesia
• US Bureau of Reclamation
• US House of Representatives, Natural Resources Committee
• Wackman Consulting
• Water Resource Research Center UA
• Watershed Management Group