Where can I find information about the Water Resources Graduate Program?
You can find detailed information about our faculty, curriculum, requirements, etc., on our website at https://gradwater.oregonstate.edu. From this site you can access the OSU home page which will provide you with information related to university policies and procedures.
Where can I find course descriptions?
Course descriptions can be found by following the links on the Online Catalog web page. If you wish to see a list of courses you would have to have taken by the time you complete a degree through this program, go to our website and click on Degree Programs, then the Water Resources Engineering, Sciences, or Policy & Management link. This will take you to information about the degree and will provide links to the Core Curriculum tables and checklist pages. Students can be accepted without having all of the undergraduate fundamentals but those courses will need to be taken before you could graduate from this program. Having already taken those undergraduate courses can increase your chances of being accepted so if you can make them up ahead of time, it will be to your advantage.
How do I submit an application to the Water Resources Graduate Program?
Please see our Applicants page for instructions on submitting your formal application to the program.
What is the typical GPA scores of accepted students?
The average GPA of accepted students is around 3.6. Keep in mind that the Graduate School requires a GPA of at least 3.0 in order to be accepted.
Do you require a GRE?
No. As of 2020, we no longer require the GRE as a part of the application process.
Can applicants be accepted during any term, or just during Fall term?
Our policy is that students can be accepted into the program at any time during the year and it is possible that support from sponsored research can become available throughout the year. However, some departments, like Geosciences, make decisions about Graduate Teaching Assistantships or nominations for Oregon Laurels tuition scholarships in early-February. As such, most students begin Fall Term. There are many advantages with an early application in terms of assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and finding an advisor.
How can I receive funding for my graduate studies?
Most of our students are financially supported by the faculty advisors, through grants and contracts. A match between your background and available support is central to obtaining such funding. Students who are awarded funding typically carry an overall GPA of 3.4 when they are accepted into the program. We encourage you to contact faculty and explore areas of common interest and opportunities for financial support. Competition for support is very high and generally, only the most highly qualified students receive this funding. Funding is not available through the Water Resources program itself, financial support generally comes from the advisor and is controlled by his or her home department. Please be aware of the fact that students awarded an assistantship are still responsible for paying student fees and those generally amount to several hundred dollars per term. Also, please make sure you understand the contract before signing (it is okay to ask questions!).
My online application is complete, and I have sent the additional materials required by the program. Is there anything else I can do to increase my chances of being accepted?
If you submit a formal application, it is important that you contact faculty you feel would be a good match for your interests and background because we must have someone volunteer to serve as your advisor in order to accept you into the program. Personal contact with faculty will increase your chances of finding an advisor. Faculty names, research topics and email addresses can be found on the WRGP website and you’ll want to contact faculty who have indicated they can advise students in your area of interest. It is a good idea to stay in touch with OSU during the application process so that you can confirm that your material is being received. Transcripts, test scores and letters of recommendation don’t always arrive when they should so monitoring your application is always a good idea. You can monitor the status of your application from the Graduate School website.
I am an international student. Is there anything else I should know before applying to the program?
International students often have great difficulty finding financial support due to issues related to their being out of the U.S. and not having had the opportunity to show they can successfully manage the curriculum requirements at an American institution. We encourage the international student to reach out even before the application process to faculty whose research would support their academic goals. Most international students are accepted as M.S. students, and after they have experienced some success on our campus, the possibility of switching to a Ph.D. degree program can be considered. International students will find information about specific requirements related to their application on the OSU's Office of International Services website.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box