Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies
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Water Resources

The M.Sc. program is a two-year program.

The chairperson of the teaching committee is: Prof. Roy Bernstein.

Academic Program for students who began from November 2024

Students are required to complete the following courses during the two-year program:

Subject

Credits

Courses within the track of study ​​

A. Mandatory Course (2 credit points) 

B. Core courses (10 credit points)

C. Departmental and student seminars (1 credit point)

D. Mandatory Core Courses Within the Track of Study (7 credit points) 

E. Elective courses (8 credit points)

F. General courses (2 credit points)

30

Thesis Writing

12

Total

42

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0153Dr. Scott Hansen and Dr. Christopher J. Arnush

Writing a Scientific Paper

2

Students are required to complete all courses from the list below*.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0003

Prof. Oded Nir

Chemistry of Water

3
001-2-0016

Prof. Roy Bernstein

Physicochemical Technologies for Water Treatment

2
001-2-5024

Prof. Ofer Dahan

Groundwater Hydrology

2
001-2-5059

Prof. Osnat Gillor

Water Microbiology+

3

+Nonmicrobiologists may take the course:

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-5159

Prof. Osnat ​Gillor

Introduction to Microbiologists

1

Students who previously completed courses that were similar/equivalent to certain courses listed above are required to complete the remainder of the required core course credits by enrolling in courses either from the list of Mandatory Core Courses (C) or from the list of Elective Courses (D) or from a combination of both (with the approval of the student's supervisor and the chairperson of the teaching committee).

Students are required to attend 4 Departmental Seminars (one seminar per semester).

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-5555Please check the university course file

Departmental Seminar

0

Students are required to present two seminars (one student seminar per year).

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-9995Please check the university course file

Student Seminar (first year)

0.5

001-2-9996

Student Seminar (second year)

0.5

In the third and fourth semesters, students must register for Thesis Writing.

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-9991

Thesis Writing A

6
001-2-9992

Thesis Writing B

6

Students who have completed the above Thesis Writing courses and continue their studies for a fifth semester must register for the following course:

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-1000Thesis Writing – Continuation0

Students are required to complete at least 7 credits*.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0004Prof. Noam Weisbrod

Vadose Zone Hydrology​

2.5
001-2-5004Dr. Elad Levintal and Dr. Tuvia Turkeltaub

Field Methods in Hydrology

3
001-2-5005Prof. Amit Gross, Prof. Zeev Ronen

Laboratory Methods for Environmental Studies

3
​001-2-5006​Dr. Tuvia Turkeltaub​Flow and Contaminant Transport modelling in the unsaturated zone​3
001-2-5010Prof. Zeev Ronen

Groundwater Microbiology​

2
​001-2-5067Dr. Scott K. Hansen

Introduction to Contaminant Hydrology

3
001-2-5069Prof. Amit Gross

​Water & the Environment: Current Challenges and Solutions

3

* Mandatory Core Courses can be also selected as Elective Courses (on top of the required 7 credits).​

This is a partial list. The student is allowed to select other courses that are related to the area of his/her research with the approval of the chairperson of the teaching committee.

Students are required to complete at least 8 credits.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0015

Prof. Roy Bernstein

Membrane Preparation and Characterization

3
001-2-0017

Prof. Roni Kasher

Polymer Science and Polymeric Membranes

2
001-2-0021

Dr. Christopher Arnush

Biomimetic Innovation Approaches

2
001-2-0022

Dr. Anat Bernstein

Stable Isotope Application in Contaminant Hydrology

2
001-2-0027​Prof. Shai Arnon​Flow and water quality in streams: Theory and practice2
001-2-2015

Prof. Dina Zilberg and Prof. Amit Gross

Introduction to Desert Aquaculture

3
001-2-2039

Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch and Prof. Jirka Šimůnek

Advanced Modeling of Water Flow and Contaminant Transport in Porous Media 

2
001-2-5028

Prof. Moshe Herzberg

Microbial Biofilms in Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes (prerequisite: Introduction to Microbiology)

2
001-2-5029

Prof. Noam Weisbrod

Rural Water Development

2
001-2-5030

Prof. Nurit Agam

Hydrometeorology

3
001-2-5033​Prof. Avraham Be'er​Introduction to Desalination Processes3
001-2-5034​Prof. Yoram Oren​Environmental Oriented Electrochemistry2
001-2-5036​Prof. Avner RonenEnvironmental micropollutants & emerging contaminants
2
001-2-5038

Prof. Amit Gross

Water Sanitation

3
001-2-5060​Prof. Moshe Herzberg​Biological Processes in Wastewater Treatment2
001-2-5062

