Master in Hydrogeology

Faculty of Science - Department of Geology

Description

The Department of Geology offers this program to obtain a high degree (Master's) in the field of groundwater (hydrogeology) within a period of three years (six semesters) during which the student can choose courses according to the time rate that suits his capabilities and abilities. 

This program has been developed to be scientifically distinguished (according to the curricula of North American universities) through which the student learns the details of the geological factors controlling the presence and movement of groundwater - types of groundwater aquifers - Darcy's law - water wells - groundwater chemistry - groundwater exploration - seawater intrusion - modeling of groundwater flow and solute transport - an overview of groundwater in Libya. 

This program requires the student to possess (48) credits.

Objectives

The Department of Geology aims in general to achieve outputs that the graduate is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the educational program through the following:

1. Preparing and qualifying students in the field of groundwater geology at the master's level through advanced scientific curricula to provide the needs of the labor market in public and private institutions in the country, especially in the water sector

2. Providing the appropriate scientific climate for master's students through the scientific material of the courses approved theoretically and laboratory and applying them in the field with field work courses in order to refine students academically, scientifically and technically.

3. Utilizing Libya's important water resources scientifically and creating distinguished research projects at the local and international levels.

4. Contribute to water and environmental studies and research through joint work with the competent authorities to preserve the environment and its safety, track various sources of pollution, reduce the environmental effects resulting from the overexploitation of water and maintain its sustainability.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the educational program, the student should have acquired the skills that enable him to use what he studied in professional applications, the most important of which are the following: 

1. The ability to identify water resources and evaluate them quantitatively and qualitatively through hydrological and geochemical studies.  

2. Ability to estimate groundwater reserves and determine their relative ages and develop data in different formats  

3. The ability to use laboratories and field equipment safely to collect geological information and harness it to carry out scientific research of local and international interest.4. The graduate of this program should have the ability to know the means related to the sustainability of natural resources, environmental protection, and reducing the risks of pollution. 

Certificate Rewarded

Master of Geology (specializing in Hydrogeology)

Entry Reuirements

Students are admitted to graduate studies in the Department of Geology according to the following requirements and conditions:

1. The student applying to study in the department must have a certificate of completion of the university education stage (bachelor's) or its equivalent in accordance with the procedures and controls issued by the Ministry of Education and in force in Libyan universities.

2. The documents required for admission are determined by the competent scientific committee at the College of Science.

 3. The scientific program accepts students transferred from the corresponding departments in other colleges, provided that the transferred student submits documents showing the courses he studied, the scientific content of each of them, the number of units for each course, and a transcript of grades, and the academic file is referred to the coordinator of the academic program in the department to complete the equivalency procedures.

4. The capacity of the department is estimated at twenty new students per semester and can be increased if the appropriate capabilities are available.

5. The ratio of students enrolled in the study to the percentage of students admitted to 100%. 

Study Plan

The Master in Hydrogeology prepares students to qualify for Master in Hydrogeology . The student studies several subjects which have been carefully chosen in this major to cover its different aspects.

It comprises 6 Semesters of study, in which the student will study a total of 48 units, which include 0 units of general subjects, and 0 major units

Study plan for this program is shown below:

1st Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
GE611 Advanced Sedimentology 03 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successful completion of the course, as follows:· Study of sedimentary facies and their vertical and horizontal changes.· Study of depositional environments.· Study and identify sequences of basic sedimentary rocks in the field and analyze them.

GE612 Advanced Stratigraphy 03 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire when successfully completing the course, as follows:Study the foundations of rock stratigraphy.Study the analysis of basins from a stratified perspective.· Evaluate surface and subsurface information.Study and evaluate local and international examples

GE615 Advanced Igneous Petrology 03 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows:A quantitative study of the chemical processes controlling the formation of magma.Study the chemical composition of igneous rocks.A study of determining the age of rocks by radioactive elements and fixed isotopes as an indicator of the origin and diversity of igneous rocks.Study of the petrographic composition of the main clans of igneous rocks.

