Water Resources Engineering and Management

Introduction

Goals and Mission

Many regions of the world are increasingly facing challenges when it comes to management of water resources and finding engineering solutions for water related problems. The nature of these challenges differs from one location to another. Hydrologic variabilities which result in floods and droughts as well as long term impacts of climate change on different elements of hydrologic cycle and water demands can cause significant economic losses to various regions and nations. Poor quality of water resources can make these valuable resources unfit to sustain aquatic ecosystems or to supply water to people, industries and agricultural users. Addressing these challenges requires water managers and engineers to apply integrated and interdisciplinary approaches, involving hydrological, biophysical, chemical, social, economic, and legal aspects.

The Water Resources Engineering and Management Division of the School of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran, was established in 2011 as a new branch of the former “Water Engineering” Division, which was established in 1996. Water Resources Engineering and Management M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs have been designed to develop human resources capacities in Iran to address the aforementioned challenges in water engineering and management. Both graduate programs admit their students through National Entrance Exams organized by the Iran Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT).

University of Tehran was ranked 15th in the “Water Resources” subject in the 2017 Shanghi Raking of Academic Subjects. University of Tehran, therefore, as the only university in the Middle East region with such a high raking in “water resources” and as the biggest and oldest university in Iran provides various research and educational opportunities for students of the department.

 

Water Resources Engineering and Management M.Sc. Program

The MSc Program in Water Management provides an integrated and interdisciplinary approach. This program brings together the scientific study of water management with training in professional skills tailored to the needs of the students. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to study water management from a multidisciplinary perspective and to seek integrated solutions. The M.Sc. program curricula is the same as the curricula approved by the Iran Ministry of Science and Technology in 2011. The course structure of the program is as follows:

Required courses for all students:

Title

Credits

Water Resources Systems Analysis and Management

3

Advanced Hydrology

3

Advanced Groundwater Resources

3

One of the following two courses:

Hydroinformatics

Application of RS and GIS in Water Resources Management

 

3

3

Seminar

2

Thesis

6

 

Elective courses for the thematic profile on “Mathematical Foundations and Hydraulics”

Course Title

Credit

Advanced Hydraulics

3

Numerical Methods in Water Engineering

3

Advanced Engineering Mathematics

3

Advanced Probability and Statistics

3

Analysis of Risk, Uncertainty, and Reliability

3

Computational Hydraulics

3

Statistical Hydrology

3

 

Elective courses for the thematic profile on “Water Resources Engineering”

Course Title

Credit

Meteorology and Climate Change

3

Hydroclimatology

3

Streamflow and Surface Water Resources Quality Modeling

3

 

Elective courses for the thematic profile on “Water Resources Planning and Management”

Course Title

Credit

Water Resources Systems Analysis and Management II

3

Environmental Impact Assessment of Civil Engineering Projects

3

 

Other elective courses offered by other water related departments in the School of Civil Engineering:

Course Title

Credit

Principles of Water and Wastewater Engineering

3

Sustainable Development and Environmental Management

3

Advanced Water and Wastewater Engineering

3

 

After the foundation phase in which students pass all the required courses, they have to compose a personal portfolio that reflects their educational background as well as their career ambitions. As part of the portfolio students will determine their personal study profile for the remaining part of the program, with guidance by a dedicated supervisor. The study profiles can be fully tailor-made based on the broad range of available elective courses.

In addition to required courses, students should successfully pass 4 elective courses offered in various thematic profiles and other water related departments in the school. It is recommended to all students to finish their required and elective courses in the first two semesters, while some may extend it to the third semester. Most students spend the second year of the master program for conducting research and writing thesis while some might extend it up to fifth or sixth semester.

 

Laboratories and Research Facilities

Students of Water Resources Engineering and Management Division can use facilities in the two following laboratories:

  • Water and Environment Monitoring and Assessment Lab
  • Hydraulic and Fluid Mechanic Lab

In addition to these labs, students of the department can collaborate with other water related research and education facilities in the University of Tehran. “Water Institute” is a major research institute for multi-disciplinary water research. Faculty members from various schools and departments in the University of Tehran, work together to find innovative solutions for complicated water issues. Students can get involved in the research projects and ongoing activities in the “Water Institute” of the University of Tehran. Further information on the institute and its activities can be found in http://watinst.ut.ac.ir/en/.

 

University of Tehran is host to 5 UNESCO Chairs, two of them are related to Water Resources Engineering and Management Division Activities. The activities of “UNESCO-Chair on Water Reuse (UCWR)” are closely related to the “Water Services Management” thematic profile and students who choose to follow this profile, may get involved in the UCWR activities. UCWR aims at changing approach toward unconventional water resources and water reuse and recovery. The main objective of UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse is to enhance the place of Islamic Republic of Iran in global water communities through providing appropriate solutions to research, cultural and educational development in water reuse and facilitating cooperation between scientific centers and international distinguished researchers in UNESCO water family and industry as well. Further information can be found in http://ucwr.ut.ac.ir/en/unesco-chair-on-water-reuse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:
  School of Civil Engineering
  College of Engineering
  University of Tehran
  Tehran, Iran

P.O. Box: 4563 - 11155
Tel: +98 (21) 61112273