Interdisciplinary Programs
Water Science and Policy
Welcome from our Interim Director
I am delighted to be appointed by the provost and the dean as the interim director of the University of Delaware Graduate College’s interdisciplinary program in water science and policy. Established in 2014 by authorization of the Faculty Senate, the program began as an experiment in multidimensional thinking and is the oldest interdisciplinary degree program housed in the Graduate College. We have awarded close to four dozen doctoral and master’s degrees over the last decade to students who come from all over Delaware, America and the world to study about water.
Interdisciplinary graduate programs have the benefit of flexibility by allowing the students, with their advising faculty, to design their own course curriculum and choose from the full depth and breadth of the colleges and departmental programs at our University. As the foundation of our planet’s environment and economy, water is found in all strands of society and therefore it's entirely appropriate that our graduate program in water science and policy have an interdisciplinary approach to thinking and learning. Because after all, isn't this our real mission here at UD: to take a broad-based approach to critical thinking and create new knowledge? That's exactly what water science and policy students have been doing here by researching and studying and then going on to get good jobs in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Our graduates are working on climate science in Spain, drought in California, the Puget Sound in Seattle, drinking water in New York City, water management in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and water treatment in Wilmington, Delaware. They are doing great things for society and before long, they become our next generation of leaders, which is reassuring to me in today’s world. So welcome to the interdisciplinary graduate program in water science and policy. I hope you consider joining us!
Gerald Joseph McAdams Kauffman, Jr.
Director and Associate Professor
University of Delaware - Water Resources Center
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration
Institute for Public Administration
By choosing to study Water Science & Policy at the University of Delaware, you will be embarking on an exciting intellectual journey that will challenge you to synthesize knowledge from a number of different fields. No matter what aspect of water you choose as your research focus, you’ll be encouraged to look at how it intertwines with other natural and human aspects of water quality and quantity.
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From the rainforest to Rio
April 14, 2026 | Written by Molly Schafer | Photos by Olivia Frear, Emily Focht, Jackson Whitcomb and courtesy of Zach HammakerThirteen University of Delaware students had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn hands-on in the Amazon Rainforest during a UD study abroad course titled Landscape Exploration of Brazil. Zach Hammaker, assistant professor of landscape architecture, teaches the course. Hammaker says that slowing down, observing nature, and reflecting through daily journal prompts helps students connect with themselves and the world around them. Students enjoyed sharpening their observation skills while sketching in situ in the rainforest and in public gardens throughout Rio de Janeiro. -
April 24-25: UD Botanic Gardens annual spring benefit plant sale
April 06, 2026 | Article and photo by Emily MoxThe University of Delaware Botanic Gardens (UDBG) invites the public and the University community to shop at the UDBG Annual Spring Benefit Plant Sale Friday, April 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. through Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now in its 34th year, this sale features more than 500 plant varieties, including trees, shrubs, perennials, houseplants, herbs and veggies. -
Behind the greens
April 06, 2026 | Written by Molly SchaferBefore the pros tee off at the 2026 Masters Tournament or amateurs take their first swing on their local links, an entire industry lays the groundwork for the perfect golf course. Alumni, faculty, and students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources rely heavily on science and technology as they work behind the scenes on the green.
Connect
234 Hullihen Hall, Newark, DE 19716 USA grad@udel.edu General: (302) 831-6824 Fax: (302) 831-8745