2nd Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
GE616 Geotectonics 03 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows:Study the theoretical and practical foundations of structural geology.Study of rock deformation and its relationship to plate tectonics.Study the emergence and development of oceanic basins and mountain belts in the world.Tectonic study of the formation of sedimentary basins.

GE617 Technical Writing 02 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows: The ability to organize and coordinate the research program (graduation project).Writing in a smooth and harmonious manner and in a scientific context.Organizing and arranging ideas.Preparing a research proposal and writing scientific reports according to the requirements of the plan.Describe and analyze tables and figuresWriting the graduation project.

GE618 Geology of Libya 03 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows:A study of the emergence and development of the African continent and the Mediterranean basin.· Studying the tectonic movements affecting the emergence of local sedimentary basins.· Studying the relationship between tectonics and the diversity of stratigraphic sequences vertically and horizontally in the Libyan sedimentary basins.Accumulations of hydrocarbons, water and economic minerals and their relationship to stratification in Libya.

GE620 Data Analysis in Geology 03 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows:Understanding the foundations of geological data, its sources and classifications.Methods of processing geological data mathematically and statistically. It includes measures and numbers in geology; distribution of geological data; univariate statistic Bivariate statistics and analysis of data with spatial distributionKnow how to use geographical statistics programs such as Excel, Surfer, and others

3rd Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
GE671 Theory of Groundwater Flow 03 Compulsory +

This course will cover theory, equations, fundamental principles, and processes of groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the subsurface zone, at an advanced level.Topics include the unsaturated and saturated flow theory, groundwater-surface water interaction, and contaminant transport steady- and transient state.

GE674 Geochemistry of Natural Water 03 Compulsory +

This course introduces the fundamental principles of aqueous chemistry and water-rock interactions with emphasis on the evolution of natural groundwater chemistry. Topics include basic thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, ion association and complexing, oxidation-reduction reactions. Interaction of groundwater with porous media; mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions, ion exchange, surface ionization of oxides.

GE675 Well Hydraulics 03 Compulsory +

Application of groundwater flow equations to pumping wells, the analytical techniques to solve these equations, and their practical implementation for steady and transient radial flow in confined, unconfined and leaky aquifers. Pumping test-methods data analysis and interpretation for hydrogeologic boundaries, image well theory, recharge boundary condition, barrier boundary and determination of aquifer boundary, multiple well system, partially penetrating wells, well interference and well spacing.

4th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
GE676 Groundwater Modeling I 03 Compulsory +

Numerical modelling techniques in groundwater, finite difference and particle tracking methods to solve problems in groundwater flow. Conceptual model development, numerical model implementation and model calibration. Overview of various software programs for groundwater flow and transport modeling and accompanying pre- and post-processing programs based on the USGS MODFLOW flow.

GE677 Groundwater Modeling II 03 Compulsory GE676 +

Principles and procedures of groundwater modelling and the use of computer models for groundwater resources management and protection. The major task will be the “Modeling Project” whereby the student will progressively work on the construction of a flow and transport model of a specific case study. Discussion on model calibration, execution, and interpretation of results is also included in this course.

GE678 Topics in Hydrogeology 03 Elective +

Advanced topics in hydrogeology focusing on new developments, directed studies, case studies of topical nature focusing on water resources of Libya, new frontiers and techniques in exploration.

5th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
GE688 Field Seminar 04 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows:Provide comprehensive education in field geology on the basis of research excellence under the supervision of a group of distinguished professors and with the help of technicians, laboratories, as well as field facilities and tools.Enable students to understand the foundations, theories and field methods in the field of geology.Training students to record field information using modern electronic technologies.Writing geological reports.

GE699 Thesis 06 Compulsory +

This course is designed to achieve the general objectives in the form of outputs that the student is supposed to acquire after successfully completing the course, as follows:Doing the necessary applications to write a master's thesis.The ability to understand the research content in the context of the problem being studied by the student.The ability to identify and define the questions that should be answered through the research results.