Hydrology and Water Resources - A cross-faculty program, syllabus for Master's studies - Thesis Track (6044)

Most updated information can be found in the Course Catalogue or in The Faculty of Science website. 

This track includes a study program of 32 credits. The program consists of courses in core subjects: surface and ground water hydrology, field trips, methodological courses in models and field methods and a seminar course in Hydrology. All other required credits should be completed from the list of optional courses in hydrology and the general optional courses of the program.  

Note that not all courses are held every year. If a compulsory course is not given for some reason, it will be replaced by another course, with the approval of the program head. All study programs require approval of the program head.

Duration of the program is 4 semesters. In some cases, the curriculum can also be completed in three semesters, depending on course selection. Students can choose to commence their studies either in the first (winter) or second (spring) semester. 

Compulsory Courses

A selection of at least one course from each category in Table 1 is required, with a total sum of at least 16 credits. Additional courses from Table 1 can be taken as optional courses.

Table 1. Compulsory Courses

• Surface Hydrology - Surface Water Hydrology: Processes, Observations and Models (70352)
• Sub-Surface Hydrology - Groundwater Contamination (70875), Solute Transport Soils (71918)
• Field Methods - Field Methods in Surface Hydrology (68835), Field Method in Groundwater Hydrology (68804)
• Field Trips - Dead Sea FIeld Camp (89400), Field Course in Environmental Analysis (89301)
• Numerical Methods and Models - Numerical Methods in the Earth Sciences (70865), Numerical Methods (71980), Modeling Environmental Systems (70897)
• Seminars - Hydrology Seminar (68836) 

Optional Courses

The student must complete 32 credits from the compulsory courses specified in table 1, from optional courses in hydrology (table 2) and additional optional courses in table 3 and 4. 

Table 2. Optional Courses in Hydrology

• Groundwater Modeling (68803)
• Sediment Transport in Alluvial Streams (68837)
• Statistical Hydrology (68838)
• Eco-hydrologic modeling with R (68806)
• Practical aspects of water resources management and flood protection (68839)
• Workshop in soil geomorphology and hydrology (68840)
• Effluents - Reclamation and Environmental Implications (71930)
• Research project in practical hydrology (68830)

Table 3. General optional courses in the Faculty of Science and in the Faculty of Social Science in Jerusalem

• Synoptic Climatology of the Mediterranean (40458)
• Introduction to Synoptic Meteorology (40461)
• Speleology: processes and environment in caves (70878)
• Advanced Research Applications in Remote Sensing (40770)
• Structural Geology (70302)
• Geochemistry of Groundwater (70324)
• Introduction to Stratigraphy (70365)
• Introduction to G.I.S (70511)
• Water Resources of Israel (70515)
• Quartenary Geomorphology (70517)
• Introduction to Geochmical Measurements (70555)
• Quaternary Field Methods (70570)
• Matlab for Earth Sciences (76628)
• Climatic Changes (82508)
• Objective Methods of Data Analysis in the Earth Sciences (82653)
• Rain and Cloud Physics (82814)
• Application of radar to meteorology (82825)
• Mattematical Methods in Scientific Models (82833)
• Environmental Remote Sensing (82850)
• Chemical and Geochemical Processes (89847)
• Multi-disciplinary Workshop on Environmental (40695)
• Different Approaches to Environmental Policies (40422)
• Water Policy in Israel (40935)
• Using Exact Sciences Modeling Tools to Understand Social Phenomena (55772)
• Mount Sedom Diapir: geology and geomorphology (70332)
• Geochemistry of Radioactive Isotopes (70334)
• Introduction to tropical meteorology (82515)
• Global Circulation and Weather Systems in Israel (82548)
• A Practical Laboratory in Weather Prediction (82610)
• Workshop on English Usage for Graduate Students in Earth Sciences (82851)

Table 4. General optional courses in the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot 

• Agricultural Micrometeorology (71103)
• Advanced Soil Physics (71129)
• Water Treatment and Quality Control (71130)
• Introduction To Economics of Natural Resources  (71148)
• Environmental Behavior of Organic Polluatants (71185)
• Soil Formation (71615)
• Physics of Soil Water (71622)
• Israel Water Resources and Their Managment (71625)
• Aquatic Geochemistry (71913)
• Effluents - Reclamation and Environmental Implications (71930)
• Soil Chemistry (71972)
• Physical chemistry and Surface Phenomena in Soil (71973)

Thesis Work

The thesis is based on research in a defined field of hydrology and water resources, performed by students under the supervision of one or more professors from the program. This work is summarized by the student in a detailed written scientific work. Finding a supervisor for the research work is a prerequisite for registration for the program.

Research Proposal and Proposal Exam

After two semesters, the student must submit the research plan and pass a selection exam in which the research plan is investigated by the accompanying committee set by the program. Registration to the third semester without submitting a research proposal is not possible.

Thesis Submission and Final Exam

After four semesters, the student must submit the thesis and pass a final exam which will test the general knowledge and understanding in the issues of the student's expertise. A special committee will be appointed to examine the student and evaluate the thesis work.

Final Grade 

The final grade is made up of 40% course grades, 30% thesis grade, 15% research proposal exam, 15% Master's degree final exam. 

Qualification requirements for the Master's degree: Grade in each course: 60, final exam grade: 65, thesis grade: 65, general final score: 65.

Admission Requirements

As part of the application process, candidates must find a supervisor for the research work from the list of the program members. The supervisor's approval for guiding the student in his research work is required. Finding a supervisor is a prerequisite for registration, but does not guarantee acceptance to the program. 

Prerequisite: a grade of at least 85 in the Bachelor's degree in related fields. Supplementary studies will be set if necessary by the head of the program according to courses completed during the student's Bachelor's degree.