Prof. Edo Bar-Zeev

Introduction to Biofilms3
001-2-5063

Prof. Edo Bar-Zeev

Microbial Sociology: From a Single Bacterium to Biofilm and Biofouling

3
001-2-5065

Prof. Shai Arnon

Transport Processes in Streams: Theory and Practice​

2
001-2-5066

Dr. Scott K. Hansen

Introduction to Scientific Computing with Python

3
001-2-5068

Prof. Oded Nir

Aqueous Chemistry Modeling with PHREEQC

2
001-2-5070

Dr. Scott K. Hansen

Practical Data Science and Machine Learning

3
001-2-5071​Prof. Gideon OronManagement and Optimization of Natural Resources and Water Systems2
001-2-5074​Dr. Elad Levintal​​Envirotech - do it yourself sensors for environmental research3

001-2-5075 Fall

001-2-5076 Spring

Dr. Elad LevintaDo-it-yourself sensors for environmental research - advanced course3
001-2-5077

Prof. Gideon OronAdvanced Management and Optimization of Water Systems and Wastewater Reclamation2
001-2-5129

Prof. Noam Weisbrod

Rural Water Development (field trip) – Prerequisite: Course # 001-2-5029

2

Students can complete up to 3 credits.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-1200​Prof. Simon Barak & Dr. Buzi Raviv

​BGU Radio Academy – Podcast production course

2
001-2-3001​Prof. Ariel Novoplansky​Evolutionary Ecology of Phenotypic Plasticity (prerequisite: Introduction to Ecology or Introduction to Biology or equivalent courses, as determined by the chairperson)3
001-2-3021​Prof. Itamar Giladi​Biostatistics3
​001-2-4028​Prof. Arnon Karnieli​Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Rangelands, and Forestry )no prerequisites required)​3
001-2-4029

Prof. Yosef Ashkenazi

Introduction to Statistics and Probability

3
​001-2-4047​Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher​Surface Science for the Environment3
001-2-4049Dr. Arik YochelisNonlinear Dynamical Aspects of Electrochemical  Systems3
001-2-5100​Dr. Genadi Carmi​Introduction to Surface Hydrology2
001-2-6002​Dr. Aviva Peeters​Theory and Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (limited to 15 students)3

Academic Program for students who began up until April 2024

Subject

Credits

Courses within the track of study ​​

A. Mandatory Course (2 credit points) 

B. Core courses (10 credit points)

C. Departmental and student seminars (1 credit point)

D. Mandatory Core Courses Within the Track of Study (7 credit points) 

E. Elective courses (8 credit points)

F. General courses (2 credit points)

30

Thesis Writing

12

Total

42

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0153Dr. Scott Hansen and Dr. Christopher J. Arnush

Writing a Scientific Paper

2

Students are required to complete all courses from the list below*.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0003

Prof. Oded Nir

Chemistry of Water

3
001-2-0016

Prof. Roy Bernstein

Physicochemical Technologies for Water Treatment

2
001-2-5024

Prof. Ofer Dahan

Groundwater Hydrology

2
001-2-5059

Prof. Osnat Gillor

Water Microbiology+

3

+Nonmicrobiologists may take the course:

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-5159

Prof. Osnat ​Gillor

Introduction to Microbiologists

1

Students who previously completed courses that were similar/equivalent to certain courses listed above are required to complete the remainder of the required core course credits by enrolling in courses either from the list of Mandatory Core Courses (C) or from the list of Elective Courses (D) or from a combination of both (with the approval of the student's supervisor and the chairperson of the teaching committee).

Students are required to attend 4 Departmental Seminars (one seminar per semester).

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-5555Please check the university course file

Departmental Seminar

0

Students are required to present two seminars (one student seminar per year).

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-9995Please check the university course file

Student Seminar (first year)

0.5

001-2-9996

Student Seminar (second year)

0.5

In the third and fourth semesters, students must register for Thesis Writing.

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-9991

Thesis Writing A

6
001-2-9992

Thesis Writing B

6

Students who have completed the above Thesis Writing courses and continue their studies for a fifth semester must register for the following course:

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-1000Thesis Writing – Continuation0

Students are required to complete at least 7 credits*.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0004Prof. Noam Weisbrod

Vadose Zone Hydrology​

2.5
001-2-5004Dr. Elad Levintal

Field Methods in Hydrology

3
001-2-5005Prof. Amit Gross, Prof. Zeev Ronen

Laboratory Methods for Environmental Studies

3
001-2-5010Prof. Zeev Ronen

Groundwater Microbiology​

2
001-2-5060Prof. Moshe Herzberg

Biological Processes in Wastewater Treatment

2
​001-2-5067Dr. Scott K. Hansen

Introduction to Contaminant Hydrology

3

* Mandatory Core Courses can be also selected as Elective Courses (on top of the required 7 credits).​

This is a partial list. The student is allowed to select other courses that are related to the area of his/her research with the approval of the supervisor.

