FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

Who can apply? There are two main types of students eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Water Policy. The first type includes all current UA graduate students, whether they are studying for a master's degree, a Ph.D., or a professional degree. The second type includes working professionals who want to gain knowledge and expertise in water policy without enrolling in a graduate degree program. Once admitted to the Water Policy Certificate program, all students must meet the same requirements.

How do I apply? Please see the How to Apply section of this site.

Are there prerequisites for admission? Students must have a bachelor's degree, with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 (B), or the equivalent.

Can I transfer credits from schools other than the UA? Yes, students may transfer up to three units of related graduate course-work from another accredited academic institution, to be applied to the UA Graduate Certificate in Water Policy. Transferred course-work must be approved by the GCWP Faculty Coordinator.

Are any courses offered on-line or through distance learning? Not presently.

Is there a minimum GPA required to complete the Water Policy Certificate? Yes, students must pass each class, including transferred course-work, with a B or better to receive the Certificate.

What fees and other costs are there? There is a $65.00 application fee paid to the UA Graduate College. This fee is waived for graduate students currently enrolled in the two home departments offering the program: the School of Geography and Development and the Dept. of Soil, Water and Environmental Science. Students in those programs file a Change of Program form instead. Please see the How to Apply section of this site. Non-degree seeking students pay tuition as established by the UA Outreach College.

How long does it take to complete the Water Policy Certificate? That depends on how and when students choose to take the four courses, which can be spread out over two or three years or combined in a single semester of fulltime study.

Can I get Water Policy Certificate credit for courses that I am also applying to my graduate degree ("double-dipping")? Students may count up to 12 units of the courses taken under the Water Policy Certificate program for their graduate study requirements in their regular degree program; however, acceptance of these courses is at the discretion of the degree-granting unit. Up to six units from a previously completed UA graduate or professional degree may count toward the Water Policy Certificate, as long as they were taken within four years of the date that the student completes the requirements for the Water Policy Certificate.

Can I get credit for courses taken before Fall 2007? Yes, as long as they were taken within four years of the date that you complete the requirements for the Water Policy Certificate.

Can the Water Policy Certificate be used as a Ph.D. minor? Not directly, but the faculty and departments involved in this program can help students design Ph.D. minors that focus on water policy. Interested students should discuss this possibility with their faculty advisors and with the GCWP Faculty Coordinator. A Ph.D. minor may or may not allow the double-counting of courses.

What advising does UA offer for the Water Policy Certificate? Advising is decentralized among members of the Certificate's Executive Committee, which includes faculty representatives from each of the seven participating colleges. Please see the Advising section of this site. For current UA graduate students, the Executive Committee can designate the student's primary advisor in a degree program to serve as his/her advisor for the Certificate. The advisor helps the student to determine an appropriate selection of courses based on his/her interests and assists in filing a corresponding Plan of Study with the Graduate College.

Although advising is done case by case, the general principle is that students pursuing degrees in policy-related fields will be encouraged to take at least two thematic courses, while students in scientific and technical fields will be encouraged to take a larger share of core courses. Students who are concurrently enrolled in the Water Policy Certificate program as well as a regular degree program will work with their program advisors to coordinate their studies. Newly admitted students will be shown a list of potential advisors and will be assigned an initial advisor according to their interests.

Does the UA have other graduate programs and degrees in water policy? The University of Arizona has many graduate and professional programs in which students can focus on water policy from a wide variety of perspectives. Currently, however, none of these programs grant a degree called "Water Policy." The GCWP is intended to fulfill part of this function, although a certificate is not the same as a degree.

Why study water policy at the UA? The University of Arizona has an international reputation for excellence in all areas of water resources studies, from science and engineering to the social sciences, history, public policy, and law. The breadth and depth of water expertise, coupled with a strong tradition of interdisciplinary collaboration within the university, provide a rich intellectual environment for studying water policy. As a public land-grant institution, the University of Arizona has a long track record of applying expert knowledge to social and policy issues in the real world.