Monday, December 15, 2014

New WaTER Minor offered for undergraduates


The School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma is now offering students a Minor in Water and Sanitation for Health and Sustainable Development. The WaTER Minor is designed for engineering and non-engineering majors who have an interest in development work in emerging regions, particularly the sectors of water, sanitation and health (WaSH).  Students pursue a well-rounded curriculum of courses in engineering/technology, social entrepreneurship, and cultural anthropology or related fields. The underlying philosophy is that sustainable solutions for WaSH are found at the intersection of these three core focal points.

Students conduct water quality testing in El Salvador.

The Technical Field Methods class is a core course in the WaTER Minor curriculum.

The Minor was developed by faculty and staff of the OU WaTER Center in collaboration with colleagues from across the OU campus.  The purpose of the Minor is to prepare students for work in international development as participants and leaders in social service organizations and institutions, such as the Peace Corps, USAID, the U.S. Department of State, WaterAid, and Engineers Without Borders.  The goal of the Minor is to increase awareness of tomorrow’s societal leaders on specific challenges and opportunities facing developing countries.

In El Salvador, students practice geologic testing methods learned in the Minor curriculum.

Busy market day in Meki, Ethiopia.
Students connect an inlet water pipe from a solar pump to a tank in rural El Salvador.
For more information and curriculum details about the Water and Sanitation for Health and Sustainable Development Minor, click here.

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