department of natural resources and environment program of

Department of Natural Resources and Environment

PROGRAM OF WATER RESOURCESMANAGEMENT (WRM)PROGRAM OF HYDROGEOLOGY (HYG)

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Program of Water Resources Management & Program of Hydrogeology

PROGRAMS OVERVIEWThe Water Resources Management Program (WRM) addresses sustainability and security challenges of the water sector in the GCC countries using an integrated management approach; an approach that considers the physical (quantity, quality) aspects, as well as social, economic, environmental, and governance aspects of the water management system. The Hydrogeology Program (HYG) addresses the engineering and technical aspects for sustainable management of conventional water resources in the GCC countries; it emphasizes groundwater resources quantitative and qualitative characterization, development, and protection. Both programs emphasize the application of modern decision support and technological tools, including simulation modeling, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, (RS), Database (DB) and Management Information System (MIS), in the assessment, development, management and planning of water resources.

VISIONThe WRM and the HYG programs aspire to undertake their role as regional graduate programs in contributing to solving development issues faced by the GCC countries through innovation and effectiveness of its education and research programs and aspire to gain an international reputation and status as a center of excellence for water studies in arid regions.

MISSIONThe WRM program and the HYG program aim to be an exemplary regional Gulf program spreading the culture of knowledge and focusing on regional imperatives for the GCC countries in the field of water resources management, and to contribute meaningfully to the efforts of the GCC countries in achieving sustainable and efficient water resources management systems as an input to sustainable development in the region through education, applied research, and training.

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PROGRAM OBJECTIVESWater Resources Management Program

Advancement of specialists in the field of water resources management and planning through Higher Diploma, Masters and PhD degree programs.

Capacity building and enhancement of skills of those interested in the field of sustainable development and conservation of conventional and nonconventional water resources in arid regions through specialized training courses, as well as making its regular courses available to GCC professionals under continuing education.

Conducting research and collaborating with national, regional and international institutes and organizations to solve the problems and constraints facing conservation and development of water resources in arid zones.

Hydrogeology Program

Preparation of specialists in the field of hydrogeology and groundwater resources management and planning through Higher Diploma and Masters Degree programs.

Capacity building and enhancement of skills of the GCC professionals working in the field of groundwater development and management through the provision of specialized short training courses and workshops, as well as making its regular courses available to GCC professionals under continuing education.

Conducting research activities and collaborating with national, regional and international research institutes, universities, and organizations to address the problems and constraints facing the development and management of groundwater in the region.

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LEARNING OUTCOMEWater Resources Management Program

The program is designed to develop the professional capacity and research capability of water professionals in the GCC countries to be competent water resources mangers who are:

Well-versed in the state-of-the-art methodologies of water resources assessment, development, management, and planning.

Familiar with the multi-disciplinary approach to water resources planning and management, and have enhanced knowledge in collecting, processing, and use of water resources data for water resources planning and management.

Able to use modern technologies and applications, such as dynamic simulation of water system, MIS, GIS, and RS, to improve their performance in terms of speed scope and depth of analysis to guide planning and management of the water sector.

Hydrogeology Program

The program is designed to graduate professionally competent groundwater resources personnel and managers who are:

Apply the state-of-the-art methodologies and engineering principles in the assessment, development, management and planning of renewable and nonrenewable groundwater resources.

Knowledgeable of the principles of integrated groundwater resources management and protection strategies and familiar with the multi-disciplinary nature of groundwater management including social, economic, institutional, legislative, and political aspects that need to be taken into consideration when managing these resources and addressing critical issues such as abstraction rights and tariffs.

Able to use modern technological tools, including simulation modeling, GIS, RS, DB, and DSS in the assessment, development, management and planning of groundwater resources.


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PROGRAM OUTLINE

Students study a minimum of 28 credit hours inclusive of four credit hours for a diploma project to earn a Higher Diploma degree, and a minimum of 34 credit hours and prepare a master thesis equivalent to 8 credit hours for the Masters degree . Students can take up to 9 credit hours of specialized courses from other programs to serve his Masters thesis research upon the recommendation of the academic supervisor and approval of the NRE Department Council. Students are expected to earn their degrees with one year for the Higher Diploma degree and two academic years for the Masters degree. Full-time students are required to register for a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester and a maximum of 12. In exceptional cases, the number of credit hours can be increased to 15 if added courses have a lab or fieldwork.