Students are required to complete at least 8 credits.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0012

Prof. Daniel Ronen

Selected Issues Related to Groundwater Hydrology: Quality & Quantity

2
001-2-0015

Prof. Roy Bernstein

Membrane Preparation and Characterization

3
001-2-0017

Prof. Roni Kasher

Polymer Science and Polymeric Membranes

2
001-2-0021

Dr. Christopher Arnush

Biomimetic Innovation Approaches

2
001-2-0022

Dr. Anat Bernstein

Stable Isotope Application in Contaminant Hydrology

2
001-2-0027​Prof. Shai Arnon​Flow and water quality in streams: Theory and practice2
001-2-0030

Dr. Anat Bernstein and Prof. Amit Gross

Lab Methods in Soil Science

3
001-2-2015

Prof. Dina Zilberg and Prof. Amit Gross

Introduction to Desert Aquaculture

3
001-2-2039

Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch and Prof. Jirka Šimůnek

Advanced Modeling of Water Flow and Contaminant Transport in Porous Media 

2
001-2-3001

Prof. Ariel Novoplansky

Evolutionary Ecology of Phenotypic Plasticity (prerequisite: Introduction to Ecology or Introduction to Biology or equivalent courses, as determined by the chairperson)

3
001-2-3021

Prof. Itamar Giladi

Biostatistics

3
001-2-4010

Prof. Georgy Burde

Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics – A

3
001-2-4028

Prof. Arnon Karnieli

Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Rangelands, and Forestry )no prerequisites required(

3
001-2-4036

Prof. Georgy Burde

Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics – B

3
001-2-4047

Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher

Surface Science for the Environment3
001-2-4049

Dr. Arik Yochelis

Nonlinear Dynamical Aspects of Electrochemical  Systems

3
001-2-5026

Prof. Ali Nejidat

Nitrogen Transformations and Environmental Quality

2
001-2-5028

Prof. Moshe Herzberg

Microbial Biofilms in Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes (prerequisite: Introduction to Microbiology)

2
001-2-5029

Prof. Noam Weisbrod

Rural Water Development

2
001-2-5030

Prof. Nurit Agam

Hydrometeorology

3
001-2-5033​Prof. Avraham Be'er​Introduction to Desalination Processes3
001-2-5034​Prof. Yoram Oren​Environmental Oriented Electrochemistry2
001-2-5037​Dr. Michal Sela-AdlerOrganic Micropollutant Identification and Quantification in the Lab3
001-2-5038

Prof. Amit Gross

Water Sanitation

3
001-2-5041

Dr. Menachem Sklartz

Practical Bioinformatics for Environmental Studies - A and B (a two-semester course)

3
001-2-5044

Prof. Shai Arnon

Biogeochemical Processes in Surface Water Systems

3
001-2-5055

Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch, Prof. Ofer Dahan

Operation and Analysis of Environmental Monitoring Systems

1
001-2-5062

Prof. Edo Bar-Zeev

Introduction to Biofilms3
001-2-5063

Prof. Edo Bar-Zeev

Microbial Sociology: From a Single Bacterium to Biofilm and Biofouling

3
001-2-5065

Prof. Shai Arnon

Transport Processes in Streams: Theory and Practice​

2
001-2-5066

Dr. Scott K. Hansen

Introduction to Scientific Computing with Python

3
001-2-5068

Prof. Oded Nir

Aqueous Chemistry Modeling with PHREEQC

2
001-2-5069​Prof. Amit Gross​Water & the Environment: Current Challenges and Solutions3
001-2-5070

Dr. Scott K. Hansen

Practical Data Science and Machine Learning

3
001-2-5074​Dr. Elad Levintal​​Envirotech - do it yourself sensors for environmental research3

001-2-5075 Fall

001-2-5076 Spring

Dr. Elad LevintalDo-it-yourself sensors for environmental research - advanced course3

001-2-5077

Prof. Gideon OronAdvanced Management and Optimization of Water Systems and Wastewater Reclamation2
001-2-5100

Dr. Genadi Carmi

Introduction to Surface Hydrology

2
001-2-5129

Prof. Noam Weisbrod

Rural Water Development (field trip) – Prerequisite: Course # 001-2-5029

2
001-2-6002

Dr. Aviva Peeters

Theory and Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (limited to 15 students)

3

Students are required to complete 2-3 credits.

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-1200​Prof. Simon Barak & Dr. Buzi Raviv

​BGU Radio Academy – Podcast production course

2
001-2-4029

Prof. Yosef Ashkenazi

Introduction to Statistics and Probability

3