River Mechanics and Modeling
Overview: This emphasis encompasses a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to fluvial systems, including ecohydraulics, river mechanics, river engineering, surface water quality, physical hydrology, and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Students in this specialization can design a graduate program to match their individual goals and interests, including both traditional study areas such as hydraulic engineering and applied interdisciplinary research areas related to river restoration and natural systems modeling. Students can supplement department offerings with courses in Watershed Sciences, Geology, Statistics, and other areas to build both the fundamental understanding and breadth of knowledge to solve the pressing challenges in river science and management.
Areas of current student research include: physical-ecological linkages in fluvial systems, surface water – groundwater interactions, water temperature modeling in natural systems, environmental flows, sedimentation processes and fluvial geomorphology.
Core Courses
Fall
- CEE 6400CEE 6400 Physical Hydrology
- CEE 5500CEE 5500/6500 Open Channel Hydraulics
- CEE 6800CEE 6800 CEE Seminar
Spring
- CEE 6660CEE 6660 Environmental and Hydrologic Data Analysis and Experimentation
- CEE 6800CEE 6800 CEE Seminar
Core Technical Electives (students must take 2 of the following courses)
Fall
- CEE 6530CEE 6530 Hydraulic Modeling
- CEE 6930CEE 6930 Hydrologic Field Methods (Offered: 2025)
- CEE 6740CEE 6740 Surface Water Quality Modeling (Offered: even years)
Spring
- CEE 6470CEE 6470 River Mechanics (Sedimentation Engineering)
- WATS 6150WATS 6150 Fluvial Geomorphology (Offered: 2024 then yearly after)
Note that with approval from the graduate committee, required courses can be waived if the student has successfully completed an equivalent course at Utah State University or elsewhere.
Electives
All classes are offered yearly, unless otherwise specified.