Water Resources MS Program

Master’s Graduation Requirements

Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution
  • Undergraduate GPA: 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in last 60 hours*
  • Minimum TOEFL scores: 550 (paper-based test), 80 (Internet-based test), 6.5 (IELTS Academic)
  • Experience in research or management of water resources. Practical skills are strongly considered.

* Students whose GPA does not meet the requirements will be evaluated individually. Applicants will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Course Requirements

  • 30 hours of course work must be completed, and 15 hours or more shall be 8000 level.
  • Not more than 40 percent of the 30 hour credit requirement can be satisfied by a combination of special investigations, Research, Readings and/or Problems courses.
  • A maximum of 20 percent of the number of credit hours required for a student’s degree may be graduate credits transferred from another university, including another campus of the University of Missouri system upon the recommendation of the adviser, the approval of the academic program director of graduate studies and the MU Graduate School.
  • Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0) in all course work presented for the degree.
  • Each student’s coursework requirements, including the selection of specific courses, will be listed in the student’s plan of study and approved by their graduate committee.
  • A minimum of one credit hour of graduate seminar must be included in each student’s graduate program.

Thesis Requirements

Forms and Timelines

M1 Plan of study for Master’s Degree

Together with his /her advisor, the student completes the M1 form and provides it to the Director of Graduate Studies in the emphasis area. This form provides the student, the school, and the MU Graduate School with a plan for all course work, transfer credit and research hours that will comprise a student’s program of study. This form should be completed by the end of the second semester.

M2 Request for Thesis Committee

The M2 form accompanies the M1, and should be submitted at the same time, by the end of the second semester. It is required of students who will be writing a thesis.

M3 Report of Master’s Examining Committee

The M3 form reports the final results of 1) master’s thesis defense 2) master’s project presentation or 3) master’s comprehensive examination. Submit to the MU Graduate School as soon as possible after the exam, project presentation or thesis defense.

Thesis defense seminar: All students must present a defense seminar in advance of his /her final examination. The seminar must be publicized and the Director of Graduate Studies needs to be informed of the date as soon as the student arranges it, at least two weeks before the seminar.

If the seminar is not appropriated announced, it will be considered invalid.

A thesis shall be completed before the final examination. Research credits toward a thesis normally shall not exceed eight hours. A final oral examination is provided by all candidates before completion of the degree.

Every candidate should review the “Guidelines for Preparing Theses and Dissertations” from the Graduate School and should consult the Water Resources Director of Graduate Studies for academic program style requirements.

Non-thesis Option

Students in the non-thesis option will complete 36 credit hours of coursework with no more than 12 credits for project research. A minimum of one credit hour of the Water Resources graduate seminar must be included in each student’s graduate program. A student in the non-thesis option must form a graduate advisory committee; the committee must approve the non-thesis option, the proposed course plan, and a project for the student to complete to meet the requirements of the non-thesis option. They will then be required to write a project plan and defend it within 12 months of their initial enrollment in the program. Students choosing the non-thesis option will write a technical report on their project and present a public seminar that is announced at least two weeks prior to the seminar. This report and presentation must be approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee.

Others

M.S. Committee Meeting Minimum Requirements

M.S. Students must meet with their committee at least twice during their degree seeking program.

First meeting: Present a written research proposal, provide a proposal presentation to the committee and present their M1, and M2 for approval and signing.

Second meeting: Often following public thesis defense. Defend thesis, present M3 for approval and signing.