Graduate Courses in Groundwater Hydrology

Groundwater Hydrology is the study of the occurrence, distribution, movement and quality (both chemical and biological) of water in sub-surface geologic systems. It is paramount in sustaining water supplies for drinking, agriculture, industry and other uses.

salinity

biodiversity and ecosystem studies

many contamination issues

The School of Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences offers graduate courses in groundwater hydrology at three levels:

Graduate Certificate in Science (Groundwater Hydrology)

Graduate Diploma in Science (Groundwater Hydrology)

Master of Science (Groundwater Hydrology)

This articulated program enables scientists, engineers and other environmental professionals working in areas that involve groundwater to extend their skills and knowledge through the professional and industry-focused study of groundwater hydrology.

The Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma students gain an understanding of the basic scientific concepts relevant to groundwater, current pressing groundwater management issues and the technologies employed to deal with them. They also receive basic training in a range of field, laboratory and computational methods, as well as learning communication skills and problem-based and critical thinking skills.

The Masters involves coursework and a significant research/industry training project. It provides training in research methodology and the preparation of a professional thesis or report - from project conception, design of methods, collection of results and their analysis through to final conclusions and recommendations for future work.

All three courses are offered in partnership with the Centre for Groundwater Studies (CGS), the largest centre specialising in groundwater education and research in the southern hemisphere. CGS is based at Flinders, and its member organisations include CSIRO and United Water International.

Groundwater Hydrologists are currently involved in projects including:

Sustainability of water resources for large users including water authorities and industry irrigators (grapes, cotton, mining etc).

The impacts of groundwater on ecosystems – Characteristics of groundwater dependent ecosystems.

Contamination and remediation of groundwater and soil.

Role of groundwater in environmental flows eg practical aspects of water regulation, management and policy.

Surface water groundwater interaction.

Check the Faculty Page for updates, prerequisites and full descriptions of the three graduate course programs.