Hydraulic Engineering Education: Evolving to Meet Needs

Washington State University, by virtue of the presence of the Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory, maintains several courses devoted to hydraulic engineering. The evolution of hydraulics offerings reflects the needs of the day. Fluid mechanics was emphasized following the World War II dam construction boom, including hydraulic structures and water hammer problems. Present undergraduate offerings are less detailed and more diverse, incorporating introductory level material from several past courses into fewer classes. Offerings are supplemented by other departments. Such a diversification is indicative of civil engineering curricula in general and reflects the smaller number of faculty specializing in hydraulics. Current graduate offerings are evolving to include partnering with neighboring institutions. Such partnering is an effective way to increase the breadth and depth at the graduate level and continue to offer comprehensive graduate education. For example, a total of 17 graduate courses are available from Washington State University and the University of Idaho. The future will likely require further creative partnering, whether on a regional or on a national basis, with video streaming and distance education. European efforts in the field of hydroinformatics merits more attention and discussion.