Furthermore, the Department of NRE offers a post graduate “United Nations University Diploma in Integrated Water Resources Management“. The professional diploma is conducted in a mixed mode (face-to-face and distance learning) and lasts for one year. Applicants awarded the UNU IWRM Diploma with good standing can enter directly to the MSc. degree.

OUTLINE OF COURSES

NRE Core Courses

COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE CREDIT HOURS

GS 500 Islamic Culture 0

GSTS 501 Computer Applications 0

GSTS 502 English Language 0

GSTS 510 Scientific Writing 1

GSTS 520 Research Methods 2


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WRM & HYG Programs Specialized Courses


NRE 520 Environmental Impact Assessment 2

NRE 521 Water Resources Development & Management in 2 Arid Regions

NRE 620 Natural Resources and Environmental Economics 2

NREWR 510 Seminar 1

NREWR 520 Quantitative Analysis 2

NREWR 530 Design of Irrigation and Drainage Systems 3

NREWR 531 Water Resources Planning and Management 3

NREWR 532 Urban Water Management 3

NREWR 533 Management of Irrigation and Drainage Systems 3

NREWR 534 Water Quality Management 3


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NREWR 535 Integrated Water Resources Management 3

NREWR 5*9/6*9 Lab, field and case studies -

NREWR 540 Diploma Project 4

NREWR 680 M.Sc. Thesis 8

NREHG 520 Integrated Groundwater Management 2

NREHG 530 Quantitative Hydrogeology 3

NREHG 531 Groundwater Flow and Transport Modeling 3

NREHG 532 Hydrochemistry and Groundwater Pollution 3

NREHG 5*9/6*9 Lab, field and case studies -

NREHG 540 Diploma Project 4

NREHG 680 M.Sc. Thesis 8


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Note: NREWR 5*9/6*9 and NREHG 5*9/6*9 Lab, Field, and Case Studies. The * represents from 1 to maximum 4 credit hours. It can be registered as NREWR 519 to NREWR 549, and NREWR 619 to NREWR 649. Similarly for the NREHG.

METHOD OF ASSESSMENTSSummative and formative assessments are used to evaluating students‘ learning and skills acquisition and academic achievement during the defined instructional period.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTSWRM and HYD programs enrolls graduates from the scientific fields of Engineering, Earth Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Management. Applicants from other disciplines can be considered if they have professional working experience in the water sector with scientific credentials or research backgrounds with the approval of the academic committee.

WRM & HYG Elective Courses


GEOGR 531 Geographic Information System 3

GEOGR 532 Remote Sensing 3

GEOGR 521 Geostatistics Analysis 2

NREES 534 Urban Environment Systems 3

NREES 631 Water, Environment, and Ecosystem 3


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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must be a citizen of one of the GCC countries. Applicants from other Arab countries, who are residents of any GCC country, can be accepted.

Applicants from GCC countries should submit his/her nomination from Ministries of Education in his/her country. Citizens of other Arab countries, who are residents of any GCC country, can submit their applications directly to the admission office at AGU.

The applicant has to meet all the requirements of the department, and pass any tests and interviews that the academic program requires. Applicant must pass a medical exam, and submit a certificate of decent behavior from a relevant authority in his/her country.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Diploma and MSc. degrees

Applicants must have obtained their undergraduate studies from an AGU recognized academic institution. The applicant’s Grade Point Average (GPA) should be 2.0 or more on a scale of 4.0 or the equivalent of «good» to apply for a diploma degree. To apply directly to the MSc. program, the applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 or more on a scale of 4.0 or the equivalent of «very good». Obtaining a GPA of 3.0 or more in the WRM and HYG Diploma degrees entitle students to enter the Masters degree of the two programs. Applicants awarded the UNU IWRM Diploma with 80% score can apply directly to the MSc.

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The general requirements for graduation are to complete a minimum of 28 credit hours for the Diploma; and 34 credit hours course work and a thesis.

The equivalent of at least two semesters of full-time residency is required.

PROGRAM FACULTY

Waleed K. Zubari, Professor of Water Resources

Alaa A. El-Sadek, Professor of Water Resources

Ahmed O. El-Kholei, Professor of Urban Planning

Sabah S. Al-Jenaid, Associate Professor of GIS and Environment

Abdelhadi A. Mohammed, Associate Professor of Water-Soil-Plant Relationships

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department of natural resources and environment program of

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