The Albert Katz International School of Desert Studies, the J. Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Sede Boker Campus

Joint teaching program of the A. Katz International School of Desert Studies in the Institutes for Desert Research in collaboration with the Department of Geology and Environmental Science, the Department of Geography and Environmental Development and the Environmental Engineering Unit

Goal of the curriculum:

• Bestowing knowledge in subjects such as flow and transport processes of water, solutes, solids and separate phases in the soil, groundwater and in surface water.
• Strengthening and expanding foundations of: hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry, hydro-microbiology, underground flow in a saturated medium (aquifer) and an unsaturated medium, flow in channels and rivers and management of water resources, in accordance with chemical and physical principles.
• Training skilled professionals for the fields of hydrology (including: water production, estimating of surface and underground water and solute movement, chemical and biochemical evaluation of underground water and contaminants, operations research and optimization of water systems and more).

Criteria for admission:

• In accordance with the minimum requirements of each of the faculties and departments participating in the curriculum.

• Students without an appropriate background who are interested in enrolling the M.Sc. in hydrology curriculum will have an individual curriculum tailored for them in accordance by the teaching committee, with supplementary courses.

• For an M.Sc. in geography and geology within the hydrology study stream (hydrogeology) in accordance with the requirements and generally accepted standards of each of the faculties and departments taking part in the curriculum

The proposed curriculum has two tracks:

M.Sc. with thesis:
Mandatory courses (15 credit points) + optional courses (8 credit points) + enrichment courses (4 credit points) + mandatory seminary (1 credit point) + thesis - research dissertation (12 credit points), total of 40 credit points.

M.Sc. track for a diploma (without thesis):

Mandatory courses (15 credit points) + optional courses (16 credit points) + enrichment courses (4 credit points) + mandatory seminary (1 credit point) + final assignment (4 credit points), total of 40 credit points.

Curriculum in Hydrology and Water Quality

Research Assignment

Students who opt for the research track (option A - thesis) must conduct an in-depth research assignment in one of the fields that they have studied. The thesis subject and research proposal will be approved as usual by the teaching committee of the study track. Once the approval has been given by the teaching committee of the track, the project will be registered at the secretariat of the joint program.

Final assignment

The project will provide deeper insight into the hydrological system. The project will include a review of literature on the selected subject, clear wording of the problem, analysis of the findings and an evaluation of the results.