The Certificate in Hydrogeology program provides students with field, technical, and analytical skills that prepare them for successful careers in hydro- and environmental geology. Through online offerings, classroom, lab, and field studies students will learn how to collect environmental field data, water and sediment sampling techniques, the principles and practices of near-surface geophysics, drilling and water well installation methods, environmental assessment and hydrogeologic measurement techniques, field geochemistry, scientific writing, data presentation, data analysis, and problem-solving skills. Trained environmental professionals are needed to solve problems concerning drinking water supplies, wastewater treatment, water resources availability, subsurface contaminant transport, water quality and quality assessment, the effects of climate and land-use change on water and wetland resources, and many other environmental issues. Employment opportunities may include work dealing with: environmental consulting, environmental regulations, hydrogeologic investigation, wetland mitigation, flood prediction, pollution abatement and remediation, and environmental geochemistry.
Coursework is twelve credit hours in Geosciences. The certificate requires completion of 3 credit hours of GEOS 5120 and 9 additional credit hours available either online or face-to-face. A list of the appropriate courses is available from the certificate coordinator. The certificate is open to degree and non-degree graduate students.